City Agencies Research Articles

Inhabiting temporariness: the agency-in-waiting of Eritrean refugees in the city

Protracted displacement turns what should be a temporary protection status, asylum, into a long-term process that defines the existence of millions of people. The unresolved causes of displacement, a flawed asylum system and restrictive refugee policies all force refugees to inhabit a state of temporariness in cities. We discuss the unfulfilled potential of Eritrean refugees in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and show how urban migration becomes part of a waiting game on a journey towards the realization of this potential. Using Brun’s concept of agency-in-waiting, we illustrate how Eritrean refugees use their agency in cities, finding ways to remain hopeful, circumvent restrictions and prepare for unpredictable futures. Our findings challenge the dominant discourse on Addis Ababa as a transit space where Eritreans remain inactive and unproductive, idly waiting for resettlement. Rather, they work towards their ultimate goal – to establish a secure life with full rights, wherever this might be.

Government Organization Adaptation to Implement Agile Practices in Provincial Smart City Agency

Government Organization Adaptation to Implement Agile Practices in Provincial Smart City Agency

Lessons Learned from the Launch and Implementation of the COVID-19 Contact Tracing Program in New York City: a Qualitative Study.

On June 1, 2020, NYC Health + Hospitals, in partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, other city agencies, and a large network of community partners, launched the New York City Test & Trace (T2) COVID-19 response program to identify and isolate cases, reduce transmission through contact tracing, and provide support to residents during isolation or quarantine periods. In this paper, we describe lessons learned with respect to planning and implementation of case notification and contact tracing. Our findings are based on extensive document review and analysis of 74 key informant interviews with T2 leadership and frontline staff, cases, and contacts conducted between January and September 2022. Interviews elicited respondent background, history of program development, program leadership and structure, goals of the program, program evolution, staffing, data systems, elements of community engagement, trust with community, program reach, timeliness, equity, general barriers and challenges, general facilitators and best practices, and recommendations/improvement for the program. Facilitators and barriers revealed in the interviews primarily revolved around hiring and managing staff, data and technology, and quality of interactions with the public. Based on these facilitators and barriers, we identify suggestions to support effective planning and response for future case notification and contact tracing programs, including recommendations for planning during latent periods, case management and data systems, and processes for outreach to cases and contacts.

Diverting 911 calls: Lessons from early adopting urban jurisdictions

AbstractResearch SummaryTwo perceptions drive interest in finding ways of diverting more 911 calls from police to civilian first responders: (1) police responses can result in inadvertent harm to citizens and (2) many calls to which police respond require services that police often cannot provide. Thus, using other personnel may improve police–citizen relations and strengthen crime fighting by reducing extraneous police burden. Using a case study design, we conducted formative evaluations of programs that have developed beyond pilots in three large U.S. cities: Albuquerque, Atlanta, and Houston. In each city, we interviewed officials, program operators, and other stakeholders and reviewed program documents and statistics. We detail the events and forces that led to the establishment of each program, the way in which the programs have been institutionalized, and the way they interact with the Police Department. We then discuss key lessons learned for these jurisdictions.Policy ImplicationsMany U.S. cities are considering diverting some emergency calls for service from police to civilian first responders. This analysis provides evidence to aid policy makers, researchers, and other stakeholders in the development and evaluation of community responder programs. In all respects, we find that cities’ unique experiences inform program design. For example, in Albuquerque, a City Hall‐driven initiative established a new city agency parallel to the Police Department. In Atlanta, decarceration activists drove the initiative; the program is a city/county‐funded nonprofit, more fragile in its funding. Risk aversion among call takers and dispatchers has led to low call diversion rates across all sites, but training and collaboration have shown promise to resolve this problem. Public safety officials external to the diversion programs commonly expressed concerns about first responder safety and perceptions that police are expected when 911 is called. This risk aversion has led to slower‐than‐expected expansion of the program within each city.

Protocol for the Support Application for Food PAntrieS trial: design, implementation, and evaluation plan for a digital application to promote healthy food access and support food pantry operations.

