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3 ways we can redesign cities for equity and inclusion | Vishaan Chakrabarti

Visit to get our entire library of TED Talks, transcripts, translations, personalized talk recommendations and more. Cities are engines of culture, commerce, knowledge and community, but they’re also centers of inequality and poverty. As the world rebuilds from the coronavirus pandemic, can we transform cities into bastions of equity and sustainability? Architect and educator Vishaan…

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Cities are engines of culture, commerce, knowledge and community, but they’re also centers of inequality and poverty. As the world rebuilds from the coronavirus pandemic, can we transform cities into bastions of equity and sustainability? Architect and educator Vishaan Chakrabarti discusses a new urban agenda that provides equitable housing, health care and transportation for all — and helps build cities rooted in our desire to connect at a human level. “We need a new narrative of generosity, not austerity,” he says. (This virtual conversation, hosted by TED arts and design curator Chee Pearlman and head of curation Helen Walters, was recorded June 10, 2020.)

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56 Comments

  1. rolff108

    July 15, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    Some things not to forget when redesigning cities for equity and inclusion:

    * Total surveillance: Monitor everything, everyone, everywhere, all-the-time with
    cameras, microphones, motion sensors, bathroom scales, and GPS. You cannot manage what you cannot measure!

    * Use state-of-the-art AI to make sure everyone is maintaining adequate levels of equity and inclusion.
    Train the AI to detect micro-agressions, misgendering, mansplaining, manspreading, etc. Impose appropriate fines for transgressions immediately so perpatrators can be re-educated on how to be part of a society.

    * Implement an “army” of healthcare workers who can come to your door and test you for the latest virus or virus-like threat to the community. Wrong-think is a threat to mental hygiene and can spread like a virus. The healthcare army must be able to treat and eliminate all health threats to the community.

    Did I miss anything?

  2. Jonathan Perry

    July 15, 2020 at 5:31 pm

    The biggest problem is 80% of Americans born after 1985 will not be able to pay off a house in their lifetime which is ridiculous. Especially with student loans if they took that money and bought a house instead of going to college we would be way ahead of the game but we’re all screwed no one’s of my generation is going to be able to retire or actually own anything. Most of us will be constantly in debt. how come they’ll teach you nuclear physics in high school but won’t teach you how to balance a checkbook cuz they don’t want you to know

  3. Junior Alvarez

    July 15, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    The U.S. has been the most “inclusive” place for decades now. Stop acting like it hasn’t. There’s no systematic racism, the gender pay gap is nonexistent, we don’t kill or imprison homosexuals, we have immigrants of many nations. The real issue is people like to be victims and want to be irresponsible, and they want their opinion to matter and try to oppress those with different views. I’m looking at the left wing people. It’s just a left wing agenda, trying to make people feel oppressed when there’s really nothing to be oppressed by.

  4. Connor Hawley

    July 15, 2020 at 5:34 pm

    These comments did not pass the vibe check. I did not know TED had so many misinformed, right-wing followers. Did you even listen to what Vishaan had to say?

    • -N7-

      July 15, 2020 at 6:31 pm

      Love how you group everyone you disagree with as right wing.
      A very dangerous way of thinking, I suggest you travel more and live elsewhere in the world to broaden your horizons boy.

  5. Rooted Reality

    July 15, 2020 at 5:40 pm

    Stop pandering to huge companies? While Walmart is months in finally following guidelines… mom and pop shops that did follow, were shut down. Now, those loosing their businesses will be mixed into all.

    The stunt Walmart pulled is like asking for condoms at the baby shower!

    Huge companies do it because they are allowed to get away with it. Take Apple… news states they’ll give a twenty five dollar refund for forcing you to buy new phone, slowing current phone down. Apple phones are way more expensive than refund. Their refund is like using a coupon, not what it should have been

  6. Domas A

    July 15, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    Marxist views yet again, all I hear is equity good and rich people bad. TED has become just another tool for the leftist ideology.

  7. ITouchTheSky 8GladysWorld8

    July 15, 2020 at 5:51 pm

    I love this conversation. You are right, we need a generosity world and not austerity. This world is amazing, and each of us has its own place here. Love, Solidarity and Giving.

  8. Back Health 101

    July 15, 2020 at 6:02 pm

    You Redesign cities for health and equity by stop trying to be the savior of minorities. The structure starts from a strong family (yes having a father in the household). After that strong families bind together (that’s called a neighbor). After strong neighborhoods are built ( trusting and interacting with the people that live on your street), you have a stronger community !! Bottom up, not top down.
    Aside from that yes, plan the appropriate bus routes.

