Sanctuary Cities in Europe? A Policy Survey of Urban Policies in Support of Irregular Migrants

Irregular migrants tend to live in dense urban settings. Cities therefore formulate various policies in support of irregular migrants. Given the US phenomenon of sanctuary cities, the study of these policies has been rather US-centric so far. This letter examines urban policies in support of irregular migrants in Europe's 95 largest cities. Only 27 per cent of European cities formulate these types of policies. We discovered two relevant policy categories: status and services. Only five cities formulate policies that aim to award irregular migrants with a (more) secure status, and 24 cities formulate policies that facilitate access to city services. Our mixed-methods analysis suggests that status policies take advantage of policy-making discretion whereas service policies hinge on the availability of local resources. Yet, there are no simple explanations for the observed policy diversity that is the product of place-based policy-making

Using Clustering to Understand Intra-city Warming in Heatwaves: Insights into Paris, Montreal, and Zurich

We introduce a novel methodological advancement by clustering paired near-surface air temperature with the planetary boundary layer height (PBLH) to characterize intra-city clusters for analytics. To illustrate this approach, we analyze three heatwaves (HW): the 2019 HW in Paris, the 2018 HW in Montreal, and the 2017 HW in Zurich. We assess cluster-based characteristics before, during, and after heatwave events. Using the objective hysteresis model, we determine the overall strength coefficient of the hysteresis loop between ground storage flux and all-wave downward radiative flux, ranging from 0.414 to 0.457 for urban clusters and from 0.126 to 0.157 for rural clusters during the heatwave periods. Across all cities, we observe a consistent refueling-restoration mode in the cumulative ground heat flux as the heatwaves progress. Future developments of this proposed two-component clustering approach, with the integration of more influential physics, will offer a more comprehensive characterization of cities for urban climate analytics

Mental health of individuals infected with SARS-CoV-2 during mandated isolation and compliance with recommendations-A population-based cohort study

BACKGROUND: Isolation is an indispensable measure to contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus, but it may have a negative impact on mental health and overall wellbeing. Evidence on the isolation experience, facilitating and complicating factors is needed to mitigate negative effects. METHODS AND FINDINGS: This observational, population-based cohort study enrolled 1547 adults from the general population with SARS-CoV-2 infection reported to authorities between 27 February 2020 and 19 January 2021 in Zurich, Switzerland. We assessed the proportion of individuals reporting symptoms of depression and anxiety before, during and after isolation (by DASS-21), and queried worries, positive experiences, and difficulties. We analyzed the association of these outcomes with socio-demographics using ordinal regression. Additionally, we report free-text statements by participants to capture most important aspects of isolation. The proportion of participants affected by depression or anxiety increased during isolation from 10·0% to 17·1% and 9·1% to 17·6%, respectively. Ordinal regression showed that taking care of children increased the difficulty of isolation (OR 2·10, CI 1·43-3·08) and risk of non-compliance (OR 1·63, CI 1·05-2·53), especially in younger participants. A facilitating factor that individuals commonly expressed was receiving more support during isolation. CONCLUSION: Isolation due to SARS-CoV-2 presents a mental burden, especially for younger individuals and those taking care of children. Public health authorities need to train personnel and draw from community-based resources to provide targeted support, information, and guidance to individuals during isolation. Such efforts could alleviate the negative impact isolation has on the mental and physical health of individuals and ensure compliance of the population with recommendations

Rezension: Eliane Welte, Information der Öffentlichkeit über die Tätigkeit der Strafjustiz

Die Strafjustiz muss sich erklären. Zum einen verlangen dies Bundesverfassung (Art. 30 Abs. 3 BV) und Strafprozessordnung (Art. 69 StPO), zum andern ist es ein Gebot der Zeit: Die Gerichtsberichterstattung wird in den Medienhäusern abgebaut, und in Social Media dominieren weder journalistisch noch juristisch ausgebildete Personen die Diskussion. Die Dissertation von Eliane Welte zieht daraus wichtige Schlüsse: Erstens muss die Strafjustiz ihr originäres Produkt – das Urteil, den Strafbefehl oder die Einstellungsverfügung – niederschwellig und unkompliziert zugänglich machen – zum Beispiel mit einer Liste der erlassenen Endentscheide in einer zentralen Datenbank im Internet. Zweitens muss die Strafjustiz auch über sich als Institution aktiv kommunizieren: Sie soll auf öffentliche Kritik reagieren und sich bemühen, Verständnis für ihre Anliegen zu wecken. Dafür braucht es Medienbeauftragte und Kommunikationskonzepte. Die Dissertation zeigt umfassend, welche Formen der Berichterstattung (von Print über TV bis zu Live-Ticker aus dem Gerichtssaal) zu welchen Spannungen mit den Kommunikationsanliegen der Strafjustiz führen. Und wie sie damit optimal umgeht

