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Singapore has seen a remarkable rise in life expectancy, with residents now expected to live to more than 86 years, a significant leap from the 1960s when life expectancy was just 65. As reported by Lindsey Galloway, the city-state’s transformation has been driven by forward-thinking government policies focused on health, wellness, and longevity. Singapore was named the world’s sixth “Blue Zone” in August 2023, a designation typically reserved for regions where people live longer due to lifestyle, culture, and community. Unlike other Blue Zones, Singapore’s success is rooted in its intentional policies rather than long-standing traditions.

Health-conscious policies, such as high taxes on cigarettes and alcohol, public smoking bans, and initiatives to encourage healthier diets, have significantly impacted public health. Residents like Firdaus Syazwani have noticed changes in the community’s health consciousness, with government measures like nutritional labeling and sugar reduction playing a role. Singapore’s healthcare system is globally recognized, ranked the best in the world for citizen health and access to care. Universal healthcare, combined with private services and savings funds, ensures a balance between quality care and affordability.

https://www.bbc.com/travel/article/20241002-singapore-the-worlds-sixth-blue-zone

Planner, urban designer and community branding expert (and CPM member) Mark Favermann explores the 15-minute city concept and how it might be improved in the Mass. APA Fall 2024 magazine https://www.apa-ma.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/09/MA-Planning-F24-1.pdf

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In 2015 the Smithsonian Cultural Rescue Initiative (SCRI) became the co-sponsor, with FEMA’s Office of Environmental Planning and Historic Preservation (OEHP), of the Heritage Emergency National Task Force (HENTF), a public- private partnership created to protect our nation’s cultural heritage. Both SCRI and OEHP are committed to expanding training for U.S. cultural stewards, first responders, and emergency managers to better prepare them to work together to address emergencies and disasters that affect cultural institutions and historic sites.

In 2017, HENTF created this training opportunity for U.S.–based professionals to gain skills and experience in disaster response for cultural heritage. SCRI hosted the inaugural Heritage Emergency and Response Training (HEART) for 25 participants selected from a range of museums, libraries, archives, and emergency management organizations representing 21 states and the Territory of Puerto Rico. In March and June of 2018, HENTF brought HEART to Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, respectively. Previously, SCRI has successfully supported and hosted this type of training for international participants as part of its six-year partnership with ICCROM and the Prince Claus Fund for the First Aid for Cultural Heritage in Times of Crisis (FAC) training program.

HEART combines the important principles of the internationally recognized FAC methodology with context-specific information for a U.S. audience. HEART goals are to improve U.S. disaster response at the institutional level, strengthen existing networks, and connect participants to the network of people trained to document and protect cultural heritage in times of crisis. Participants will learn to be proactive in determining risk for collections, respectful of local context, and, after completing their training, ready to support measures to protect cultural heritage at their respective institutions and in their own communities. Please note, the HEART program does not accept applications from international professionals, Smithsonian Institution staff, and staff of FEMA.

North Carolina is home to the world’s largest population of Vietnamese Montagnards. And as Afghan refugees find their footing in Greensboro, they have wisdom to share.

https://nextcity.org/features/north-carolina-montagnard-vietnam-war-refugees-afghan-evacuation-resettle?utm_source=Next%2BCity%2BNewsletter&utm_campaign=8735b28692-arts_culture_2024_08_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fcee5bf7a0-8735b28692-44132557

The COVID-19 pandemic changed how people used public space in New York City, with streets like 34th Avenue in Queens shutting down to cars and opening up for neighbors to walk, bike and play.

Now, the New York City Department of Transportation is launching a new initiative, the Office of Livable Streets, to design and implement streets that accommodate people using all modes of transportation. It’s the first office of its kind in the U.S., according to the department.

With an emphasis on streets that are not just for cars, the new office is rethinking streets as public spaces.

https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/nycs-new-office-of-livable-streets-aims-to-make-streets-safer-greener-and-m?utm_source=Next%2BCity%2BNewsletter&utm_campaign=472552de80-DailyNL_2024_05_21_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fcee5bf7a0-472552de80-44132557

Carol Todreas, CPM member and Principal at Todreas Hanley Associates, explains the need for parking and smaller spaces.

https://nerej.com/the-best-of-times-by-carol-todreas

The American shopping mall may be closer to its original vision than ever.

https://www.planetizen.com/news/2024/03/127950-mall-dead-long-live-mall?utm_source=Planetizen%2BUpdates&utm_campaign=d068a62bd2-newswire_03_25_24&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-6cce27a957-%5BLIST_EMAIL_ID%5D&mc_cid=d068a62bd2&mc_eid=b9p0fICGm0

Op-ed: In the 1930s, one woman put forward an idea to radically change the way we see housing in America. Now, almost a century later, policymakers in New York are following Catherine Bauer's approach. 

https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/finally-a-path-toward-modern-housing-in-2024?utm_source=Next%2BCity%2BNewsletter&utm_campaign=225fcb20c1-DailyNL_2024_03_14&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_fcee5bf7a0-225fcb20c1-44132557

“all kinds of suburbs have the potential to free themselves from traffic and long commutes and create more vibrant neighborhoods. Suburbs need to prioritize loosening zoning laws, building more dense housing, and making it easier to get places without a car, experts say.”

https://www.businessinsider.com/suburbs-millennials-walkable-towns-cities-housing-affordability-loneliness-2024-2

"Racial zoning ... begins in 1910, when Baltimore passed the first racial zoning ordinance in the U.S., making it illegal for Black Americans to live in white neighborhoods (and vice versa), which prompted other cities across the country to follow suit. From there the article covers how patterns of segregation formed and evolved under racially restrictive covenants and municipal zoning — and the related court case rulings — throughout the decades.

The “devastating effects … on those who have been kept out of historically white communities,” including higher poverty rates, lower home values and incomes, and lower home ownership rates, persist to this day, Fatheree writes, citing research from the Other & Belonging Institute. Featheree closes his article by discussing steps that need to be taken to reverse the effects of this discrimination and the role federal, state, and local governments should play in righting the wrongs they caused.

https://urbanland.uli.org/a-brief-history-of-racial-zoning-neighborhood-associations-and-municipal-zoning