  9. aymira _

    July 15, 2020 at 6:09 pm

    Türk yok mu ya :d ?

  10. Fábio Alves

    July 15, 2020 at 7:03 pm

    Less socialism, get a job. Cities don’t lack jobs.

  11. Daniel Rúben

    July 15, 2020 at 7:14 pm

    Equity, as in, everyone living subsistence level

  12. yasin pak

    July 15, 2020 at 8:11 pm

    The following words are the most frequent terms in the video. It was created automatically to give an idea of the content of the video.
    urban, city, housing, berkeley, infrastructure, equity agenda, mobility, narrative, attainable

  13. Bob Frog

    July 15, 2020 at 9:00 pm

    How Soviet.

  14. Joe Dooner

    July 15, 2020 at 9:14 pm

    Why is it those with an elitist attitude and appearance always want us to be subservient to government? Socialism for thee but not me.

  15. Nemesis Brzeczyszczykiewicz

    July 15, 2020 at 9:17 pm

    Vishaan Chakrabarti is still in denial. This fool is talking about New World Order and robbing
    people blind through taxes.
    2017 Death Summary in NYC = 101,385

    7/11/2020 Death Summary in NYC due to Covid-19 = 23,267 ???

    7/11/2020 Death Summary in NYC other than Covid-19 = no word about that anywhere ???
    Inadvertently, those who modified corona virus and made it COVID-19 eradicated all other disease from the world. Amazing. Now all we have to worry about is Covid-19.
    I urge everyone to check data in their cities and compare.
    Pandemic – definite No
    Media induced mass WORLD Panic – definite Yes
    But there is a “pandemic” going on for years now. Around 800,000 kids go missing each year in USA, a lot more around the world, and only a tiny fraction are found and reunited with their parents. What happens to the rest? Over a ten year stretch that is 8 million kids missing in USA alone. Now if that is not a problem, because I don’t see any main stream media covering that, then I don’t know what is.

  16. Chris Johnson

    July 15, 2020 at 9:17 pm

    Equal opportunity is what we should be shooting for. Not equal outcome. Those who promote equal outcomes should be ashamed of themselves. It is destructive to our capitalist Society

  17. Home Wall

    July 15, 2020 at 9:18 pm

    Everyone loves to bike on hills, in the rain, in the snow, in high winds, in the dark, in high heat….don’t we?

  18. Martin Svensson

    July 15, 2020 at 10:41 pm

    You shouldnt live in a city to begin with. We need to be on the productive land.

  19. Valaryant

    July 15, 2020 at 10:49 pm

    No

  20. Lars hos LJDA

    July 15, 2020 at 10:54 pm

    Strange with this highaltered top down idealistic ideas no solid on who pays for it..

  21. Kongolox

    July 15, 2020 at 11:06 pm

    such a waste of TED talk time…. :/

  22. youngsaaron

    July 15, 2020 at 11:47 pm

    This is just utter none sense

  23. Wake Up

    July 16, 2020 at 12:11 am

    TED has pro ped0phile videos, for anyone who still thinks TED is intellectual. #pizzagate

  24. pjihae

    July 16, 2020 at 1:13 am

    It’s interesting how many people in the comments section are bleating about personal responsibility as though austerity and authoritarianism are the ways in which to achieve that.

  25. Startup Funding Event Global

    July 16, 2020 at 2:35 am

    There’s no limit to the distribution of wealth. When you have extremely wealthy people, you will also have extreme poverty. How do we balance this?

  26. Pops

    July 16, 2020 at 2:36 am

    Easiest way is to get rid of all of the traitors trying to destroy everything good and just.

  27. Panteli Stathopulos

    July 16, 2020 at 4:46 am

    This comment section full of crazy

    • Anton Wereta

      July 16, 2020 at 10:06 am

      You’re just simple.

    • Panteli Stathopulos

      July 16, 2020 at 4:31 pm

      @Anton Wereta x plain

  28. Michael Argabright

    July 16, 2020 at 6:11 am

    Mans looking for check that’s it

  29. Gung-Ho Nature Game Casts

    July 16, 2020 at 7:20 am

    How about one way. Get everybody to fak everybody so eventually everybody is like everyone else. Dumbass

  30. Vash Matrix

    July 16, 2020 at 8:10 am

    No thanks. Equity goes against equality.

  31. Hyder Noori

    July 16, 2020 at 8:33 am

    What if some of use don’t like “inclusion”? What if (and I know this sounds crazy to some) some people like to live with their own kind, race, religion, etc. Isn’t this why interracial marriages are rare still?
    This obsession with inclusion and “social justice” reeks with political agendas.