Food-insecure households commonly rely on food pantries to supplement their nutritional needs, a challenge that was underscored during the COVID-19 pandemic. Food pantries, and the food banks that supply them, face common challenges in meeting variable client volume and dietary needs under normal and emergency (e.g., pandemic, natural disaster) conditions. A scalable digital strategy that has the capacity to streamline the emergency food distribution system, while promoting healthy food options, managing volunteer recruitment and training, and connecting to emergency management systems in times of need, is urgently required. To address this gap, we are developing a working mobile application (app) called the Support Application for Food PAntrieS (SAFPAS) and will evaluate its feasibility and impact on food pantry staff preparedness, stocking, and client uptake of healthful foods and beverages in two urban United States settings. This paper describes the protocol for a randomized controlled trial of the SAFPAS mobile application. We will conduct formative research in Baltimore, Maryland and Detroit, Michigan to develop and refine the SAFPAS app and increase scalability potential to other urban settings. Then we will test the app in 20 food pantries in Baltimore randomized to intervention or comparison. The impact of the app will be evaluated at several levels of the emergency food system, including food pantry clients (n = 360), food pantry staff and volunteers (n = 100), food pantry stock, and city agencies such as the local food bank and Office of Emergency Management. The primary outcome of the SAFPAS trial is to improve the healthfulness of the foods received by food pantry clients, measured using the Food Assessment Scoring Tool (FAST). Post-trial, we will conduct additional formative research in Detroit to prepare the app for scale-up. We anticipate that SAFPAS will improve alignment in the supply and demand for healthy foods among food pantry clients, food pantries, and city agencies which supply food in Baltimore. Real-time, bidirectional communication between entities across the system allows for increased situational awareness at all levels during normal and emergency operations. By conducting formative research in Detroit, we hope to increase the scalability of the SAFPAS app to additional settings nationwide. NCT87654321. https://classic.clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT05880004.

Measles Outbreak Associated with a Migrant Shelter - Chicago, Illinois, February-May 2024.

Measles, a highly contagious respiratory virus with the potential to cause severe complications, hospitalization, and death, was declared eliminated from the United States in 2000; however, with ongoing global transmission, infections in the United States still occur. On March 7, 2024, the Chicago Department of Public Health (CDPH) confirmed a case of measles in a male aged 1 year residing in a temporary shelter for migrants in Chicago. Given the congregate nature of the setting, high transmissibility of measles, and low measles vaccination coverage among shelter residents, measles virus had the potential to spread rapidly among approximately 2,100 presumed exposed shelter residents. CDPH immediately instituted outbreak investigation and response activities in collaboration with state and local health departments, health care facilities, city agencies, and shelters. On March 8, CDPH implemented active case-finding and coordinated a mass vaccination campaign at the affected shelter (shelter A), including vaccinating 882 residents and verifying previous vaccination for 784 residents over 3 days. These activities resulted in 93% measles vaccination coverage (defined as receipt of ≥1 recorded measles vaccine dose) by March 11. By May 13, a total of 57 confirmed measles cases associated with residing in or having contact with persons from shelter A had been reported. Most cases (41; 72%) were among persons who did not have documentation of measles vaccination and were considered unvaccinated. In addition, 16 cases of measles occurred among persons who had received ≥1 measles vaccine dose ≥21 days before first known exposure. This outbreak underscores the need to ensure high vaccination coverage among communities residing in congregate settings.

New Zealand public transport agencies' responses to COVID‐19: Understanding public transport services, infrastructure and communication measures

AbstractCOVID‐19 brought public health challenges to the public transport system throughout the world. As a result, a range of response measures were implemented to ensure the safety of passengers while maintaining a functioning system. This paper explores the responses of public transport agencies in New Zealand's metropolitan cities (Auckland, Christchurch and Wellington) to the COVID‐19 pandemic by examining their physical and communication measures. We analysed public transport agencies' websites to understand the response measures implemented, including the accessibility of COVID‐19‐related information, and the communication of information via websites and social media platforms. The results show that 13 service responses were implemented across the three public transport agencies, with Auckland implementing the most measures. Seven infrastructural responses were implemented, with Christchurch implementing all seven. Wellington was found to be the public transport agency that used social media the most during the pandemic. The website accessibility findings suggest that the more accessible a public transport agency's website was, the less information was present. The research concludes that all three public transport agencies in New Zealand performed reasonably well and were able to maintain a safe and responsive public transport system.

