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Chatham House:
From COVID-19 to Climate Change, US Cities are Leading the Way

For the last four years, our nation – and indeed the world – has watched the Trump administration repeatedly abdicate their responsibilities on everything from climate change to the COVID-19 pandemic; and so cities, especially New York City, have risen to the occasion to become the emblem of 21st century American leadership.

CNN Opinion:
Lift up women to lift the world

Women have finally arrived.

From Washington to Wall Street to Twitter, writers, academics, and business leaders are pointing to the empowerment of women as key to many of the world’s greatest challenges. They’re publicizing the research and amplifying hard facts, like the fact that when women have equal access to agricultural resources, 100 million to 150 million fewer people will go hungry.

The New York Times:
Legal Status for ‘Dreamers’

As even some opponents of granting protections for Dreamers acknowledge, the situation facing undocumented immigrants brought to the United States as children is complex and wrenching. I know about this predicament firsthand, because I am one of the millions formerly without legal status who were granted a path to citizenship under the law signed by President Ronald Reagan in 1986.

Forbes:
To Move Women Forward, Recognize That Things are Looking Up

Last fall in Time magazine, President Bill Clinton did something simple, but bold: He announced that he was optimistic. “Where there’s been creative cooperation coupled with a communitarian view of our future, we’re seeing real success,” he said, noting the strides society has made in areas ranging from sustainability to mobile technology. About the road to gender equality, he declared: “Women rule.”

The New York Times:
The UN gives a boost to New York City

New York City has proudly played host to the United Nations for more than 70 years. We take traffic concerns around the General Assembly meeting seriously, and are pleased to support our city partners in expanded efforts to mitigate the problem. 

Our analysis has found that the United Nations has a significant, positive impact year round, with $3.6 billion in total output to the local economy in 2014. Some of the benefits include foot traffic for local merchants and thousands of jobs in employment at the United Nations and businesses supported by its presence.

World Economic Forum:
To tackle climate change, we need city diplomacy

This week, I am honoured to join about 20 of my fellow Young Global Leaders as we embark on the Greenland Learning Journey with the World Economic Forum. In preparation for this journey, I have thought about connections between Greenland, with its population of 57,000, and New York City, whose 8.6 million residents I serve as Commissioner for International Affairs. Both destinations stir the imaginations of travellers. Now the challenge of climate change links us, as we share the responsibility of ensuring a safe, liveable planet for future generations.

The New York Post:
It’s not just gridlock: What the United Nations brings to New York

For 70 years, the United Nations has been seen as humanity’s best hope for building peace and fighting poverty. But let’s face it: For New Yorkers during the month of September, it also means traffic jams, security barricades and crowded subways.

With visits from Pope Francis, 180 heads of state and thousands of diplomats for the ongoing UN General Assembly, city officials have been working tirelessly to ensure security while minimizing commuting disruptions.

The Gotham Gazette:
Hosting the United Nations Brings Real Value to New Yorkers

For many New Yorkers, the annual wave of United Nations events, set to start again this week, can be a nightmare: jam-packed subways, bottlenecks on the FDR Drive, and crowded sidewalks that slow our steady gait to a maddening crawl.

What most New Yorkers may not realize, however, is that hosting the UN boosts our economy, draws desirable traffic to local businesses, and elevates city diplomacy on the world stage — and that’s a boon for all of us.