25 APR 2024 · A note to listeners who may be sensitive to the subject matter: This episode contains brief descriptions of death and distress caused by climate events.   With a widescale and urgent phenomenon like climate change, there are innumerable ways to imagine communicating its impacts through articles, film, or television. That said, given the immensity of this subject within our minds and environment, certain audiences may be unwilling or unprepared to interact with the challenging realities of manmade warming.   Emmy-winning filmmakers Greg Jacobs and Jon Siskel needed to overcome exactly this difficulty when directing their latest documentary, The Here Now Project. Luckily, through their previous projects documenting harrowing events such as Hurricane Katrina in their film Witness: Katrina (2010) and the September 11th attacks in 102 Minutes That Changed America (2008), the team behind Siskel/Jacobs Productions has become skilled at using film to memorialize and give context to communal grief at the site of disaster.   Like these previous documentaries, The Here Now Project combines amateur and professional videos captured by eyewitnesses to convey the lasting social impact of its subject—namely, climate change. Through thoughtful editing and compilation of this primary source footage, the film provides the viewer an intimate experience of over 200 climate-related events that took place in 2021, including the 180 simultaneous wildfires that burned around the globe that summer.   Listen in as Ten Across founder Duke Reiter and Greg Jacobs, co-director of The Here Now Project and co-founder of Siskel/Jacobs Productions, discuss the directorial process behind this latest film, how the Ten Across geography is present within it, and why this kind of climate storytelling is necessary today.   The Here Now Project will premiere before select audiences at the https://hotdocs.ca/whats-on/hot-docs-festival/films/2024/here-now-project, April 26 and May 1. Stay up to date on timing for its wider release by visiting https://herenowproject.com/

18 APR 2024 · A note to listeners who may be sensitive to the subject matter: This episode contains a brief discussion of suicide risk among construction workers.   The work of decarbonizing our communities and cities has never been more critical than it is today. Countless observers of climate change are warning the world that our window to drastically reduce or eliminate fossil fuel use and avoid 1.5°C or more of global warming is narrowing with each year.   We know that nearly https://www.usgbc.org/articles/enhancing-building-decarbonization-through-performance-monitoring come from the construction and operation of buildings. For the last 30 years, the U.S. Green Building Council has been focused on remediating this critical aspect of the global warming picture. Their Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) green building rating system is the world’s most widely used framework for green design, augmented by LEED credentialing for professionals in sustainable design, construction, and operations.   The USGBC operates through a network of 75 local chapters nationwide. Last week, https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/new-usgbc-california-an-independent-nonprofit-launches-to-unify-the-california-green-building-movement-302112607.html?tc=eml_cleartime&mc_cid=f98cfd0233&mc_eid=88ecdc4ac5 and expanding their efforts under one inclusive statewide nonprofit, known as USGBC-California. In this interview, we’ll learn more about the goals of the merger, and how the Los Angeles chapter was particularly instrumental in this effort to engage more communities and professionals working toward an energy transition.   Listen in as Ten Across founder Duke Reiter and USGBC-California Executive Director Ben Stapleton discuss solutions for decarbonizing the built environment, ideals for the future of city health and design, and how California is currently leading the way in many U.S. climate efforts.   Other articles referenced in this episode:   https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/arizona-environment/2024/03/13/arizona-lawmakers-consider-bill-that-would-ban-climate-research-plans/72898105007/ (The Arizona Republic, March 14, 2024)   https://www.nbcmiami.com/news/local/desantis-bans-local-governments-from-protecting-workers-from-heat-and-limits-police-oversight-boards/3283832/#:~:text=In%20a%20bill%20DeSantis%20signed,farm%20and%20other%20outdoor%20workers. (NBC Miami, April 14, 2024)

