Medellin has been best known for the progress that it has been making throughout the years. The biggest innovation Medellin has seen is the unique system of public transportation. Gondolas, and a giant escalator now transport Medellin's citizens everywhere they need to go, cutting travel time by hours and reducing air pollution. In addition to the magnificent system of transportation, the city has built new libraries, cultural centers, parks, and schools in some of the poorer neighborhoods, promoting social equality. Medellin managed to accomplish this through the support of its citizens. Transportation projects are financed through public-private partnerships; engineering firms have designed public buildings for free, and most importantly, the city has participatory budgeting, meaning that the citizens get to decide what the priorities are for the city, and how the budget should be used on them. Medellin's innovations are definitely all due to its citizens, who want nothing more than to improve their city.
According to the Huffington Post,"When Colombians come together there is little they can do." Judging by the tremendous effort that the citizens of Medellin have put forward in order to make the city a better place, this statement is completely correct. Medellin has come a long way throughout the years, and this would not be possible without the support of everyone living in the city. Known by Colombians as ‘The City of the Eternal Spring,’ Medellin was chosen for its progress, potential, rich culture and impressive strides in urban development. This is something that all of the citizens of Medellin can be proud of, something they all accomplished together.
When Medellin is mentioned around the world, most people think of the past violence and drug history. They fail to think about how far Medellin has come since then and think things are still the same. Hopefully now that Medellin has been named the most innovative city of the world, people can look past that, and see that Medellin is an amazing city full of decent hard working people who are sick of the stereotypes and want the world to experience Medellin the same way they do. This is recognized by the International Business Times who states, "Colombia’s second-largest city, Medellin, is aiming to overcome a lingering reputation as a center of drug trafficking and is billing itself as a modernizing and increasingly safe place." Medellin has long begun its' transformation, making people recognize that the city has potential for long lasting success. The city has been putting in hard work to regain its reputation and recover from the past, and it is very evident that they have achieved this. "Medellin’s homicide rate dropped nearly 80 percent between 1991 and 2010, a statistic which it cited as proof of the city’s progress in public security." (IB Times). Public security has also improved because of the gondolas, which take your picture the minute you step inside. This has helped authorities see who exactly has been in certain places, helping to stop crime and drive out gang activity. The fact that Medellin built most of its new buildings in the poorer neighborhoods also helps to stop the crime, and secure the people living in poverty. Medellin having been named the most innovative city of the world not only strengthened the city. It bought the community together as a whole, ensuring that no neighborhood was left out in the transformations. Medellin is now an even more beautiful city, making it an appealing place to outsiders.
Dale, Steven. Gondola Revolution. 2013. Photograph. Medellin, Medellin.
WORKS CITED
1. "City of the Year." WSJ Magazine. Citi, n.d. Web. 1 Apr. 2013.
3. International Business Times. Ryan Villareal. 05 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
3. Moreno, Carolina. The Huffington Post. TheHuffingtonPost.com, 02 Mar. 2013. Web. 10 Apr. 2013.
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