This week we explored how web designers and developers can help city governments serve their constituents more effectively, particularly through thoughtful adoption of apps. Boston is one of the cities working with Code for America to do this, and some of its neighborhoods may be leading the charge. Participatory

Image courtesy of Sustainable South Bronx via NPR

With temperatures in the triple digits earlier this week, residents in major cities like New York, Washington and Philadelphia felt the heat more so than those living in more rural areas due to the heat island effect. That said…

The Gates? Waterfalls? Those don’t make music! The latest large-scale public art installation to hit the five boroughs is a collection of sixty colorful pianos, a collaboration between artist Luke Jerram and the charity organization Sing for Hope. An accompanying website lists the pianos’ locations and…

Up There from Mekanism on Vimeo.

Yesterday was Earth day. It was also the three-year anniversary of Mayor Bloomberg’s announcement of PlaNYC 2030. Financial and political obstacles have impeded progress on many of the 2009 goals — of the 127 initiatives proposed on Earth Day 2008, only 51 have been…