The Georgetown Global Cities Initiative and the Georgetown Americas Institute welcomed Horacio Rodriguez Larreta, former two-term mayor of Buenos Aires, to Georgetown University for an engaging discussion on the future of cities. Laretta served as Buenos Aires mayor from 2015 to 2023. Before becoming mayor he served as the former mayor's chief of staff from 2007 to 2015. He brought his vast knowledge of public administration to engage in dialogue with students, faculty, alumni, and other members of the community.
Horacio Rodríguez Larreta served as Mayor of Buenos Aires from 2015 to 2023. Previously, he served as Mayor Mauricio Macri's chief-of-staff from 2007 to 2015. During his tenure, Larreta facilitated significant public and private investment throughout Buenos Aires despite operating within an economic context of extremely high rates of inflation. Larreta holds a degree in Economics from the University of Buenos Aires and an M.B.A. from Harvard University.
Under his leadership, new policy initiatives included the formation of a dedicated "Social Integration Unit" to address land tenure, comprehensive transportation reform prioritizing public transit, revision of land use controls to boost housing supply, the unprecedented embrace of information technologies, and the articulation of the city's decarbonization strategy.
The city introduced dedicated bike and bus lanes, increased subway ridership with new subway cars, and launched a free city bike program. Beyond infrastructure, Larreta's administration invested heavily in human capital, providing students access to tablet computers and offering vocational training for recent graduates. These changes boosted the city's global reputation and in 2022, Buenos Aires proudly hosted the C40 World Mayors Summit, showcasing its advancements in sustainable urban development.
Laretta emphasized the importance of administrative processes, including data collection systems and the management of decision-making. A graduate of Harvard Business School, Larettat recounted the different reporting systems he implemented in the city, including holding himself accountable to neighborhood representatives through his regular scheduled community meetings.
Laretta shared insights on importance of data collection and performance management. During his tenure the city was able to gain administrative oversight over all aspects of public safety, a function that had previously been managed by the federal government. He discussed the new reporting system his team introduced to better track changes in crime in neighborhoods.
Laretta believes the most significant change to cities will be that people no longer need to live where they work. The idea of the 15-minute city has become popular in the planning community with the idea that everything you need should be no more than a 15-minute walk or bike ride from your home. With many workers preferring remote work and many jobs becoming remote, how will that change cities?
We extend our special thanks to the Georgetown Americas Institute and the McCourt School of Public Policy for helping to support this event.
