When the Covid Pandemic began in 2019 I assumed community leaders would immediately blame cities for the problem. Why not? Cities make good scapegoats. Instead, commentators began by blaming density. How convenient! Once they blamed density it was easy to take their shot at the true villain …. the paragon of disasters, known as the City.

With the twentieth century and the rise of modern architecture negative views of cities gained popularity. … The alternative view, less popular, more complex and more helpful, blends together the life of cities as a dynamic sequence of threats and opportunities…

Planning students, and even seasoned professionals, often gravitate to the first solutions they can find, especially when encountering new and unfamiliar city problems. … Just as there is no “perfect” city there is no “best” belief system for planners.

Most planners have little or no independent authority to make such decisions – they are not the boss. They work for chief executives, committees, councils, and colleagues. Usually planners have more than one client. This does not mean planners have no political power – far from it….

Even when planners avoid failed theories and models, they still search for solutions. Usually planners rely on conventional practice. What did our planning department do the last time? What did the planning department do in neighboring communities? What do our competitors do? What do national planning organizations recommend? What can I find online? We always look for an easy answer … Too bad they don’t work!