City Mayors: Mayors running the world's cities

Cities are shaping today's social, cultural, technological and economic agendas. They compete, learn from each other and act together.

Site Search
About us | Quiénes somos |
A propos de nous | Über uns |
Mayor Monitor
Directories
Events
Debate

City Mayors ranks the world’s largest, best as well as richest cities and urban areas. It also ranks the cities in individual countries, and provides a list of the capital cities of some 200 sovereign countries. More

City Mayors profiles city leaders from around the world. More

City Mayors describes the history, architecture and politics of the greatest city halls in the world. More

Mayors from The Americas, Europe. Asia, Australia and Africa compete for the World Mayor Award. More

Use Mayor Monitor to rate the performance of mayors from across the world More

In your opinion: Praise Criticise. Write

City Mayors reports political events, analyses the issues and depicts the main players. More

City Mayors describes and explains the structures and workings of local government in Europe, The Americas, Asia, Australia and Africa. More

City Mayors deals with economic and investment issues affecting towns and cities. More

City Mayors describes and explains financial issues affecting local government. More

City Mayors reports urban environmental developments and examines the challenges faced by cities worldwide. More

City Mayors reports on and discusses urban development issues in developed and developing countries. More

City Mayors reports on developments in urban society and behaviour and reviews relevant research. More

City Mayors invites readers to write about the people in their cities. More

City Mayors examines city brands and marketing. More

City Mayors lists and features urban events, conferences and conventions aimed at urban decision makers and those with an interst in cities worldwide. More

City Mayors deals with urban transport issues in developed and developing countries and features the world’s greatest metro systems. More

City Mayors examines education issues and policies affecting children and adults in urban areas. More

City Mayors investigates health issues affecting urban areas with an emphasis on health in cities in developing countries. More

City Mayors reports on how business developments impact on cities and examines cooperation between cities and the private sector. More

City Mayors examines the contributions history and culture make to urban society and environment. More

City Mayors examines the importance of urban tourism to city economies. More

City Mayors questions those who govern the world’s cities and talks to men and women who contribute to urban society and environment. More

City Mayors profiles national and international organisations representing cities as well as those dealing with urban issues. More

City Mayors reports on major national and international sporting events and their impact on cities. More

City Mayors lists cities and city organisations, profiles individual mayors and provides information on hundreds of urban events. More

New Orleans is still below
pre-Katrina population level
News (USA): The population of New Orleans grew 8.2 per cent in 2008, faster than any other large city in the US, according to population estimates released by the Census Bureau. As of 1 July 2008, the population of New Orleans was 311,853, up from 210,768 in 2006 following Hurricane Katrina but still below the pre-hurricane level of 484,674 based on the 2000 Census. Round Rock, Texas, a city north of Austin, was the second fastest-growing city (8.16 per cent) in the US from 2007 to 2008. More

Three Mexican mayors freed
while others face indictments
News (Mexico): Three of the ten Mexican mayors arrested in May during a raid of suspected members of a drug cartel were released this week. The mayors from the towns of Coahuayana, Buenavista and Aquila were let go after spending more than a month in prison. A police spokesman declined to give any reasons for their release. He did, however, say that the seven other mayors still in custody would be charged with protecting members of the notorious La Familia drug cartel. More

Ghana mayors beautify their
cities while urban poor suffer
Society: With 70 per cent of Ghana’s urban population living in slums, 20 per cent in poverty and 13 per cent officially classified as unemployed, the ‘urban question’ is of the utmost difficulty for the government and people to resolve. But the question threatens to be even more demanding because in 2010, just one year away, Ghana will undergo an ‘urban explosion’ – where for the first time more people will live in cities than in the country. More

British Columbia’s local government
system relies on mutual co-operation
Government: Since the 19th century regional planning and cooperative efforts have taken root in Canada, Europe, the United States and to a lesser extent in other developed countries. A major source of inspiration has been the growth of city regions and their importance to the national economy. Urbanization, which took on a new dimension after the second world war as a result of rapid growth in suburban communities, led to more substantive and sophisticated efforts than previous examples. More