제1기 자치경찰위원회 운영 평가 및 법제도적 개선방향에 대한 小考

On January 1, 2021, the autonomous police system was implemented in Korea, and local autonomy was implemented in the field of security following general administration and education administration. In terms of decentralization, it was expected that the essential purpose of local autonomy would be realized by providing customized policing services based on the characteristics of the region and the will of the residents, and the democracy, decentralization and resident orientation of police activities would be strengthened. In the second half of 2020, the unified autonomous police model bill was completely revised and enacted through a sudden policy change in the dualized autonomous police model, which was previously discussed, and the institutional basis was established with the leading role of the National Police Agency in the situation of lack of preparation period. In the meantime, the term of the first autonomous police commissioners, who have played a pivotal role in the settlement and development of the autonomous police system, has expired and is now preparing for the formation of a new second autonomous police committee. At this point, it is expected that it will provide implications for the stable development of the autonomous police system as well as the preparation of the second autonomous police committee to clarify the current status of the autonomous police system and legal and institutional problems and to present concrete suggestions for future improvement directions. In organizing this paper, I basically referred to various literature materials such as publication data, research papers and media reports of the National Police Agency and the municipal autonomous police committee. In order to grasp the reality of the operation of the system and to find out the effective improvement direction of the legal system, I also listened to the vivid opinions and suggestions for improvement through direct interviews with some autonomous police committee members and police related NGOs such as autonomous crime prevention groups. Since the implementation of the autonomous police system, mutual cooperation between the city and provincial offices and the city and provincial police agencies has worked closely in the autonomous police affairs by securing the linkage between local administration and security administration centered on the autonomous police committees in cities and provinces across the country. Various policing policies have been established and implemented to reflect the will and participation of residents in the police administration and to provide policing services suitable for local specificity. The responsibility of the heads of local governments for local security has been increased by cities and provinces across the country, and the budget for projects needed to carry out local police affairs has also been increased. However, despite many developments and achievements, there has been a constant need to supplement the essential limitations of the current autonomous police system, low awareness of the autonomous police, and the promotion of mutual cooperation with the autonomous police committee and the national police. More in-depth discussions are needed in that the introduction of the dualization model of the autonomous police and the financial burden of the state are related to the maintenance of security at the national level and the allocation of the national budget. It is hoped that the police system development committee under the Prime Minister's Office will make systematic and careful decisions based on national consensus and careful financial analysis and diagnosis so that the total amount of national security will not be damaged in the rapidly changing domestic and overseas security environment.

Sanctuary city success? How attitudes towards irregular migrants and urban policy differ in Barcelona

In 2012, Barcelona City Council introduced a new city agency that would provide housing and resources for migrants and refugees living within their city—irregular migrants. This esteemed sanctuary city policy further integrated irregular migrants into city life; however, how did natives respond to this effort? Through a difference in differences methodological approach and public opinion survey data from 2008 to 2017, I provide evidence of more positive native attitudes towards irregular migrants and immigration policy. I speculate that the increase in positive perceptions occur due to contact theory. While a single-case study, these findings provide hope for how city governments feeling the burden of the ongoing refugee crisis can adequately provide support for their irregular migrant populations without fear of backlash from their citizens.

Optimizing Regional Governance in Batam City Government-Business Entity Institutional Dualism

Introduction: The development of special areas of Batam began in the 1970s. With the support of special regulations made by the central government, Batam City becomes a competitive place for investment in Indonesia. Moreover Batam has geographical advantage because of its strategic location and adjacent to Malaysia and Singapore.Purposes of the Research: The research examines the legal framework governing the relationship between the Batam City Government and Batam Concession Agency, identifying overlap and potential conflicts, and promoting synergy with the Batam Business Entity.Methods of the Research: The study approach employed. Secondary data is used in this normative legal research strategy.Results of the Research: Research suggests that the legal structure between Batam City Government and Batam Concession Agency should promote cooperation and collaboration. In practice, overlapping jurisdiction areas might leave unclear and confusing duties and responsibilities for each entity. They were fulfilling each entity's duties. Overlapping zones can interfere with development and public services and cause institutional conflicts. The legal framework may require clarity or amendment to improve the interaction between the Batam City Government and the Batam Concession Agency. Optimize local government, for optimal local government, the law must assist the Batam City Government, and Batam Concession Agency cooperate. Batam City and Batam Concession Agency labor together cooperatively. Batam City and Batam Concession Agency collaborate.

