In a hierarchy of urban planning, I’d favor removing space for cars over demolishing precious space for affordable housing. To that effect, I wouldn’t point to

In a hierarchy of urban planning, I’d favor removing space for cars over demolishing precious space for affordable housing. To that effect, I wouldn’t point to Haussmann who bulldozed plenty of homes and neighborhoods for his unified vision of Paris connected by major thoroughfares. As a result, we have few parks and the city lacks any kind of real arboreal shelter except on some of the boulevards. He was a visionary, but he didn’t have scientific papers or the threat of climate change to contend with. The idea I have in mind is that the control over cities has been wrested from its citizens. A special car commuting class has more comfort moving about a city like Paris than regular inhabitants — but at what cost and borne by whom? Removing space for cars means removing vehicles, which re-empowers city-dwellers, cleans the air, and cools the city.