Syed Mustafa Kamal
City Mayor of Karachi
Mayors: The facebook fan page of Karachi’s Mayor (Nazim) Syed Mustafa Kamal describes him as the “true working class representative of Pakistan”. Western-educated but passionate about his city, Karachi’s first citizen uses his considerable online presence and following to keep in touch with the residents of Pakistan’s principal urban centre and financial hub. A leading member of MQM (United National Movement), Pakistan’s largest centre-left party, he is credited with his attempts to turn the city into the next Dubai, while continuing to speak up for its sizeable underclass. More

Bonn mayor retires, leaving
behind a rejuvenated city
Mayors: Bonn Mayor Bärbel Dieckmann, who has announced her retirement, has been one of Germany’s best known mayors. Internationally, she has made a name for herself as a vigorous environmental campaigner, while at home she has lead Bonn’s transition from host to West Germany’s government and parliament to becoming the United Nation’s German base. In an interview with City Mayors, she advises other city leaders to plan long-term and explain their decisions to the people. More

American cities debate
English-only legislation
Society: In June 2009, Albertville, Alabama, became the latest US city to pass an ordinance making English the city’s official language. Albertville Mayor Lindsay Lyons maintains the ordinance will be “a unifying factor,” bringing together immigrants and English speakers. At least 30 US cities have adopted English-only legislation. More

European cities introduce
new tram-train technology
Transport: Interest in deploying the tram-trains concept is growing across Europe during the present period. As all tiers of government grapple with the challenges of beating congestion whilst also cutting carbon emissions this approach, which combines proven technologies, is attractive. By combining heavy rail routes with tramways they allow passengers to access key destinations in city centres from suburbs without making a change and attract people who previously used cars thus cutting congestion and emissions. More

Swiss and German cities dominate
top places of best cities in the world
Environment: While Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and the country’s financial capital, is no longer number one, three Swiss cities make it into the top 10 of 'best' cities in the world. According to new research, Vienna, Austria’s capital, is now the city most people would like to call their home. Geneva retains its position in third place. Overall, European cities continue to dominate the top locations in this year’s survey, with German cities particularly well represented among the top 50. Düsseldorf, Munich and Frankfurt are all among the top 10 best cities. More

British expenses scandal
dominates political debate
Politics: Local elections will take place in England on 7 June this year, alongside those for the European Parliament. Elections will be held for all 27 county councils in England, as well as a handful of urban unitary authorities. Three of England’s 11 directly elected mayors will also be elected, while the elected mayor system in Stoke on Trent will be abolished and replaced with an indirectly elected leader on the same day. Following the scandal over British parliamentarians’ profligate expenses claims, voters are likely to turn against the two main parties amid a reported rise in the popularity of minor parties. More

Critics of surveillance cameras
fear racial profiling in US cities
Society: Since the terrorist attacks in 2001, hundreds of US cities have installed security cameras to monitor their streets. The cameras are funded by billions of dollars from the federal Department of Homeland Security, as well as state and local revenues. Urban video security systems range from a single camera in Liberty, Kansas (population 95) to New York City’s “ring of steel” network of hundreds of integrated video devices, based on London’s ubiquitous surveillance cameras. More

Cost of living survey becomes
victim of currency fluctuations
Economics: The fundamental problem with international cost of living research is that all recently published surveys convert local prices into US dollars, which means that any changes are as much the result of currency fluctuations as of price inflation. A good example are cities in the United Kingdom. During the past two years the pound sterling has weakened against the US dollar and the euro - from $2.1 to $1.6 and from €1.5 to €1.1. Therefore, in the most recent study, London and other British cities have become considerably less expensive for anyone travelling to the UK from Europe or the US, while at the same time the cost of many imported items, including gas and oil, increased due to the diminished purchasing power of the pound. More

Municipal bonds have been issued
by US local government since 1812
Finance (USA): Infrastructure in the US is generally financed through subnational capital financing vehicles, termed municipal bonds, which encompass the issuance of bonds by state and local governments, their agencies and quasi-public bodies generically termed special districts. While the term comprises issuers other than municipalities, the first bond of this trail-blazing genre was issued in 1812 by New York City. This pioneering debt instrument was a general obligation bond, which meant that it was backed by the taxing power and tax revenues of the issuer. More

