Beyond the Boot: Parking, Trust, and What Moves a City

Tuesday, June 24, 2025

4:00 PM-5:00 PM

Citizens and urban planners unite in "Urban Strategy in the Present Tense," a speaker series dedicated to the local roots of civic innovation.

Join Rich Lazer, Executive Director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, in conversation with Patrick Morgan to explore how new ways of working, technology, and engagement are being used to address long-standing operational and city-wide challenges. They'll also unpack how infrastructure, labor, and public safety intersect in daily city life. From smart city initiatives to addressing neighborhood blight, the discussion will highlight how a city agency is reinventing itself to rebuild trust and improve quality of life.

Richard Lazer has served as Executive Director of the Philadelphia Parking Authority (PPA) since 2022. At the PPA, he is leading efforts to modernize operations through smart city technology, reduce congestion, and improve neighborhood-level quality of life. He brings two decades of public sector experience, including his tenure as Deputy Mayor for Labor, where he served as the city’s chief labor negotiator and oversaw labor relations for a 26,000-person workforce.

Lazer played a key role in major city initiatives such as the $400 million Rebuild program and the Worker Relief Fund. His work extends to regional coordination with SEPTA, PHL International Airport, and the Port Authority.

The series is produced by the Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation at Drexel University in partnership with the Urban Strategy Masters Program in Drexel's Westphal College of Media, Arts & Design. Thomas Devaney produces the series with production director Hazel Dequito.

Register here.

Contact Information

Lindy Institute for Urban Innovation
hd353@drexel.edu