11 APR 2024 · Gensler began as a corporate interior design firm in the 1960s. Today, it is the world’s largest architecture firm in terms of revenue and staff. In 2023, Gensler employed 6,000 professionals across 53 offices globally, reaching 3,500 clients in more than 100 countries.   The influence of this firm within the building and design industry cannot be overstated. Given its reach, it is encouraging that Gensler consistently demonstrates concern over its global corporate responsibility. In the last 20 years, Gensler’s co-CEOs Andy Cohen and Diane Hoskins have become notable figures for their talent in design and business leadership, but also for their thoughtful consideration of the company’s climate and equity impacts. Accordingly, they have been asked to speak many times before the United Nations and other global audiences.   Earlier this year, Andy and Diane accepted new roles as Gensler’s global co-chairs. Marking this transition, they have recently published what could be considered a culminative reflection of their time at the firm thus far, including the two decades they spent as co-CEOs. https://www.gensler.com/design-for-a-radically-changing-world explores the potential within the design sector to address some of the world’s most pressing issues, from significantly reducing carbon emissions to reconnecting and uplifting historically disinvested communities.   In this episode, Ten Across founder Duke Reiter talks with Andy Cohen and Diane Hoskins about findings in this latest book, comparing the efficacy of Gensler’s design forecasts from 10 years past, and traveling through more than 40 years of the firm’s history. As industry pioneers, they help us imagine the characteristics of the future city, specifically through the lens of innovative architecture and urban design.

4 APR 2024 · Artificial intelligence is advancing and intersecting with nearly all professional sectors today, including local government. However, without much AI-specific policy yet established at the federal or state levels, many cities are learning to navigate this emerging technology on their own.   A combination of public policy and residents’ openness to new ideas in the Phoenix metropolitan area has made it an ideal place for the launch of pioneering technologies like autonomous vehicles. Now, cities here are considering ways that AI can be applied to local needs—applications such as fast and accurate updates on local water supply and improved traffic safety measures.   Considering the recent expansion of US-based AI firms and a boom in semiconductor manufacturing, it seems there is no longer a question of whether AI will become a routine part of our lives—it is a matter of when. If this proves to be the case, governments at all levels will need to become familiar with the risks and advantages of this quickly evolving technology to ensures its thoughtful and equitable use.   AI and the future of the city was a central theme of this year’s https://tech.asu.edu/events/2024-smart-region-summit, convened by Arizona State University and partners. In this Ten Across Conversations episode, you will hear highlights from two discussions at this event, moderated by Ten Across founder and executive director Duke Reiter.   Listen in as Duke explores the incorporation of artificial intelligence at the city level with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego and three information technology experts from Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona, and Cleveland, Ohio.

14 MAR 2024 · Arizona's unique natural beauty and lingering "Wild West" spirit often charm outside observers. That allure may waver when closer examination reveals realities of extreme temperatures, extended drought, and what author Tom Zoellner refers to as a "transient" community fabric. In his 2023 book, https://uapress.arizona.edu/book/rim-to-river Tom's collection of essays details his one-man pilgrimage across the state to better understand its history and its enduring appeal—even in a warming world. His multidimensional perspective offers further context for our recent https://10across.com/local-experts-answer-why-are-people-still-moving-to-phoenix/, and for the complex factors that drive migration here and throughout the Ten Across region.     In this episode, Ten Across founder Duke Reiter and Tom Zoellner unpack important themes found within Tom’s recent New York Times editorial, https://www.nytimes.com/2023/12/31/opinion/southwest-climate-change-drought.html, and his book of Arizona essays. Through salient points in the state’s history—from its unsavory beginnings in the Indian Wars to the post-war residential and agricultural booms to the current evolution of the state’s Republican party—this conversation explores how history reverberates today in the legislature, at the border, and in environmental priorities.