Swiss and German cities dominate
top places of best cities in the world
Environment: While Zurich, Switzerland’s largest city and the country’s financial capital, is no longer number one, three Swiss cities make it into the top 10 of 'best' cities in the world. According to new research, Vienna, Austria’s capital, is now the city most people would like to call their home. Geneva retains its position in third place. Overall, European cities continue to dominate the top locations in this year’s survey, with German cities particularly well represented among the top 50. Düsseldorf, Munich and Frankfurt are all among the top 10 best cities. More

Pittsburgh and Los Angeles
the most polluted US cities
Environment: Six out of ten Americans live in urban areas where air pollution can cause major health problems. While a new report for the American Lung Association acknowledges substantial progress against air pollution in many areas of the USA, it finds nearly every major city was still burdened by air pollution. Despite America’s growing “green” movement, the air in many cities became dirtier during the past 12 months. The research names Pittsburgh, Los Angeles and Bakersfield as the most polluted US cities. More

US education needs to prepare
for 2042 demographic time bomb
Education: Attention to education, and its importance, has been made the subject of a renewed and sharper focus following President Obama’s call for reform and the announcement of a new program of advancement. The President realizes the stakes are high. The public might be more willing to see this goal as being as important as their job prospects if he had also made clear that the education problems facing the country coincide with its demographic time bomb due to detonate by 2042. More

Helen Zille, Mayor of Cape Town,
wins the 2008 World Mayor Prize
World Mayor 2008: Helen Zille, Executive Mayor of Cape Town and leader of South Africa’s opposition Democratic Alliance, has been awarded the 2008 World Mayor Prize. Commentators supporting her nomination said that in a country devoid of present-day role models, this amazing lady was making a difference and giving people there hope: “Her only equals are Desmond Tutu and Nelson Mandela in Southern Africa.” The runner-up certificate of the 2008 World Mayor Project has been awarded to Elmar Ledergerber, Mayor of Zurich. More

British Columbia’s local government
system relies on mutual co-operation
Government: Since the 19th century regional planning and cooperative efforts have taken root in Canada, Europe, the United States and to a lesser extent in other developed countries. A major source of inspiration has been the growth of city regions and their importance to the national economy. Urbanization, which took on a new dimension after the second world war as a result of rapid growth in suburban communities, led to more substantive and sophisticated efforts than previous examples. More

Local government in India still carries
characteristics of its colonial heritage
Government: While India, like many other regions, has always had local councils of some sort, the mechanisms in existence today are rooted in the period during which it was a colony of the United Kingdom. A major foundation of the British roots of Indian local government was Lord Ripon’s resolution of May, 1882, on the subject of local self-government covering the structure and establishment of local bodies, their functions, finances and powers. This is the root of local self-government in post-Independence India. More

Mayors from Africa, Asia
The Americas and Europe
Mayors: While urban settlements have been around for millennia, increasingly cities are beginning to acquire their own narratives and political importance, not only as places to live but also as drivers of national social values and economies with their own global networks. Though the agglomerative effects of cities as part of globalisation is widely understood and universal, city leadership models remain as diverse as ever, but with common trends on each continent: Africa, Asia, The Americas and Europe.

Syed Mustafa Kamal
City Mayor of Karachi
Mayors: The facebook fan page of Karachi’s Mayor (Nazim) Syed Mustafa Kamal describes him as the “true working class representative of Pakistan”. Western-educated but passionate about his city, Karachi’s first citizen uses his considerable online presence and following to keep in touch with the residents of Pakistan’s principal urban centre and financial hub. A leading member of MQM (United National Movement), Pakistan’s largest centre-left party, he is credited with his attempts to turn the city into the next Dubai, while continuing to speak up for its sizeable underclass. More

Bonn mayor retires, leaving
behind a rejuvenated city
Mayors: Bonn Mayor Bärbel Dieckmann, who has announced her retirement, has been one of Germany’s best known mayors. Internationally, she has made a name for herself as a vigorous environmental campaigner, while at home she has lead Bonn’s transition from host to West Germany’s government and parliament to becoming the United Nation’s German base. In an interview with City Mayors, she advises other city leaders to plan long-term and explain their decisions to the people. More