Optimizing Regional Governance in Batam City Government-Business Entity Institutional Dualism

Introduction: The development of special areas of Batam began in the 1970s. With the support of special regulations made by the central government, Batam City becomes a competitive place for investment in Indonesia. Moreover Batam has geographical advantage because of its strategic location and adjacent to Malaysia and Singapore.Purposes of the Research: The research examines the legal framework governing the relationship between the Batam City Government and Batam Concession Agency, identifying overlap and potential conflicts, and promoting synergy with the Batam Business Entity.Methods of the Research: The study approach employed. Secondary data is used in this normative legal research strategy.Results of the Research: Research suggests that the legal structure between Batam City Government and Batam Concession Agency should promote cooperation and collaboration. In practice, overlapping jurisdiction areas might leave unclear and confusing duties and responsibilities for each entity. They were fulfilling each entity's duties. Overlapping zones can interfere with development and public services and cause institutional conflicts. The legal framework may require clarity or amendment to improve the interaction between the Batam City Government and the Batam Concession Agency. Optimize local government, for optimal local government, the law must assist the Batam City Government, and Batam Concession Agency cooperate. Batam City and Batam Concession Agency labor together cooperatively. Batam City and Batam Concession Agency collaborate.

Evaluation of planned number of children, the well-being of the couple and associated factors in a prospective cohort in Yokohama (HAMA study): study protocol

IntroductionMany developed countries including Japan are experiencing declining birth rates, particularly in urban areas. A gap between the planned number of children and the actual number of children exists, that...

COLLABORATIVE GOVERNANCE IN ENHANCHING SURABAYA'S TOURISM THROUGH SISTER CITY COOPERATION

This research was written to analyze the collaboration of actors involved in sister city cooperation between Surabaya City and Kitakyushu City in developing Ecotourism Mangrove Wonorejo to become one of the tourist destinations that can contribute to improving Surabaya's tourism sector during the COVID-19 pandemic. As previously known, since the COVID-19 pandemic there have been many sectors affected and caused losses, one of which is the tourism sector. Surabaya city is one of the cities whose tourism sector development is also affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, this is evidenced by the many tourism destinations of Surabaya city that were closed during the COVID-19 pandemic, one of which is Ecotourism Mangrove Wonorejo. Although closed, when the easing of PPKM Ecotourism Mangrove Wonorejo is one of the tourist destinations that opened and became an alternative tourist destination during the COVID-19 pandemic. In the study that uses qualitative research methods with the use of the concept of Collaborative Governance and Sister City, the results of this study will explain the collaboration between the Surabaya City Government, Kitakyushu City Government, private parties, the public, and agencies / academics in realizing the improvement of surabaya tourism sector during the COVID-19 pandemic through wonorejo mangrove forest ecotourism. Keywords: Collaborative Governance, Surabaya City, Tourism, Sister City

The Influence of Internal Control Systems, Information Technology Utilization and Organizational Commitment on the Performance of Local Government Institutions (Empirical Study on Regional Apparatus Organizations in Jayapura City)

<span lang="EN-US">This study aims to determine the influence of the internal control system, the use of information technology, and organizational commitment to the performance of Jayapura City government agencies. This type of research is quantitative research using a causal associative design. The data analysis method used in this study is multiple regression analysis with the help of SPSS version 22. The population in the study was 23 OPDs within the jayapura city offices and agencies, the research samples were the Head of the Office / Agency / Secretary, the Head of the Planning and Reporting Program Subdivision, as well as staff with data sources obtained through the results of filling out questionnaires. Based on the results of the partial research conducted, it can be seen that the internal control system, the use of information technology and organizational commitment have a significant effect on the performance of government agencies. And simultaneously the internal control system, the use of information technology, and organizational commitment have a significant effect on the performance of government agencies.</span>

