NEWS

         

We caught up with John Surico, journalist, researcher, and professor at NYU, to discuss the impact of long-form storytelling in journalism, his experience on the Judging Committee, and his ongoing work on climate equity and urban space in New York City. This is what he had to say:

A FORMAT THAT ALIGNS WITH THE CURRENT NEEDS 

"Books allow you to dive deep. These issues are complex; our cities are changing at unprecedented speeds, and the stories we tell about them demand detail and perspective. A longer form that's digestible to the public isn't only opportune for that; it's what this moment demands."

DISCOVERING POWERFUL URBAN INSIGHTS THROUGH CURATED READING

"I was honored by the opportunity to join the judging committee. What excites me most, I'd say, is the ability to just spend time with these texts and understand how the author is untangling the challenges facing cities to a wider audience. A summer surrounded by good reads on cities is exactly how I'd want to spend it."

RETHINKING STREETS AND OPEN SPACES AS TOOLS FOR CLIMATE EQUITY

How we develop public space is an issue of climate equity at its core. Our streets are the most abundant public space we have, but right now, they're overwhelmingly impervious and dedicated to vehicular traffic—both of which exacerbate climate threats. Figuring out ways to make our streets work more for people—whether for mobility, community, or carbon mitigation—is increasingly one of the best ways cities can build resiliency. And right now, I'm looking at ways that our parks and open spaces can balance usages, how we can mitigate oversized vehicles on our infrastructure, and how the city can look to absorb a lot more water.

* John teaches at New York University and writes on cities, streets, sustainability, and resilience. His reporting focuses on how cities respond to crises, manage public space, and navigate infrastructure challenges. His work appears regularly in The New York Times, Bloomberg, New York Magazine and others.