Evry’s outspoken socialist mayor
harbours higher political ambitions
Mayors: Manuel Valls was born in Barcelona in 1962, the son of Spanish painter Xavier Valls. He inherits his political streak from his grandfather, a Spanish republican who used to hide anarchists during the Spanish Civil War. In 2001 Manuel Valls was elected mayor of Évry, a new town created in the 1960s to the south of Paris. One year later Valls was elected to the French National Assembly as deputy for the constituency of Essonne and re-elected in 2007. Valls was also re-elected to a second term in his office of mayor in 2008, collecting more than 70 per cent of the vote, although he was supported by less than one-third of registered voters due to a poor turn-out. More

Jena City Hall: One of
the oldest in Germany
City Halls (Europe): The historic city hall (Rathaus) of Jena, whose origins go back to 1413, is one of the oldest in Germany. Situated at Markt 1 in the city centre, the building still houses a few city departments, such as the civil registry office, but most of them are now located in a separate municipal building close to the city hall. More

Europe’s city centers and suburbs
will change drastically in the future
Development (Europe): The renaissance of the city is a hot topic in Europe. But what does the term renaissance mean? Generally it designates the renaissance of the inner city, the complex, mixed used inner city. The term renaissance is often applied to the city center only. Is such a perception appropriate? Does it mean that suburbanization is in decline? I assume that European cities have turned into urban regions, which will change drastically in the future. More

European cities introduce
new tram-train technology
Transport: Interest in deploying the tram-trains concept is growing across Europe during the present period. As all tiers of government grapple with the challenges of beating congestion whilst also cutting carbon emissions this approach, which combines proven technologies, is attractive. By combining heavy rail routes with tramways they allow passengers to access key destinations in city centres from suburbs without making a change and attract people who previously used cars thus cutting congestion and emissions. More

Paris, London and Barcelona
are Europe’s top city brands
City Marketing: In a unique study, which ranks Europe’s largest cities based on a comparison of their assets and attractions against the strength of their brands, Paris emerges as Europe’s number one city brand, followed by London, Barcelona, Berlin and Amsterdam. The research also reveals that the French capital is the most asset-rich city in Europe, ahead of, again, London and followed by Munich, Barcelona and Amsterdam. Bradford, UK, is the lowest-ranked city in both categories. More

The largest cities in the world by
land area, population and density
Statistics (World): With the merger of core cities, suburbs and satellite towns into large metropolitan areas, the very largest cities in the world have in fact become megacities, i.e. cities with more than 10 million people. The area comprising Tokyo and Yokohama is, with a population of between 33 and 35 million, the world’s largest megacity. Other cities among the world’s top five megacities are Mexico City, New York Metro, Sao Paulo and Mumbai. More

Tokyo is number one among
the richest cities in the world
Statistics (World): Greater Tokyo stands unrivalled in the world. For many years to come, the Japanese capital together with its surrounding urban areas will remain the richest and largest city in the world. Research published by PricewaterhouseCopper (PWC) in March 2007 places the Japanese capital at the top of the world’s richest cities between 2005 and 2020. In its own research on the world’s largest cities between 2006 and 2020, City Mayors also ranks Tokyo number one in the world. More

New York, London and Paris rank
first in a new index of global cities
Statistics (World): Assembled by Foreign Policy alongside management consultants A. T. Kearney and the Chicago Council on Global Affairs think tank, the Global Cities Index is the latest in a series of ranking tables to consider the physical manifestations of globalisation’s urban pull across the world. While not perhaps as scientific as the standard GaWC rankings for World Cities, the inaugural index is a fascinating study of recent and on-going urban trends. More

Urban events, conferences
seminars and conventions
Events (International): City Mayors’ directory of urban events, conferences, seminars and conventions is aimed at city leaders, urban decision makers and those with an interest in cities worldwide. The directory provides specialists with comprehensive lists of events tailored to their areas of interest. More

Christmas Eve in an
English seaside town
Metro Mensch: And they praised the English Queen and they wished her Merry Christmas and they shouted “we are safe, we are in England.” It was the Uzbekistani who broke the silence the group had kept since leaving Calais hidden in a truck. Thirteen refugees, from across Asia, hugged, kissed and shook hands. In three hours they would be in London, some with addresses to go to, others with a little money and a great deal of hope. But the joy of the group was to be short-lived because among them was a man who made his living by delivering refugees to the authorities. More

City Mayors supports mayors who have the vision, the passion and the skills to make their cities amazing places to live, to work and to visit.

