Unusual Times

March 11, 2020

In late January, a friend and colleague shared her plans to travel to Singapore with her son; the first case of COVID-19 was confirmed there the week before. In the weeks since this conversation, life has changed for many, if not most of us, due to the coronavirus. The need for prudent assessment of risk and the requirement of right action has come to everyone’s doorstep; it is essential not only for travels to Asia, but in assessing all of our daily routines.

Today, the World Health Organization declared COVID-19 a pandemic. In the face of this crisis, the urgency for resilient cities is apparent. The global spread of the same disease will be confronted differently by cities and communities across the world. The patterns and behaviors creating, constituting, and sustaining urban life will be tested. 

As everyday life is upended, the way we work must change. For me, it means moving part of the conversations I usually have about urban environments out in the community to this web page - in short posts. I hope this provides an additional way for me to stay in contact and continue conversations with friends and colleagues who are self-isolating and working from home too.

I look forward to staying in touch - while apart, in these unprecedented times.

Mark