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The ongoing pandemic has raised big questions about the future of North American cities. For example, we\u2019ve heard for almost a year now that COVID-19 will be the end of cities and the triumph of the suburbs. After all, why would people who could work anywhere choose to live in dense, plague-riddled cities? We\u2019ve published our share of responses to this line of thinking\u2014including articles by Joe Cortight of City Observatory, Joe Minicozzi of Urban3, and others\u2014but the gloomy predictions keep coming.\nFor years, one person we at Strong Towns have turned to again and again for wisdom on the present and future of cities is Richard Florida. Florida is a researcher and professor at the University of Toronto, the author of numerous books\u2014including the modern classic, The Rise of the Creative Class\u2014and the co-founder of CityLab.\nStrong Towns president Chuck Marohn invited Florida back to the Strong Towns podcast to talk about the choices facing cities now and after the pandemic. They discuss Florida\u2019s insight that where talent goes, innovation and economic development are sure to follow...and what that looks like in an era of remote work. \u201cRemote work,\u201d Florida says, \u201cgives the knowledge worker a larger portfolio of choices [of where to live].\u201d What cities are best positioned to attract that talent now? They also talk about the future of superstar cities like New York and London, why some cities (Toronto and Minneapolis are examples) are stuck in two worlds, and how the pandemic has widened the socioeconomic gaps between the \u201cprivileged third\u201d and everyone else.\nThis conversation is available both as a podcast and on video.\nAdditional Show Notes:\n\nRichard Florida (Website)\n\n\nRichard Florida (Twitter)\n\n\nCharles Marohn (Twitter)\n\n\nWatch the conversation on YouTube\n\n\nMore Strong Towns content featuring Richard Florida\n\n\u201cRichard Florida and the New Urban Crisis\u201d (Podcast)\n\n\n\u201cThe Growth Ponzi Scheme, Part 4,\u201d by Charles Marohn (see an overview of The Growth Ponzi Scheme here)\n\n\n\u201cRecommended Reading: The Great Reset,\u201d by Charles Marohn