Soils information for urban customers: A perspective

AbstractDue to its benefits, including but not limited to increased access to affordable healthy food, bringing communities together for a common goal, and improving food security, urban agriculture is gaining popularity across the United States. Although soil‐based information is available at the national level, people in urban environments may have limited details about the soils in their communities. To bridge the gap between rural and urban agriculture, city, state, and federal agencies such as the Natural Resources Conservation Service could expand upon the soil survey programs that currently exist and are available within the WebSoilSurvey. Additionally, trace element testing and interpretation would allow for improved knowledge about the risks that urban soils may have on food quality for those interested in urban agriculture.Core Ideas Detailed soil science information for urban agriculture may be lacking on a fine scale. Opportunities exist to support the soil science needs of urban growers via local, state, and federal entities. Information on urban soils can help provide healthy and sustainable foodstuffs.

Assessing whether peri-urban agricultural land or plantation forest is a better green infrastructure for ground arthropods at local and landscape scales

City agencies across multiple continents have invested millions of funds in ambitious afforestation projects in urban and peri-urban areas to enhance the city green infrastructure. One example is the Beijing One Million Mu Plain Afforestation Project, which has established 146,000 ha of plantation forests, mainly on arable lands. This contradicts the national arable land conserving policies and has dramatically changed local habitat types and landscape context. However, the impact of these processes on biodiversity is not well understood. To investigate this impact at local and landscape scales, we explored a space-for-time approach. We selected 12 plantation forests and their nearby arable lands along a gradient of plantation forest cover in the surrounding landscapes. We surveyed ground spiders and carabids and analyzed their responses to local habitat type, landscape context, and their interaction. In the sampled landscapes, plantation forest cover increased (12.0%–35.9%), while arable land cover decreased (58.3%–31.8%). 96.3% of the new plantation forests were established on arable lands. Intensive afforestation on arable lands did not increase local ground arthropod diversity. In fact, ground arthropod abundance and species richness in plantation forests were significantly lower than in arable lands when the surrounding arable land cover was relatively high. With surrounding arable land cover decreasing, ground arthropod abundance and species richness in plantation forests increased but did not exceed those in nearby arable lands. Hence, the overall ground arthropod diversity at landscape scale was not improved. These findings suggest that, from a biodiversity conservation perspective, plantation forests did not surpass peri-urban agricultural lands as a better green infrastructure . However, ground arthropods benefit from rich local non-crop herb communities. Conserving peri-urban agricultural lands and implementing extensive management regimes for agricultural lands and existing plantation forests are more effective tools than ambitious afforestation of agricultural land in peri-urban areas of Beijing and other metropolises.

Study on Design and Planning of Modeling Facade of Urban High-rise Buildings

At present, when the government agencies in many cities approve the application for the construction of high-rise buildings, they must first evaluate the wind comfort and wind safety of high-rise buildings, and only when sufficient comfort and safety are proved will they be approved. The modeling of high-rise buildings is often not a single simple collection, but a complex body or group composed of multiple volumes. Whether its final modeling can become a harmonious and unified organic whole is the basis of forming the modeling order and aesthetic feeling of high-rise buildings. The interface between high-rise buildings and external space is facade, which plays an irreplaceable role in shaping architectural personality and creating environment, and is also closely related to the establishment of city image. Based on this, this paper analyzes the main points of the design and planning of urban high-rise building facade from the design and planning principles of urban high-rise building facade. Then according to the facade detail design, ecological design, facade decoration component design, improve the artistry and functionality of high-rise buildings.

