6 Comments
User's avatar
bnjd's avatar

We often understate how much cultural change it will take to move the needle on all these other factors. The cultural defaults can be very stubborn.

Expand full comment
Ryan Puzycki's avatar

It's the hardest part and the work of generations, in my mind!

Expand full comment
bnjd's avatar

Sometimes the culture can move quicker than that. I think gay rights was an example of culture moving faster than the law and the hard politics, but this is just intuition and I don't know the history. In any case, slow or fast, attempting soft influence such as persuasion is always part of the equation. And it's not easy! People are annoyed when you try to change their mind, especially at the level of values.

Expand full comment
Jennifer M Koskinen's avatar

Amen to all of this!

Expand full comment
Frank OConnor Jr's avatar

Hello ~ I enjoyed a chuckle after reading your post dated OCT 17, 2025 about Flying cars, glass domes, and self-cleaning SIDEWALKS—the City of Tomorrow was not only coming but already under construction.

What sidewalks ? ?

I just returned from Spain where there are wide, safe, clean and accessible sidewalks everywhere, funded by a gasoline tax. Why can't the USA have ADA compliant sidewalks everywhere also ? Sidewalks are the key component to livable / viable / thriving urban progress. Without ADA compliant sidewalks, how can people safely access public transportation, schools and businesses?

We have the resources. What is lacking is the resolve of elected officials.

Expand full comment
Jonathan Cohen's avatar

We should not tear down beautiful old buildings to put up ugly modern ones, such as what is happening with Columbia University on the Upper West Side around 125 Street and the No. ! train.

Expand full comment