Brandon Figliolino
June 12, 2018
June 12, 2018
I had the pleasure of traveling to New York City for the first time when I was twenty-seven. For years, I was interested in visiting one of America’s metropolises, that one in particular. I had grown up in a Denver suburb and wanted to experience what I believed to be a built environment rivaled by none.
The city, which was once just a hub of finance and commerce, has evolved into a booming economy made up of diverse populations (Judd & Swanstrom, 2015). Before the trip, I reached out to friends who had lived and/or visited the Big Apple to ask why they loved NYC. Everyone gave me different responses. My friends Geo and Pat enjoyed the city’s theatrical offerings. Chris loved the sports scene. Aleah found economic opportunities that were unmatched in other localities. Ruben, who was my traveling partner on the trip, enjoyed the variety of eateries. My friend Paul simply felt like he belonged.
While there, Ruben and I experienced a lot of the activities that our friends enjoyed. We took in the show Kinky Boots on Broadway. We could hear the roar of the crowds at nearby MetLife stadium as they cheered on the home team. Of course, we also dined at various restaurants and bistros. In between the constant photos I made Ruben take of me in front of landmark buildings like the Empire State Building, I kept thinking about how amazing it would be to put roots down there. Ruben would remind me that living here without making six-digit salaries would make us destitute because of the high cost of housing; I pretended not to hear. I had been there only two days, yet I felt like a part of the community.
My friends were right. New York City did not cater to financial bankers; there was something for everyone. In a globalized world, people have more choices when it comes to where they live and recreate, making the competition between cities to attract people aggressive (Judd & Swanstrom, 2015). To succeed, New York City continues to attract a strong workforce by providing people with many economic opportunities. It is through this diversification of industries that NYC is able to expand and attract cultural amenities like the ones Ruben and I enjoyed on our visit, too (Glaeser, 2018).
Walking through the city, I did my best to ignore the negative externalities I saw. One day, we took a break and enjoyed coffee in a café located in the SoHo neighborhood. Looking through the window, we saw a famous designer walking by, doing his best to step over the mounds of garbage that littered the sidewalk. Later, we chose to ride the subway home to our hotel. The ride was cramped and shaky, and took what felt like ages to get to our stop. We didn’t even bother trying to hail a taxi; traffic was bumper-to-bumper.
A city’s increasing popularity comes with these types of logistic, housing, and infrastructure challenges. Such issues shouldn’t be ignored. Globalization makes it easier for residents to leave “intolerable” urban conditions (Judd & Swanstrom, 2015). If cities cannot solve these problems in a way that pleases even the most “discordant interests” of its residents, those residents will leave (Kantor & Judd, 2016).
These problems are not insurmountable. Consistent engagement with residents, businesses, and community leaders can help government officials formulate effective solutions (Glaeser, 2018; Judd & Swanstrom, 2015). This collaboration further attracts new businesses and employees to the city, bringing with it improved quality of life for residents as a whole (Kantor & Judd, 2016).
My visit to New York City was unforgettable. It demonstrated that when a city embraces different cultures and ideas, business flourishes, and with that entrepreneurial success comes greater cultural amenities and recreational opportunities. Cities struggling to improve the quality of life for residents should follow the Big Apple and embrace innovation and unique perspectives. Although NYC experiences challenges with housing and infrastructure, because leaders have embraced new economic sectors, and created a positive culture around diverse populations, the city has greater capacity to overcome adversity.
References:
Glaeser, E. (2018) “It’s time to embrace our cities.” TED. Retrieved from: www.youtube.com/watch?v=ILDwnzQNlGc.
Judd, D. & Swanstron, T. (2015) City Politics. 9 ed. Pearson: Boston, MA.
Kantor, P. & Judd, D. (2016) American Urban Politics in a Global Age. 7 ed. Rutledge: New York, NY.