7 MAR 2024 · https://10across.com/future-cities-resilient-urban-planning-with-tracy-hadden-loh-part-one/, we discussed lasting influences of post-pandemic work trends on urban design and governance. Although it is the most recent example, the COVID-19 pandemic is not the first major disruptor of economic activity within major U.S. metros, and it certainly will not be the last. A century earlier, the widespread adoption of automobiles changed the way metropolitan areas function to this day, allowing for mass migration to the outlying suburbs of once-booming central cities. Knowing that perennial industrial and population growth is a fickle thing to maintain, more city leaders, developers, and urban planners are re-acquainting themselves with the idea of ‘placemaking’ as a method for creating a resilient community culture. Popularized in the mid-twentieth century by pioneers like Jane Jacobs and William H. Whyte, the placemaking movement in the U.S. has long lauded the potential for urban living to foster human connections. Placemaking has since seen a twenty-first-century revival that has gained renewed energy as urban advocates aim to recover city life that was lost during the pandemic—with new insights into the values of equity and sustainability. In this second and final half of their discussion, Tracy Hadden Loh and Ten Across founder Duke Reiter will discuss the ambitions of the placemaking movement, and how it can improve the urban issues that were covered in the previous episode. Articles and sources referenced in this episode by order of appearance: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/new-census-estimates-show-a-tepid-rise-in-u-s-population-growth-buoyed-by-immigration/” (Brookings, January 2023) https://www.brookings.edu/books/hyperlocal/ (Vey, S. Jennifer; Storring, Nate, 2022) https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/30/opinion/covid-pandemic-cities-future.html (The New York Times, November 2022) https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/the-perfect-height-for-urban-buildings (Next City, February 2024) https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/02/21/opinion/homelessness-crisis-america-stories.html?utm_medium=email&utm_source=pocket_hits&utm_campaign=POCKET_HITS-EN-DAILY-RECS-2024_02_23&sponsored=0&position=1&category=fascinating_stories&scheduled_corpus_item_id=fd6a2cd8-83bc-4764-9519-35b6486b720f&url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2024/02/21/opinion/homelessness-crisis-america-stories.html (The New York Times, February 2024) https://www.brookings.edu/articles/homelessness-in-us-cities-and-downtowns/” (Brookings, December 2023) https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/ag-suing-arizona-landlords-corrupting-market-price-fixing-scheme/75-cd00f3b9-d730-4d63-945e-f80563b43742 (12News, February 2024)

29 FEB 2024 · The COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent rise in remote work sent a ripple through most U.S. cities. Heavy office districts became ghost towns, public transit services struggled, and downtown brick and mortar retail spaces emptied in response to a sudden drop in foot traffic. During this period, there was also a significant migration of remote workers from more crowded and expensive cities like New York or San Francisco to the suburbs and more affordable metros in the I-10 corridor. Some have referred to this rapid rearrangement of Americans, which has slowed a bit in the years since the pandemic began, as the ‘Great Reshuffle.’ From 2020 to 2021, https://www.brookings.edu/articles/new-census-data-shows-a-huge-spike-in-movement-out-of-big-metro-areas-during-the-pandemic/, who left the city for surrounding suburbs like Riverside or smaller metros in the Sun Belt. Over this same period, Dallas, Phoenix, Houston, and Austin were major metros that saw the greatest population gains in the nation. With the location of work becoming less of a requirement or priority for people’s choice to live in a city, how can public and private sector leaders ensure economic and cultural resilience within their communities? How can its zoning, hard infrastructure, and building stock become more adaptable to a constantly changing world? Listen in as Ten Across founder Duke Reiter and Brookings Metro fellow Tracy Hadden Loh discuss these questions and more, in this first half of a two-part discussion on the urban planning evolution taking place within the Ten Across region and beyond. Articles referenced in this episode: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/myths-about-converting-offices-into-housing-and-what-can-really-revitalize-downtowns/ (Brookings, April 2023) https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-geography-of-crime-in-four-u-s-cities-perceptions-and-reality/ (Brookings, April 2023) https://www.brookings.edu/articles/ensuring-the-intertwined-post-pandemic-recoveries-of-downtowns-and-transit-systems/ (Brookings, August 2023) https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/money/real-estate/catherine-reagor/2024/01/21/how-to-build-much-needed-affordable-housing-in-metro-phoenix/70418175007/ (AZCentral, January 2024)

