Urban Policy Project

The project should consist of a policy proposal on an urban economics issue. It should be a specific policy related to the New York City or Nassau or Suffolk County (if you wish to analyze a different urban area please discuss this with me for a prior approval). You are encouraged to compare and contrast those issues with other cities across the globe.
The policy proposal should be clearly structured, have a policy recommendation, as well as a clear discussion of the argument in favor and against its implementation. Your argument should be based on relevant data and theory.
This project will be split in two parts.
Part 1 - Proposal, Short Outline, and Photovoice Journal for Urban Policy Project
Due Monday, October 28
Part 2 - Urban Policy Project
Due Tuesday, December 17

Part 1: PhotoVoice
PhotoVoice is a research method in which a person photographs their surroundings to increase knowledge of topics important to them. There are three (3) main purposes of PhotoVoice:
  1. Give voice—through photographs— to people to document their community’s strengths as well as areas of concern
  2. Encourage dialogue and raise awareness about issues of concern at population level
  3. Spur change at the population level
For more information see: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photovoice 
Take six photos related to your Urban Policy Issue. At least two of the photos should show strengths and positive characteristics of your community that positively contribute to the issue. And, at least two photos should show weaknesses and negative characteristics of the issue. The 5th and 6th photos can be positive or negative—you choose! Use your smart phone or a digital camera to take the photos.
Title each photograph and write a 1-2 sentence description for each. Ideally, you should write the description immediately after taking the photograph so that you do not forget the photograph’s meaning. You should also describe why you took the photographs that you took.
You are also encouraged to find pictures online of similar things in other cities in order to make a comparison or contrast. For example, picture of a street lamp on Long Island vs a picture of a street lamp in Slovenia. You should explain what is the main difference (is it good? is it bad?) or what are the similarities (is that good or bad?) 

More About PhotoVoice
Using Images and Stories to Create Community Change: An Introduction to Photovoice -  Quick Introduction to PhotoVoice - a pdf file
Here is a nice video that shows how Photovoice can be use for civic action.

Video Instructions Related to the Project
Click here to get more detailed information about
1) the class project
​2) Instructions on how to create a simple website using Google sites
3) Instructions on how to submit your work ​

Part 2: Urban Policy Project
A clearly written up project that connects the PhotoVoice with the actually issue and policy suggestions. Minimum of 1500 words and no more than 3000 words (text in PhotoVoice, tables, graphs, figures, bibliography, table of contents, abstract, etc. does not count towards this word count).
Your final project (or research paper) should first be on your website. This is a requirement.
The project should include all the parts that you have put together for Part 1 - proposal with the PhotoVoice. You should include your pictures and expand on those.
The project should have the introduction, main body, and discussion/conclusion.
You should also include other material - this can include links to articles,  photos, graphs, data, videos, podcasts, etc. The way you cite that work is by providing links to those cited works, rather than using an official bibliography as you do in other papers.
So, the final product should look like a really well written website that includes all the relevant information about your topic, your policy question and proposal.
Deadline: December 19

How to Submit Your Work
All you work will be submitted online.
First, you will have to create your own webpage where you will be using a Creative Commons License – more info about this will be provided later one.
On your page you will have at least two other pages. One for your Proposal, Short Outline, and Photovoice Journal and another one for your Final Urban Policy Project. You are encouraged to make your pages as attractive and informative as you wish and can include additional information about the issue or urban economics in general.
If you are citing other work (and you really should) please include a link to the page or provide proper citation.
You can also include videos or interviews with people in the community. You can ask them about their opinions about the issue. Make sure that you always get a written and signed consent from people if you are thinking of publishing the interviews online.
Always feel free to come and talk to me about your project. You are also encouraged to submit a preliminary versions in order to get some feedback from me.

Suggested Topics
Here are some suggested questions that deal with cities and sustainability:
  1. How could NYC be more sustainable? What can you do (take mass transit, recycle, etc.) to lessen your city's impact on the environment and social challenges?
  2. Think about NYC. What energy system does your city currently run on, and what would it take to convert your city's infrastructure to clean, green electricity?
  3. What can be done to make cities more healthful spaces? Could more parks and plants help to decrease carbon in the atmosphere to make the air more breathable? Can mass public transport and travel by bicycle be encouraged to increase physical activity and decrease pollution? 
  4. How can coastal cities like NYC prepare for environmental changes such as sea-level rise and increased extreme weather?
  5. In addition to lowering greenhouse gas emissions, how can mass public transport and the share-economy contribute to economic and social inclusion?
Here are some other topics that you could do some more research on:
  1. To me one of the most disturbing things about living on Long Island is the fact that most of the electrical lines are still hanging outside on the poles. We had this system in Slovenia just after the 2nd World War, when we were still a very poor and less developed country. Soon after, most of the lines were put under ground. Not only that it is not aesthetic for the towns and cities to have those lines crisscrossing the streets, it is extremely inefficient. Any time there are strong winds that brake some tree branches the power goes off. The economical impact of that is very big. Not to mention how unprepared the city and the surrounding suburbs are for major hurricanes. In addition, the amount of time and money spent on cutting the branches in order to “maintain” those lines is very big. Estimate the economic impact of this on the local community. Try to explain why are the main reasons why the Nassau and Suffolk county are not investing the money to build a more resistant, reliable and efficient electrical grid.
  2. Another issue that very few people seem to be talking about on Long Island is the noise pollution related to fire stations. The number of times these local departments are deploying their fire alarms and the intensity and noise associated with it seems completely out of control. What have other towns and cities in Europe for example done regarding this? Is there any talk to change this system locally? Explain in detail the issue associated with this.
  3. Long Island also has a serious issue with sewage. The most common way of dealing with it is a completely outdate method of installing cesspools or septic tanks – especially the north shore of Long Island. These methods add to a great deal of pollution of the seawater and aquifers. Describe the problem in detail. What, if anything, has been done to provide a better sewage treatment on Long Island.
  4. Another very interesting topic is the issue with NYC subways system. Just google it and you will see how many problems are relate to this. Similarly, you could focus on LIRR.
  5. Research the public school system in NYC or Long Island. Long Island has one of the most segregated school districts in the nation. What are some major issues with it? What is your proposal to fix or ameliorate an issue associated with education in NYC or Long Island?
  6. Suffolk county has one of the highest death rates for bicycle riders. Why does this matter?
  7. What are some of the issues with the street lights in NYC or Long Island? How do they compare to street lights in other developed countries?
  8. Building codes – both for residential and commercial buildings.