That doesn't address the political and social issue though: who is a the city for? Who should have access to public space? I believe that in a crowded city it'

That doesn't address the political and social issue though: who is a the city for? Who should have access to public space? I believe that in a crowded city it's really important that things like parks and riverbanks are accessible to everyone. Otherwise you slowly create a city of gated communities, a two-tier society. Saying "you could go somewhere else" is basically admitting that the city is becoming unlivable to the common man.