22 FEB 2024 · The responsibility of U.S. mayors expanded dramatically at the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, as cities of all sizes were forced to reckon with aging infrastructure, dated public health procedures, and a dramatic drop in revenue and activity within their urban cores. This historic disruption in communities compounded upon many other issues which local leaders in the 10X region and beyond have been grappling with in recent years, including increased climate risk, homelessness, and immigration. In short, the work of operating a city has never been more complex or crucial than it is today. Therefore, local leaders need the requisite amount of government and community support to be able to build more adaptable, inclusive, and resilient communities. However, there are barriers to this goal which will need to be addressed. In 2023, more than 650 state preemption bills were introduced to attempt or successfully prohibit local policies regarding education, housing, workforce standards and rights, public safety, and LGBTQ+ protections. The National League of Cities (NLC) also found that 81% of public servants surveyed in 2021, reported experiencing some form of harassment from their constituents since the start of the pandemic. With 2024 being a presidential election year, much of the public’s attention on U.S. politics will be directed away from cities and toward the federal government. As critical as this decision will be, this conversation between Ten Across founder and NLC CEO and Executive Director Clarence Anthony is a helpful reminder of the influence local leaders have on the trajectory of the nation, as they are the ones closest to the reality and needs of their constituents. https://www.nlc.org/news-insights/citiesspeak-podcast/ Articles referenced in this episode: https://www.brookings.edu/articles/why-state-and-local-relationships-matter-to-national-prosperity/#the-moment (Brookings, January 2023) https://www.nlc.org/article/2022/02/14/the-changing-landscape-of-preemption/ (The National League of Cities, February 2022) https://www.nlc.org/resource/on-the-frontlines-of-todays-cities-trauma-challenges-and-solutions/ (The National League of Cities, November 2021) https://www.azcentral.com/in-depth/money/real-estate/catherine-reagor/2024/01/21/how-to-build-much-needed-affordable-housing-in-metro-phoenix/70418175007/ (The Arizona Republic, January 2024)

16 FEB 2024 · Phoenix, Arizona has seen meteoric population growth since 2010. Now the nation’s fifth largest city, its population increased by around 12% over the course of a decade. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, this highly-engineered metropolis has continued to expand at the second fastest rate in the nation between 2021 and 2022. Counterintuitively, the region has experienced an escalation of extreme heat and drought risk. The summer of 2023 was the hottest globally since NASA’s records began in 1880 by 2.59 degrees Fahrenheit. This significantly contributed to the https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2023/nov/11/phoenix-heat-deaths-record-climate-crisis, with 579 fatalities attributed to the elevated temperatures. Since August 2021, Phoenix has been grappling with federally declared shortages on the Colorado River, which has historically accounted for 38% of its overall water supply. To keep the river stable, the city recently agreed to a https://www.azcentral.com/story/news/local/phoenix/2023/05/31/phoenix-voluntarily-reducing-colorado-river-usage-by-30-percent/70275497007/ over three years—enough to supply 450,000 households for year— in exchange for $60 million in water infrastructure improvements. Statistics such as these are what have catapulted Phoenix to the top of many national and global climate resilience conversations. Reported figures are also what inspired our colleagues at https://climatenow.com/ to seek our collaboration to reach experts on the ground in Phoenix and get at a better understanding of how the city has been able to maintain such steady population and industrial growth, despite perceived and actual risks. This special long-form episode combines conversations with climate experts and business leaders closely involved in the state’s adaptation and sustainability efforts. Through their discussions, a clearer picture of why Phoenix is a coveted destination for many and how it plans to remain as one well into the future, appears. The moderators are Duke Reiter (Ten Across founder) and James Lawler’s (Climate Now founder).

25 JAN 2024 · The fifth National Climate Assessment, or ‘the NCA,’ was released by the U.S. Global Change Research Program in November 2023. This robust and thoroughly peer-reviewed collection of scientific findings among 500 experts describes current climate impacts and recommended adaptation strategies across every sector and region of the country. The Ten Across Summit in Los Angeles took place less than a month after its release. To mark this moment and provide context for the next two days of discussions around water, energy, housing, insurance, and other key topics, we gathered NCA authors and experts in sustainable development to share their insights and reactions to the report. This conversation led by NCA Southwest Chapter leader author Dave White, delves into the importance of this document, and provides context for how we should respond to meet the climate challenges ahead. The panelists expressed optimism upon its release, as the strategies included in the report arrive at a time where there has never been greater consensus or funding available around climate action in the Ten Across region and throughout the United States.