Blog

  • The MTA’s Missed Opportunity

    The MTA’s Missed Opportunity

    Long Islanders cheered Andrew Cuomo when he intervened in the recent dispute between the MTA and LIRR workers, who had threatened a strike over demands for wage increases. When negotiations stalled between the LIRR, which had demanded a 14% raise over six years, and the MTA, whose offer to spread the same raise over seven…

    Read more

  • Mr. TOD

    Mr. TOD

    The Tale of Mr. TOD Once upon a time, Mr. Tod arrived in New York. And the rest was not yet history. The tale is still, obviously, unfolding. Will Mr. Tod be able to create mobile, accessible, and affordable neighborhoods? Or will Mr. Tod only support luxury? Mr. Tod, of course, is Mr. Transit-Oriented Development. He’s more and more popular these…

    Read more

  • Powers, Identities, Ideologies

    Powers, Identities, Ideologies

    Where do you live? A capital city? A planned city? An industrial city? A ghost city? A green city? A colonial city? An authentic city? A global city? A shrinking city? A gentrifying city? A spiritual city? A divided city? An ancient city? Perhaps, a combination of these types? How about a city with powers,…

    Read more

  • An Urban Green District – Jackson Heights

    An Urban Green District – Jackson Heights

    When perusing the internet, I stumbled upon the Ecovillage Ithaca a while ago. As a planner and as a New Yorker who has yet to suffer through another putrid summer in the city, I was mesmerized. Of course I could see myself sitting on the porch of my high-energy efficiency house, after a long day’s…

    Read more

  • Water in the City

    Water in the City

      In case anyone missed it, San Francisco banned water bottles smaller than 21 ounces from City-owned property in the spring, which is pretty amazing. New York City, in spite of the previous Mayor’s attacks on more sugary drinks, has not gone so far, but has been using more of a carrot approach to try…

    Read more

  • (In)formality (In)justice

    (In)formality (In)justice

    As many New Yorkers know, the rent is too damn high. The neighborhoods of New York have always been dynamic and ever-changing, and today, this continues to be true, but perhaps, on a level unforeseen in recent memory. Many are being priced out of our neighborhoods that they’ve lived in, sometimes for generations. So I asked Jimmy…

    Read more

  • Transformation Hubs

    Transformation Hubs

    Most Americans did not own cars in the early 20th century. There were no trucks, there were no planes. Instead of taking the highway or heading to the airport, people went to the train station. Indeed, railroad transportation was essentially the only convenient way to get around. Intercity passenger railroads were profitable. Commuter lines were…

    Read more

  • Very Important Maps

    Very Important Maps

      I have been a terrible blogger of late. Consider this an apology. And a celebration of maps.

    Read more

  • (Re)New Your City, New York City: European Best Practices for NYC

    (Re)New Your City, New York City: European Best Practices for NYC

    After waiting for three trains to enter and to leave Fulton Street before I could fit inside (there were delays), I had one more example to use when explaining why we need better public transportation. But what does better transportation mean? It depends on our geography, our culture, our economy, our politics, and our history.…

    Read more

Region NYC explores transportation, infrastructure, and more – in New York, and cities around the world.
Learn more here.

Disclaimer: All content on this site reflects personal views and experiences at the time it was created and may evolve over time. Nothing on this site should be interpreted as representing the views, policies, or positions of any current or former employer or affiliated organization.