Why these three cities?

Below is a table showing some selected characteristics of Boston, Phoenix, and New Orleans. Most of these characteristics - for example, tree canopy coverage, poverty status, and being above 65 are considered vulnerabilities to extreme heat in the existing literature. Phoenix holds the largest population, the smallest tree canopy coverage, and the hottest average 2024 summer temperature. New Orleans, with its unique structure dividing the city into 71 neighborhoods, has the largest number of non-white and impoverished populations. Boston, the geographically smallest city, has the lowest probability of residential AC yet the highest tree canopy coverage. These cities are quite diverse in both their environmental and socio-demographic landscapes, creating unique challenges for policymakers when tailoring strategies to address extreme heat.