My name is Reed Asselbaye, and I am a third-year J.D. student at Georgetown Law. I am currently an articles editor on The Georgetown Law Journal, a zoning intern with the National Zoning Atlas, and a research assistant for the American Planning Association.
As a Global Cities Scholar, my central research question asks: How might states and municipalities leverage their 10th Amendment police powers to establish quality, accessible public spaces in urban centers? Pursuant to that question, I contend that by conceptualizing the city as a shared "commons" – one in which we collectively invest in and enjoy public space – the law implores local governments to advance public health, safety, and welfare through pedestrian and recreational land uses. My project will assess infrastructure innovations in three major U.S. cities that have succeeded in expanding access to public space; exploring in turn their functions, outcomes, and political opposition.
Through GGCI, I look forward to working alongside like-minded scholars across Georgetown's academic programs to render a more comprehensive and holistic research project from a multi-disciplinary perspective. Most importantly, I hope that our work assists in efforts to generate a more sustainable and inclusive built environment for our future.
