The City the Rich Built — and Broke
A new history traces how elite-driven development made New York richer on paper and poorer in practice.
Part of landscape architect Frederick Law Olmsted’s grand vision for Central Park, Columbus Circle began its life in the 1870s as a pedestrian plaza. By the early 20th century, the circle was a common gathering space for political orators — especially those opposed to the politics of the left-dominated Union Square. (Bettmann / Contributor)
When Andrew Cuomo relaunched his New York City mayoral campaign after losing to Zohran Mamdani in the Democratic primary, his ambitions for the city’s future seemingly blossomed overnight. Stealing ideas from his opponent, Cuomo outlined a vision for a new New York centered around affordable housing, safer subways, expanded social services, and economic development for […]
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