Will North America's cities prove themselves at the World Cup?
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This week millions of fans are making their way to 16 cities hosting World Cup matches across the U.S., Canada and Mexico. Despite signs that attendance will be lower than past World Cups for a variety of reasons, we’re still talking about a massive event that presents a major opportunity — and risk — for the hosting cities. Can they ensure the trains run on time and that the event won’t be disrupted by strikes or other long-simmering social tensions? If nothing else, there will be plenty of scooters!
What you need to know
Mexico City braces for protests ahead of first match: President Claudia Sheinbaum has projected confidence that planned protests by a broad range of groups — from unions to anti-corruption and anti-cartel activists — will not disrupt the opening match between Mexico and South Africa. Nevertheless, she has advised fans to show up four hours before the kickoff and has mobilized hundreds of riot police in response to threats by protest organizers to block stadium entrances. The World Cup offers a major opportunity for Mexico City to prove itself as an international destination but activists see it as a chance to draw attention to long-standing issues, such as poverty, corruption and cartel violence.
Los Angeles averts stadium workers strike: The company that runs operations at SoFi Stadium in LA has reached a tentative deal with the union representing the stadium’s 2,000 workers. Workers had seized the opportunity presented by the World Cup to exert pressure, voting to authorize a strike just days before the stadium was scheduled to host the USA’s opening match against Paraguay.
Lime goes big on the World Cup: Lime is deploying an additional 14,000 scooters and e-bikes in North American cities hosting World Cup matches and offering a Fan Pass that allows up to 90 minutes of rides capped at $15.
A new way to measure cities: Yale researchers have developed an “urban pulse” metric that attempts to measure change across cities by monitoring construction activity. Said study co-author Karen Seto: “Cities do not grow smoothly or continuously,” Seto said. “Development is defined by sharp, short-lived spikes and episodic surges, punctuated by long periods of baseline quiet.”
Finally, homelessness drops in California: For the first time since 2018, homelessness declined in the Golden State. The 2.8% drop last year was one of the nation’s largest. The enormous unhoused population in California’s major cities has become the most tragic and visible symptom of the state’s struggles to translate its enormous wealth into shared prosperity.
Einride goes public: Einride, the Swedish manufacturer of autonomous electric freight trucks, debuts on the NASDAQ after merging with an SPAC. Shares soared over 100% during the first day of trading before plunging back down to slightly below their starting point. The company, founded in 2016, already boasts 30 enterprise customers. Just a few months ago we sat down with Einride General Manager Henrik Green to talk about how autonomous technology is transforming logistics.
What we’re reading
America’s shifting climate politics: As they plot a comeback in the midterm elections, the New York Times reports that Democrats are reconsidering how they talk about climate change, with some wondering if they should talk about it all when voters are most focused on the cost of living. This has of course prompted vociferous pushback from environmental advocates, who say that there is an affordability-focused case for climate policy that will resonate with voters.
