How Boston Responded to the COVID-19 Crisis

Boston is currently a hot spot for the new coronavirus. Like many
municipalities across the country, it's taking unprecedented
action to respond to the challenges brought about by the
pandemic. Brian Golden, director of the Boston Planning &
Development Agency (BPDA), joins APA's Roberta Rewers to discuss
many of these tactics, including new responsibilities taken on by
the city's planning staff. Last month, the city partnered with
the McChrystal Group — consultants who specialize in strategic
remote crisis management — to review the city’s preparedness for
emergency response to the coronavirus pandemic.


Golden explains the motivation behind their decision to seek out
external assistance, and he breaks down exactly how the
consultants helped the city structure their approach to the
public health crisis during the last few weeks. Through this
eye-opening discussion, planners and other city officials will
learn best practices for strategic crisis management, and they'll
get an insider look into one major city's operational pivot while
dealing with a crisis of global proportions.