(2004-12-29) Mockus Bogota Mayor

Fascinating article about the mayoral terms of Antanas Mockus in Bogota Colombia. Urban Design, Civil Society, Engagement. One time, he asked citizens to put their power to use with 350,000 "thumbs-up" and "thumbs-down" cards that his office distributed to the populace. The cards were meant to approve or disapprove of other citizens' behavior; it was a device that many people actively - and peacefully - used in the streets.

Another fascinating ex-mayor of Bogota is Enrique Penalosa. "The least a democratic society should do," he says, "is to offer people wonderful Public Space-s. Public spaces are not a frivolity. They are just as important as hospitals and schools. They create a sense of belonging. This creates a different type of society - a society where people of all income levels meet in public space is a more integrated, socially healthier one."... Bogota's Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is of particular interest to public officials in the developing world who want to defuse traffic jams but don't have funds to build a metro (SubWay) or tram (Trolley System) system.