Abstract A027: Creating partnerships to deliver community-based interventions for cancer prevention in a historically African American community

Abstract Be Well Communities™ is MD Anderson’s signature place-based approach for cancer prevention and control, working with communities to promote wellness and address modifiable risk factors for cancer. In this project, the planning phase of the Be Well Communities’ model was implemented in Acres Homes, a neighborhood in northwest Houston with more than 57,000 residents. While the changing demographics show increasing numbers of residents of Hispanic descent (43% of the population), Acres Homes still experiences effects of a legacy of Blacks experiencing poverty; more than half of the population of Acres Homes resides in census tracts that are considered areas of persistent poverty. Further, it is a medically underserved area with relatively high rates of unhealthy behaviors, as compared to Healthy People 2030 goals. To work toward addressing the disparities in health outcomes experienced by community residents, a community advisory group (Steering Committee) including residents, non-profit organizations, health care partners, city and county agencies, plus other stakeholders, was convened and aligned through a structured process to develop shared goals, foster multisector collaboration (as measured by a stakeholder survey administered twice), and enhance community capacity to improve health outcomes through development of a Community Action Plan. Clear, achievable goals were developed, multisector collaboration was enhanced, and more than 400 hours of capacity building support led to a Community Action Plan focused on healthy eating and active living, including 15 evidence-based interventions led by 18 organizations. The majority (93%) of the Steering Committee reports that this plan reflects community priorities and will reach the residents most in need. In the first 2 years of implementation nearly 40% of the residents of the community have been reached by programs including more than 5,000 residents participating in physical activity opportunities, classes and over 1000 individuals receiving outreach from a Community Health Worker within the safety-net hospital system to receive access to healthy food access and nutrition education programming. By listening and developing trust, the Be Well Communities team successfully worked with Acres Homes residents and organizations to enhance community capacity to address health inequities in one of Houston’s most historic communities. Citation Format: Ruth Rechis, Haley Gardiner, Katy Oestman, Stephanie Nutt, Michael T. Walsh Jr.. Creating partnerships to deliver community-based interventions for cancer prevention in a historically African American community [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 16th AACR Conference on the Science of Cancer Health Disparities in Racial/Ethnic Minorities and the Medically Underserved; 2023 Sep 29-Oct 2;Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev 2023;32(12 Suppl):Abstract nr A027.

Networked Governance in Transnational Cooperation and Politics: Responding to COVID-19 Pandemic Along Thai-Laos Cross-Border Communities

The outbreak of COVID-19 is a transnational threat challenging states and people beyond the frontiers. This study focuses on the networked governance in three Thai-Lao cross-border communities as a practice of transnational and political cooperative systems in surveilling, preventing, and controlling the COVID-19 pandemic. The research aims at (1) investigating the involvement of public, private sectors, and civil society in establishing participatory networks in dealing with the pandemic in Thai-Lao border communities; (2) analyzing the potential and strength of the networks of relationships; and (3) discovering guidelines on future disease outbreaks management. By using qualitative methodology and working with 59 key informants, this study discovers the roles of relevant actors in five participatory networks. It also found the horizontally and vertically grand networks of governing cooperation and collaboration among key actors as the potential and strength of the networks of relationships at community and transnational levels. Moreover, forming transnational networks among governmental agencies in twin cities along natural borders is considered a fundamental approach to developing Thai-Laos areas of cooperation. The research concludes that the networks of cooperation and collaboration during the pandemic at border areas are increasingly significant as the front-line mechanisms for effective management.

Be Well™ Acres Homes: a community-driven, evidence-based approach to reduce health inequities through sustained cross-sector partnership

PurposeBe Well Communities™ is MD Anderson’s signature place-based approach for cancer prevention and control, working with communities to promote wellness and address modifiable risk factors for cancer. The purpose of this paper is to describe implementation of the planning phase of the Be Well Communities model in Acres Homes which began in 2019.MethodsA community advisory group (Steering Committee) including residents, non-profit organizations, health care partners, city and county agencies, plus other stakeholders, was convened and aligned through a structured process to develop shared goals, foster multisector collaboration, as measured by a stakeholder survey administered twice, and enhance community capacity to improve health outcomes through development of a Community Action Plan.ResultsClear, achievable goals were developed, multisector collaboration was enhanced, and more than 400 h of capacity building support led to a Community Action Plan initially focused on healthy eating and active living, including 15 evidence-based interventions led by 18 organizations. The majority (93%) of the Steering Committee reports that this plan reflects community priorities and will reach the residents most in need.ConclusionBy listening and developing trust, the Be Well Communities team successfully worked with Acres Homes residents and organizations to enhance community capacity to address health inequities in one of Houston’s most diverse and historic communities.