Portfolio
A snapshot of the reports, blogs and articles, data visualization, and field work my work has touched.
Reports
Pedestrian Zones
What does an urban car-free zone look like? And why are cities of all sizes and geographies talking about them? Pedestrian zones are not new, but they are picking up steam at a time when residents want to able to walk to local attractions and socialize outside safely. In the age of mixed-use development, pedestrian zones offer a way to reduce pollution and enjoy city amenities.
Voting at Home
What do elections look like in the midst of a global pandemic and how do city leaders help their residents navigate it? Despite the state of the pandemic, elections are coming, and they are coming up quickly. One approach that is quickly gaining steam across the country is voting at home, also known as vote by mail or absentee voting.
City Housing Market Analysis
We all know the US is in a housing affordability crisis: Housing prices are going up and wages are stagnant. But how do city leaders work to fix this? This analysis uses demographic data to cluster like cities and propose solutions specific to that cluster’s needs. Local officials need specific, actionable data and this report provides a starting point.
Micromobility
Love them or hate them, electric scooters and bikes have become a common fixture on city streets across the country. Now, two years after they first came on the scene, cities are leading the way in incorporating equity requirements into permit applications and helping ensure all residents can benefit from the increased mobility options.
Cybersecurity and Local Government
Cyber attacks on cities have been on the rise. This report details the threats cities are facing and showcases some ways that local governments are working with state governments, the federal government, and non-government actors, like universities, to safeguard their data
Preemption of Housing Tools
Preemption. The bane of policymakers everywhere. In an age of housing unaffordability, city leaders need every tool they can get to make sure residents are housed. Many policy tools like rent control, fair housing requirements, and tax incentives are state-controlled and don’t allow local leaders to utilize them. This report maps this preemption and showcases cities doing great work with the resources they have.
Congestion Pricing
Congestion: the bane of city leaders everywhere. While London, Singapore, and Stockholm have had congestion pricing for a while, NYC will be the first US city to join their ranks. This report delves into what congestion pricing is, how it works in cities around the world, and how it can help curb congestion in our urban cores, while also providing cleaner air!
Housing Analysis in Cityscape
Housing Market Conditions Across America’s Cities was published in the summer 2020 edition of the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s journal, Cityscape. Check it out!
Policing Reform
What does reimagining policing look like and what role do state and local governments play? This report delves into the ways that city and state governments can work together to tackle public safety, some of the roadblocks that need to be overcome, and case studies of new and innovative initiatives from across the country.
Data Visualization
COVID-19 Racial Disparity Dashboard
COVID-19 cases and deaths by race compared to percent of population to highlight racial disparities.
Commuting Patterns in US Cities
Commuting pattern trends across city sizes and within the 15 largest US cities compiled for a report on congestion pricing.
Demographic Trends Across American Cities
Interactive PowerBI dashboard built to improve understanding of member cities as compared to all US cities.
Gender Income Gap
Tableau dashboard displaying the gender income gap across 6 housing market clusters.
E-scooter rides in Sandy City, Utah
Created for an ArcGIS StoryMap mapping changing mobility across the country
COVID-19 Impacts on City Finance
PowerBI dashboard visualizing original COVID-19 fiscal impact model results and city employment data to convey breadth of COVID impact.
Rent Burden and Income
Tableau dashboard showing median income and rent burden across 6 housing market clusters.
Blogs and Articles
Rethinking Sidewalks & Streets in the Midst of COVID-19
The congestion once caused by commuting has all but disappeared in the midst of the pandemic, but cities are facing a new demand from their residents: creating safe spaces for residents to walk, run, bike, and get around while maintaining social distancing.
Congestion Pricing:
Why it Makes Sense
What City Leaders Should know
People have long received a free ride with cheap roads and parking. Our research indicates that when the use of roads is properly priced, societal benefits abound.
Data Outlooks in the Age of COVID-19
Data is central to city planning and strategies, and city leaders have long worked with internal staff and expert partners to compile and analyze data for decision-making. Now more than ever, cities need strong partners to address challenges, answer looming questions and protect the heath and safety of our residents.
Housing:
Why Housing Trust Funds Became Unifiers
When it Comes to Housing Solutions, City Size isn’t the Only Factor
The housing crisis is something every city grapples with but none have solved. From a lack of affordable housing across the board to the “missing middle,” city leaders are on the front lines.
Five Things you Should Know About Contactless Payment Systems
Interest in and adoption of contactless payment systems have been growing in recent years due to the added efficiency, convenience, and security that these systems offer and continued technological advancement. In this post: What are these technologies and what are the key things to know about them?
Mobility:
City Transportation Changes in a Pandemic
What Cities Should know about Micromobility
How the City of Oakland is leveraging on-the-ground organizations to understand and meet the needs of communities
Whether it’s electric scooters, ride sharing, bike lanes, buses or metro, getting residents where they need to go is no easy task. The mobility landscape is changing faster then ever before and cities are at the heart of the innovation.
Field Work
West Bank, Palestine
What do date farmers in the Jordan Valley of Palestine and the Arava region of Israel have in common? A shared love of farming and a desire to reach across the divide. This report details an evaluation of an NGO-led cooperation between Israeli and Palestinian farmers at the nexus of water, food, and energy. It delves into the core themes of identity, equity, trust, and shared environmental sustainability.
Mt. Kilimanjaro Valley, East Africa
Witnessing the annual Wildebeest migration, sunrise lion roars, and baboons stealing laundry: just a few of the highlights of doing research in East Africa! Field work conducted with the Kenyan and Tanzanian wildlife services through the School for Field Studies. Individual research focused on the intersection of climate change, deforestation, and human-wildlife conflict. View the field research paper or senior honors thesis resulting from the field research.
St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands
Ever been stung by a jellyfish and befriended a sea turtle on the same day? I have! On a research trip to St. John, studying the effects of climate change on Caribbean reef marine populations. Conducted an Independent research project focused on the relationship between activity level and habitat on striping patterns in Schoolmaster snappers (L. apodus).