As people gather to celebrate Independence Day, we face critical questions about the future of democracies. Over the last decade, with the rise of authoritarian governments and increasing repression, no one was shocked when President Biden announced in a Memorial Day speech that “democracy itself is in peril.” 

For those of us living in cities, this question is especially urgent as we witness the failures of government to provide for our basic needs in a rapidly changing world. This past week, Detroiters experienced massive flooding, the combination of decades of neglect and lack of vision. The inability of governments to offer minimal, immediate support to people hit by these rising waters is obvious. 

The floods in Detroit followed the news of a building collapse in Florida and intense heat and drought on the West Coast. All of these disasters, with their human and ecological toll, are directly related to our abuse of the earth and refusal to make responsible choices about how we are living.

In these circumstances, cities play a crucial role. Today, more than 55% of the world’s population, 4.2 billion people, live in cities. By mid-century, 7 of every 10 human beings will live in an urban area. A recent report by the World Bank noted that:

Cities play an increasingly important role in tackling climate change, because their exposure to climate and disaster risk increases as they grow. Almost half a billion urban residents live in coastal areas, increasing their vulnerability to storm surges and sea level rise. In the 136 biggest coastal cities, there are 100 million people – or 20% of their population – and $4.7 trillion in assets exposed to coastal floods. Around 90% of urban expansion in developing countries is near hazard-prone areas and built through informal and unplanned settlements.

In 2015, in recognition of the important role of cities in combating climate change and promoting justice, the UN adopted 17 Global Goals for Sustainable Development. Goal 11 is to encourage “Sustainable cities and communities: make cities and human settlements inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable.” The goal expands to say, “We need to build modern, sustainable cities. For all of us to survive and prosper, we need new, intelligent urban planning that creates safe, affordable and resilient cities with green and culturally inspiring living conditions.”

Taking actions to reach this goal requires new methods of democratic decision making that engage all of us in thinking about the values, principles, and practices that we need to live more responsibly with care for one another and the Earth. 

The UN recognized this link between political choices for sustainable development and improving public participation at all levels of government in Goal 16 which is Peace, Justice and Strong Institutions. They say “Compassion and a strong moral compass is essential to every democratic society. Yet, persecution, injustice and abuse still runs rampant and is tearing at the very fabric of civilization. We must ensure that we have strong institutions, global standards of justice, and a commitment to peace everywhere.”

The UN established a specific goal to “ensure responsive, inclusive, participatory and representative decision making at all levels.”

We, in Detroit have experienced just the opposite. Especially over the last decade, the vibrancy of local government has been under assault. We have lived with state imposed emergency management, stripping local government of all pretense of democracy. We have seen elected officials refuse to enact humane water, housing, and educational policies in spite of clear evidence of harm. We have watched our City Council consistently vote against the wishes of the majority of our people. They have supported every corporate demand and endorsed excessive spending on police who kill us rather than protect us. Our efforts to protest these polices are criminalized. All these efforts, supported by right wing state legislatures,  have eroded the foundations of democracy. This is why it is critical for us to support efforts for responsiveness, transparency, and ecologically conscious decision making.

Over these next few years, as we rewrite our charter, consider new forms of governing, and move toward improving neighborhood life that is self-determining,  we are  establishing the frameworks for the new political relationships necessary to secure our futures.