  32. Alex Robertson

    July 16, 2020 at 11:58 am

    He talks about money like it grows on trees there are trade offs in life that have to be considered like if you pay for this stupid idea how will you pay for other things please don’t think with your emotions think with logic and learn basic economics

    • Panteli Stathopulos

      July 16, 2020 at 4:32 pm

      Basic econ: externalities and human capacity. If you want to talk about trade-offs you better be calculating the “true cost” as best you can. Human capacity to increase productivity, increasing GDP.

  33. Chuck Brenner Indianashogman

    July 16, 2020 at 1:04 pm

    He sounds like a Dean of AGENDA 21-30 .
    As an architect, he sure knows a lot about the UNs agenda to move everyone into the cities and remove their property rights. I heard nothing about God , Family, technology innovation, or even how a better moral compass can help everyone. They only focus on herding the people and surveillance for compliance.

  34. karl der kahle

    July 16, 2020 at 1:20 pm

    Why are there so many dislikes?

    • Tallonest

      July 16, 2020 at 5:17 pm

      People don’t like pandering

  35. Rafmanuha Mulyawan

    July 16, 2020 at 1:42 pm

    Im here just because want to hear some people talk in english, so idk what the reason people dislikes this videos :v poor me

  36. 20 Percent

    July 16, 2020 at 1:49 pm

    This video inspires me, I support this content🙏

  37. B Welkinator

    July 16, 2020 at 5:26 pm

    We are NOT in an “equity crisis”. We are exactly where evolution has put us. There is NO “systemic racism” . COMPLETE BOGOSITY

    • quentinlynch

      July 16, 2020 at 7:33 pm

      May the flying spaghetti monster save your soul!

  38. AircraftOfSomeType

    July 16, 2020 at 7:51 pm

    Nonwhites are not oppressed, the facts don’t support that narrative.

  39. kerberospanzer

    July 16, 2020 at 8:14 pm

    Innovation comes when independent. A social healthcare, housing health. Ten CEO’s year ends bonuses could cover California’s Healthcare (as A State)

  40. kerberospanzer

    July 16, 2020 at 8:17 pm

    motorcycles for single commuters as a Law

  41. Suze C

    July 16, 2020 at 9:20 pm

    What a load of crap

  42. Scott Olsen

    July 16, 2020 at 11:08 pm

    Cities need to be deconstructed. Every citizen has a right to living within walking distance to fresh groceries and community jobs. However, the big business of city monopolies will never allow a loss of revenue or power.

  43. Angeline

    July 16, 2020 at 11:48 pm

    You know how to design inclusive communities? Immediately stop the language of equity and inclusion when designing, and think about functionality, accessibility, and location. I’m not even going to watch the video; between the comments and the title, I can tell they’re overthinking the social aspect at the cost of the logical aspect of the design.

    People don’t want to be pandered to, they just want good options.

  44. jukebox symposium

    July 17, 2020 at 8:13 pm

    Equity + Inclusion = Personal Asset Cap(10million) + Residential Income Property Banned(stick to commercial & industrial income properties!)

  45. Lumkile Mamba

    July 18, 2020 at 7:04 am

    This is sensible. Indeed there’s a silverlining in every storm (even in the covid 19 one). But my problem is that, in the past, there has been a lot of other catastrophes that have compelled architects and urban planners to advocate for urban gentrification and inclusivity. However, they have not been able to succeed at implementing them (at the ground-level). As such, Im not sure if it would be pragmatic to get excited about all the prospects that Vishaan is presenting…From the perspective of pragmatic execution, they lack innovativeness.

  46. Darrel Robertson

    July 19, 2020 at 1:48 am

    Midwest comment, stop suburban growth, expand local farming and clean water…thanks for the discussion.

  47. EighteenXVIII

    July 19, 2020 at 2:23 am

    I thought this was going to be about accessibility for disabled people. Instead it’s just the same marxist propaganda that was debunked 100 years ago in the paper “Economic Calculation in the Socialist Commonwealth”. Mr. Chakrabarti, I suggest you read some Milton Friedman or Thomas Sowell.

  48. JackobMan

    July 20, 2020 at 6:18 am

    How about not recycling Marxist ideas under the guise of ‘equity and diversity’ and instead working towards creating opportunity, incentive and human capital? How about actually referencing successful economic policies instead of those thoroughly debunked?

  49. Lee Turnbull

    July 20, 2020 at 8:44 pm

    Equity? Isn’t that communism…..

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