海角大神

The downturn has hit聽Black communities disproportionately hard. Those affected see the pandemic worsening a chronic lack of opportunity, but cities like Baltimore are taking steps to help.聽

The pandemic has made clear we will change our lifestyles in an emergency. For many in Europe, that realization offers hope for climate change.

COVID-19 is on the rise in countries that have reopened their economies. For democracies, trust could play a central role in making any reimposed restrictions stick.

Survivors of the coronavirus should be immune, scientists say. Some have proposed capitalizing on that immunity 鈥� but that could open an ethical quagmire.

Humans are fundamentally good, Longfellow deserves a reappraisal, and butterflies are marvels of aerodynamics 鈥� these topics make for sparkling June reading.

Like most mayors, Mansur Yava艧 has shepherded his city of Ankara through the coronavirus crisis with urgency, efficiency, and hope. Yet there is one quality that explains why he has lately become the most popular big-city mayor in Turkey 鈥� and even more popular than President Recep Tayyip Erdo臒an. It can be seen in advertisements put up around the capital at the start of the COVID-19 emergency.

The ads encourage wealthier residents to help pay the bills of poor people, either directly or through a special nonpartisan charity. Tens of thousands of people who now have no jobs, for example, have shown up at grocery stores only to find their tabs already paid by an anonymous donor. 鈥淜indness is more contagious than disease,鈥� the ads state.

Mr. Yava艧鈥� campaign, known as 鈥淥ne Heart Ankara,鈥� is echoed in Istanbul where another popular mayor, Ekrem Imamo臒lu, has his own 鈥減ay it forward鈥� campaign. It also helps poor people get rid of virus-related debts, such as overdue electric bills.

Around the world, cities have been at the epicenter of the pandemic, both in the number of lives lost and in being closely watched for the quality of governance. Mayors, who govern closest to the people, have had to show high levels of compassion along with a firmness and wisdom in enforcing social distancing, shelter in place, and mask-wearing.

One of the most common words they use is kindness. The virus has hit the most vulnerable people in urban areas and, as it recedes, mayors want to focus on inclusive recovery.

鈥淟et鈥檚 make聽kindness聽contagious,鈥� Tampa鈥檚 Mayor Jane Castor often tells residents. In April, she had the highest approval rating 鈥� 78% 鈥� among Florida鈥檚 big-city mayors. She also is known for starting citywide dance parties 鈥渢o remind us that we will get through this together.鈥� Residents can tune into local radio stations once a week and dance and wave to neighbors while listening to the same tune.

Many mayors realized early on that outside aid was not coming soon. Atlanta鈥檚 Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms聽said her motto was 鈥淕od bless the child that鈥檚 got his own鈥� (from a Billie Holiday song). The city has spent millions to aid seniors, children, homeless people, and others.

During the crisis, hundreds of the world鈥檚 mayors have shared their best practices through a virtual forum sponsored by the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative. At a recent forum for American mayors, Ford Foundation President Darren Walker said, 鈥淲e need you to help us heal from the unnecessary strife and division in our country. ...We need your compassion, your grace, and your love of your fellow citizens.鈥�

One reason kindness has been so necessary is that the crisis has sown disunity. 鈥淭his is a virus that thrives off of division,鈥� says Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti. 鈥淲e can all show respect and be respected and appeal to our better angels.鈥�

Kindness is not written into any city laws, as far we know. But a law of kindness now seems evident in many cities. And it鈥檚 spreading.