Policy
Arch-Conservative
Vito Battista’s journey from public architecture to right-wing politics is an echo of New York’s own cyclical, reactionary tides — and a reminder of how closely the city's politics are tied to the fate of its urban fabric.
Tall Order
LinkNYC failed to deliver on its promise of “bridging the digital divide.” Now, the streetside Wi-Fi kiosks are about to be souped up and supersized as 5G-transmitting towers. But is there any guarantee that New York’s under-resourced populations won’t get left behind, again?
The Civic Canopy
New York City's street trees help cool pavement, filter air, buffer against storms, and improve moods. The arborists of NYC Parks are working to distribute those benefits as widely as possible.
Beyond Diverse
A pedestrian plaza in Queens is widely celebrated for its worldliness. But beneath a colorful surface are more radical lessons in coexistence.
The Paradox at the Heart of the Fires
When it comes to providing safe and affordable housing, why does the public sector receive so little funding and so much scrutiny, while the private sector gets ample incentives with minimal accountability?
Call for Applications: New City Critics
A fellowship program to empower new, fearless, and diverse voices to challenge the ways we understand, design, and develop our cities.
Across Currents
With a mandate to decarbonize the city’s building stock, how can New Yorkers reconcile a transition to so-called clean energy with the environmental and cultural impacts of extraction beyond the city’s borders?
Market Share
Designed for other uses and users, Corona Plaza has become a critical infrastructure for streetside selling. In the face of economic and legal pressures, vendors are organizing themselves and the space to ensure both individual survival and collective prosperity.
Care, Where?
Public space may be essential to urban life, but its benefits are far from universally enjoyed. Could a municipal Department of Care bring context-sensitive design and services to every corner of the city?
Seed Money
After a historic oil spill and an unprecedented financial settlement, a Brooklyn community oversees its ecological repair.