Technopolis Jim Kapsis, Molly Turner

When startups want to fight city hall, many turn to Bradley Tusk. Fresh off advising Andrew Yang in his unsuccessful mayoral bid in New York City, the political “fixer” and host of the Firewall Podcast talks with Molly and Jim on this collaborative, joint episode on how the pandemic may have permanently changed urban life and maybe even reset relations between tech and cities for the better.

Are pandemic weary cities prepared for wildfire and hurricane season?

Will open streets lead to a more equitable mobility future?

How might the pandemic affect the future of domestic work?

What will our neighborhood restaurants look and feel like after the pandemic is long gone?

Are we at risk of creating a permanent digital underclass? Internet access has become essential for modern American life, but current policies don't treat it that way. In this special bonus episode, Jim and Molly talk to Maya Wiley about a core piece of the infrastructure for our tech future: broadband. Wiley, a digital equity expert and MSNBC contributor, breaks down the history of broadband access, the severity of the inequity, and what it costs us all when some people just can't get online. We also talk about local efforts to improve broadband access, including Wiley's own work in New York City to turn old phone booths into free Wifi kiosks.
If you've listened to Technopolis, we want to know what you think. Please click on this very brief survey to help us make the show better. For more on the show, visit CityLab's Technopolis page.