It would be reasonable to conclude that the 2 most inspirational cities in the world right now in city-building for people are Paris and Montreal. It might be the french culture for place-making and civic sociability. On the other hand, it might be about 2 progressive women mayors. #Hidalgo #Plante - ThreadSky

brenttoderian.bsky.social • 92 days ago

It would be reasonable to conclude that the 2 most inspirational cities in the world right now in city-building for people are Paris and Montreal. It might be the french culture for place-making and civic sociability. On the other hand, it might be about 2 progressive women mayors. #Hidalgo #Plante

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beckya.bsky.social•91 days ago

Montreal is wonderful. Very diverse.

rreinart.bsky.social•91 days ago

Ya think? What do you know - leaders actually make a difference. . .

kevinbleakley.bsky.social•90 days ago

Hildago has had the "balls" to push through real change, unlike the mayor in my French town, even though he supposedly has a pair.

sir-tainley.bsky.social•90 days ago

Yeah, you talk about how great the French are, and I think of this

depaneuse.bsky.social•91 days ago

That is true. Two cities, very different but so much progress so fast. It’s incredible. If that doesn’t convince people to vote women nothing will.

neilforreal.bsky.social•92 days ago

Toronto has a progressive woman mayor. Unfortunately, Ontario has a regressive simpleton premier.

joshsteich.bsky.social•90 days ago

From LA: A progressive female mayor ain’t enough

mpbreen21.bsky.social•91 days ago

What’s happening in Paris has also been happening in provincial French cities for some time. Hidalgo is great & deserves tons of credit, but I do think that a broader French sensibility about public investment in the public interest is at work here.

davesawatsky.bsky.social•92 days ago

And Hidalgo isn't seeking reelection 🥲

chuisaoul.bsky.social•91 days ago

Valérie Plante is also steping back at the next election.

brenttoderian.bsky.social•92 days ago

Sadly, both of these inspiring
mayors have said they aren’t running again. What will that mean for these 2 inspiring cities? I’ve seen cases of remarkable city-building progress stopping on a dime with the election of the wrong successor for mayor. Hopefully that won’t happen in Paris & Montreal.

sikolnam.bsky.social•92 days ago

In both cases, I feel like enough of what they’ve done has involved physical infrastructure - even with things like daylighting - that it will be hard to undo.

paulwillyjean.bsky.social•91 days ago

The risk is primarily that whoever takes over allows too many comprises on future projects, or forgets that much of the city’s processes that allowed these recent changes still need improvement.

Complacency is our worst enemy when time comes to bring structural changes.

asadc.bsky.social•90 days ago

For Montreal at least, in the US/Canadian context, paired with provincial/state government that isn't interfering. See Doug Ford in Toronto; Kathy Hochul's near-fatal delay of congestion pricing (if you think a Trump fed gov won't try everything it can against it...)...

asadc.bsky.social•90 days ago

N Am mayors have limited jurisdictional space, and even more limited political realistic space, to operate in. Makes Montreal's achievements that much more remarkable.

pattywiens.bsky.social•92 days ago

We need a female mayor in Winnipeg. Get shit done.

mtl3pylavoie.bsky.social•91 days ago

Montreal had never more poverty, homeless people than NOW. Yes it looks good from the outside, but different perspective from inside. i was born here over 60 years ago and i will die here, but i dream of a real progressive city. As for Paris, How many we're evicted of their homes for the Olympics?

kevinbleakley.bsky.social•90 days ago

Um in Paris no-one got evicted from their home.

mtl3pylavoie.bsky.social•90 days ago

Yes they did; check your facts.

kevinbleakley.bsky.social•90 days ago

If you mean people got evicted "from the street" or "from squats", then ok, yes. I thought you were talking about people paying rent or paying off their apartment getting evicted "because Olympics".

mtl3pylavoie.bsky.social•90 days ago

Yes there we're evictions to convert into short term rental units.

cyclopsdave.bsky.social•91 days ago

Bradford, small city in Northern England, are doing remarkable things, on place & culture building
(Also has a female mayor and civic leadership)
Je ne sais quoi innit.

@tracybrabinmayorwy.bsky.social @kerstenengland.bsky.social
@susanhinchcliffe
@bradford2025

https://activetravelcafe.org.uk/node/141/

erinliman.bsky.social•26 days ago

I believe the two are intertwined. Much of it seems to reside in the culture. There is also a seasonal rhythm to Montreal -- an often harsh winter leads to a joyful, social summer season. Festivals and free events bring people together, creating moments of shared awe (circus acts, fireworks, etc.)

northcountryjoe.bsky.social•91 days ago

Can I ask you ~ what specific conditions / initiatives in Montreal / Paris make you feel this way?

kevinbleakley.bsky.social•90 days ago

Cycling (Paris).

rasushrestha.bsky.social•75 days ago

I’d go with the two progressive women mayors.

Women get what building thriving communities is all about.

walterverse.bsky.social•92 days ago

when will we see such fast positive change again if it just reverts to the past as they leave office? Let's hope their tenure has been inspiring enough to continue to carry us and Montreal and Paris forward

mooneyc4.bsky.social•91 days ago

Meanwhile Doug Ford is cosplaying as mayor of Toronto and ripping up bike lanes.

richardpeddie.bsky.social•91 days ago

100 %

bpincott.bsky.social•90 days ago

I'm fully in the "down with the patriarchy" camp. We need more women leaders.

twittingkos.bsky.social•90 days ago

Reporting from Spain where we just had a catastrophic flood testing the leadership of dozens of towns: women mayors were just as incompetent as men.

lolafromthed.bsky.social•91 days ago

Don’t forget Detroit

stephaniewatt.bsky.social•91 days ago

In Montréal, it is about the mayor *and* the party Projet Montréal. Plante didn’t have to convince other elected officials to move ahead with the changes that are celebrated here and in urbanist threads. They were in the political program. A crew of courageous people supported them and her.

etbadaboum.bsky.social•90 days ago

Hey, I've seen you in a recent video on YouTube!

stephaniewatt.bsky.social•90 days ago

Yes! Thanks to @ohtheurbanity.bsky.social !

etbadaboum.bsky.social•90 days ago

Great video 👍

stephaniewatt.bsky.social•91 days ago

And borough elected officials experimented and piloted projects that were then taken up by other boroughs or « the city ». It was an ecosystem of courage, zones of delicious uncertainty meeting and presenting as heaps of courage. :-) A mighty leader, no doubt. A crew, invariably.

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