Intelligence Squared U.S. Premieres “Big Cities Are Past Their Prime” Debate March 24

With mega populations, urban hubs like New York and Los Angeles have long reigned as the nation's economic, social, and cultural capitals. But big cities have also been the hardest hit by the pandemic. "Zoom towns" are springing up across the country as professionals leave the city in droves. Even more, the pandemic has brought the economic and social inequality seen in many large cities into sharp focus for the nation's lawmakers. Will megacities keep their magnetism in the wake of Covid-19, or are their best days behind them? Award-winning debate series Intelligence Squared U.S. will address this question in a new debate on the motion “Big Cities Are Past Their Prime.”

Arguing in favor of the motion are “America's uber-geographer” (New York Times) Joel Kotkin, who studies the history and the future of cities, and environmental advocate Jennifer Hernandez who studies how city policies affect minority communities, especially in the wake of climate change. Arguing against the motion are economist Edward Glaeser, whose work focuses on the determinants of city growth and the role of cities as idea centers, and historian Margaret O'Mara, who has been studying the impact of technology on major metropolitan areas during the pandemic.

The debate will be released publicly on Friday, March 25 via public radio, video and the Intelligence Squared U.S. podcast. However, there is a private virtual preview screening on Thursday, March 24 at 5:00 PM ET that will include a live press roundtable with all four debaters following the debate. Media can email raypadgett@shorefire.com for press access.

FOR THE MOTION - BIOS

* Joel Kotkin, Scholar & Author, "The Coming Neo-Feudalism" 
Joel Kotkin is internationally recognized authority on global, economic, political, and social trends. Named "America's uber-geographer" by the New York Times, Kotkin studies the history and the future of cities. He is the executive director of the Urban Reform Institute and the author of several books, including "The Human City: Urbanism for the Rest of Us" and most recently "The Coming of Neo-Feudalism: A Warning to the Global Middle Class." Over the past decade, Kotkin examined several major cities including London, Mumbai, New York, Los Angeles, and Houston. He is a fellow at Chapman University, in Orange, California. * Jennifer Hernandez, Attorney & Environmental Advocate 
Jennifer Hernandez is a Stanford-trained attorney and environmental advocate who has received numerous civil rights awards regarding land use and zoning laws. She studies how city policies affect minority communities, especially in the wake of climate change. Hernandez has written three books and more than 50 articles on environmental and land use topics, and regularly teaches land use, environmental and climate law at both law and business schools.

AGAINST THE MOTION - BIOS

* Edward Glaeser, Economist & Author, "Survival of the City" Edward Glaeser is an American economist and professor at Harvard University where he taught microeconomic theory and urban and public economics. He has published dozens of papers on cities economic growth, law, and economics. His work focuses on the determinants of city growth and the role of cities as idea centers. Glaeser is the author of several books, including "Triumph of the City," and most recently "Survival of the City: The Future of Urban Life in an Age of Isolation. Glaeser is also a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute.

* Margaret O'Mara, Historian & Professor
Margaret O'Mara is a historian of modern America who writes and teaches about the history of the technology industry, American politics, and the connections between the two. She is a history professor at the University of Washington and writes often for major publications including The New York Times, Washington Post, and Los Angeles Times. In 2005, she published the book "Cities of Knowledge" and most recently authored, "The Code: Silicon Valley and the Remaking of America." Since the pandemic, she studied the impact of technology on major metropolitan areas.

ABOUT INTELLIGENCE SQUARED U.S. DEBATES (IQ2US)
Intelligence Squared U.S. (IQ2US) was founded to address a fundamental problem in America: the extreme polarization of our nation and our politics. Through its award-winning live debates and associated programming, the nonprofit company serves as a model for responsible media in a new age - fair, intelligent, nonpartisan - while restoring critical thinking, facts, reason, and civility to public discourse. Recently recognized as "Best Podcast Event of 2020" by Adweek, Intelligence Squared U.S. reaches millions through multi-platform distribution, including public radio (the show airs in all top 25 markets that carry specials), podcasts, video live streaming, newsletters, interactive digital content, and on-demand apps including Roku and Apple TV. With over 190 Oxford-style debates and counting, plus additional podcast and video content, IQ2US has encouraged the public to "think twice" on a wide range of provocative topics for over a decade. Author and ABC News correspondent John Donvan has moderated since 2008.

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