Urban Policies in Support of Irregular Migrants in Geneva and Zürich

Cities worldwide develop a variety of urban policies in support of irregular migrants. By doing so, cities intervene in a policy-making realm that is commonly perceived as the pre-rogative of national states. We compare policy-making in support of irregular migrants in the two biggest Swiss cities (Geneva and Zürich). Whereas Genevan authorities and local societal actors established a regularization program, actors in Zürich are struggling to create an urban ID card program. The institutional setting of the two cities (as a city-state or a city in a state), the presence or absence of multilevel governance networks as well as the differ-ent venue shopping strategies of societal actors can explain these different urban policy-making processes. In its essence, this article is a documentation and explanation of how cities contest national state sovereignty over irregular migration and it thereby calls for an urbanization of migration theory and practice

Urbanising migration policy-making: Urban policies in support of irregular migrants in Geneva and Zürich

Cities worldwide develop a variety of urban policies that address the precarious situation of irregular migrants. By doing so, cities intervene in a policy-making realm that is commonly perceived as the prerogative of national states and they thereby challenge the national state as the only regulatory body over immigration and citizenship. We compare policy-making in support of irregular migrants in the two biggest Swiss cities of Geneva and Zürich. Whereas Genevan authorities and local societal actors established a successful regularisation programme (called Operation Papyrus), actors in Zürich aim to create an urban ID card programme (called Züri City Card). We find that the institutional setting of the two cities (as a city-state or as a city in a state), the presence or absence of multilevel governance networks as well as societal actors’ different venue shopping strategies are key for explaining these different urban policy-making processes. Cities formulate place-based urban policy responses, but these specific urban policies can be viewed within the global struggles to improve the precarious situations of irregular migrants and to fight exclusionary national politics. In essence, this article documents and explains how cities contest national state sovereignty over immigration and citizenship and it thereby calls for an urbanisation of migration theory and practice.ISSN:0042-0980ISSN:1360-063

Sanctuary Cities

In October last year, we held an event series entitled “Sanctuary Cities in Switzerland?” about the meaning of a sanctuary city and whether this phenomenon also exists in Switzerland. The nccr – on the move supported event series laid the grounds for an in-depth consideration of the issue of sanctuary cities and led to the creation of the subsequent blog series

«Es muss eine echte, bezahlbare Alternative zur Impfung geben»

Niemand soll für seine Impfentscheidung angeprangert werden, sagt Andrea Büchler, Präsidentin der Nationalen Ethikkommission. Und sie befürwortet Gratistest

Sanctuary Cities in Europe? A Policy Survey of Urban Policies in Support of Irregular Migrants

Irregular migrants tend to live in dense urban settings. Cities therefore formulate various policies in support of irregular migrants. Given the US phenomenon of sanctuary cities, the study of these policies has been rather US-centric so far. This letter examines urban policies in support of irregular migrants in Europe’s 95 largest cities. Only 27 % of European cities formulate these types of policies. We discovered two relevant policy categories: status and services. Only five cities formulate policies that aim to award irregular migrants with a (more) secure status and 24 cities formulate policies that facilitate access to city services. Our mixed-method analysis suggests that status policies take advantage of policy-making discretion whereas service policies hinge on the availability of local resources. Yet, there are no simple explanations for the observed policy diversity that is the product of place-based policy-making idiosyncrasies.ISSN:0007-123

Urban Policies in Support of Irregular Migrants in Europe

Irregular migrants tend to live in dense urban settings. Cities therefore formulate various policies in support of irregular migrants. Given the US phenomenon of sanctuary cities, the study of these policies has been US-centric so far. This letter examines urban policies in support of irregular migrants in Europe's 95 largest cities. Only 27 % of European cities formulate these types of policies. We discovered two relevant policy categories: status and services. Only five cities formulate policies that aim to award irregular migrants with a (more) secure status and 24 cities formulate policies that facilitate access to city services. Our mixed-method analysis suggests that status policies take advantage of administrative discretion whereas service policies hinge on the availability of local resources. Yet, there are no simple explanations for the observed policy diversity that is the product of place-based policy-making idiosyncrasies