New Orleans is still below pre-Katrina population level

Three Mexican mayors freed while others face indictments

Ghana mayors beautify their cities while urban poor suffer

Major parties defeated in Japan naval base

British Columbia’s local government system relies on mutual co-operation

Memphis mayor resigns to prepare for Congress

Government parties win despite allegations against Berlusconi

Los Angeles Mayor will not run for Californian Governor

Nine people reported dead in Washington train crash

London deputy mayor resigns in disgrace

US mayors demand a greater share of federal aid package

US mayors annoyed with Barack Obama

Report backs amnesty for illegal immigrants

Siemens to study cities’ environmental progress

Japan’s opposition wins mayoral races

Party close to the Monarch wins Morocco local election

Voters give mixed message in Malta municipal elections

After nail biting finish, Greens win in Stuttgart

Green Party and Free Democrats gain in Germany's local elections

Shenzhen mayor under house arrest

Governing party punished in Irish municipal elections

Canadian mayors are still waiting for promised funds

Inward investment in London dropped by 13%

European cities introduce new tram-train technology

The centre-left captures Croatia’s largest cities

Pakistani cities put on terrorist alert

Mexico’s state attorney to go after every mayor linked to drug cartels

Malawi to hold first local elections since 2000

Tamils to echange guns for ballot box

Local elections across Europe

Cities ready for battle against global warming

City Mayors events: Worldwide, 24 categories, free listings

The largest cities in the world by land area, population and density

The world's largest urban areas in 2006 and 2020

Swiss and German cities dominate ranking of best cities in the world

The most expensive cities in the world, Asia and Europe

Western Europe has the most egalitarian cities in the world

Moscow remains the world's most expensive city

European and US mayors take lead in tackling global warming

Helen Zille, Mayor of Cape Town, wins the 2008 World Mayor Prize

How good is your Mayor?

Gallup can offer cities the tools to attract the ‘creative classes’

New York, London and Paris rank first in a new index of global cities

Local government

Mayors of the world

World Mayor 2008

The world's city halls

Green mega cities

Asia has become home to world's fastest growing cities

Tokyo is numbr one among the richest cities in the world

21st century cities: Home to new riches and great misery

Urban events, conferences, seminars and conventions

Global urbanisation: Threats and benefits

Historic Cities - Living Cities

Mayors from The Americas

Local government in The Americas

City Halls in The Americas

North American cities on the internet

Pittsburgh and Los Angeles the most polluted US cities

American cities debate English-only legislation

Critics of surveillance cameras fear racial profiling in US cities

US education needs to prepare for 2042 demographic time bomb

US Mayors planning for green prosperity

Municipal bonds have been issued by US local government since 1812

Mexico City seeks green options for waste disposal

Mexican cities rocked by ferocious drug war

Sao Paulo’s Alphaville gated community - an early answer to middle-class insecurity

Mayors from Europe

City Halls in Europe

Local government in Europe

Green Party and Free Democrats gain in German's local elections

Meltdown for Labour in English local elections

Swiss and German cities dominate top 10 of 'best' cities in the world

European cities introduce new tram-train technology

Stuttgart shows regional consolidation can work

Paris.London and Barcelona are Europe's top city brands

London, Paris and Frankfurt remain Europe’s favourite business cities

Europe’s city centers and suburbs will change drastically in the future

European Cities of Culture 1985 to 2019

Mayors from Asia

Local government in Asia

Mayors from Asia and Australia

City Halls in Asia

Changes in Asia’s fast growing cities are closely watched across the world

China's urban transition causes growing inequality

China is at the forefront of the greatest urban-industrial revolution of all time

Philippine mayor reported to approve assassination

Megacities must urgently address the needs of slum dwellers

Indian will need new cities

Time bomb is ticking away for India’s cities

Dubai and Shanghai examples of wasteful urban development

Metro Mensch in Baghdad

Tokyo Metro: The world’s cleanest and most extensive subway system

Mayors from Australia

City Halls in Australia

Local government in Australia

Mayors from Asia and Australia

African mayors

Mayors from Africa

Local government in Africa

Durban looks beyond the 2010 World Cup

By 2030 Africa will change from rural to urban society

Helen Zille - My aim for South Africa: An open, opportunity-driven society

Success of future megacities will depend on cooperation between citizens and authorities

Mauritania’s urban slums offer no support to rural newcomers

African cities demand access to basic services