Read on Twitter
"Approximately one-third of the city’s total surface area is covered by vegetation, more than twice as much as past studies had assumed."
I've lived here 12 years, visited it for 5 more before.
Always marveled at how much greener NYC is than one thinks AND getting greener.
I've lived here 12 years, visited it for 5 more before.
Always marveled at how much greener NYC is than one thinks AND getting greener.
https://twitter.com/KevOKeefe/status/1660756039812120576
And I suspect that's because to cut any tree in the city, you have to jump through Lot of hoops and convince a lot of people.
Whereas you don't get as much opposition to planting more trees or creating more green spaces.
Perks of being a solid Blue city.
Whereas you don't get as much opposition to planting more trees or creating more green spaces.
Perks of being a solid Blue city.
Related, so putting here.
Having gotten involved in local politics in NYC the last few years, I see now how much of an active role citizens play in shaping such decisions.
NYC has gotten greener cos it's citizens could & did make it happen. Both.
Having gotten involved in local politics in NYC the last few years, I see now how much of an active role citizens play in shaping such decisions.
NYC has gotten greener cos it's citizens could & did make it happen. Both.
https://twitter.com/OdiSriUS/status/1661237265270710274?s=19
I read what Rakesh said here and I thought omg Pune was also like that until the mid 90s or so.
But then "development" fever took over.
And then I realized, it's also a structural flaw.
India simply isn't remotely as democratic as USA! 🤷🤷
But then "development" fever took over.
And then I realized, it's also a structural flaw.
India simply isn't remotely as democratic as USA! 🤷🤷
https://twitter.com/OdiSriUS/status/1661237265270710274?s=19
The kind of activism and mobilization we saw in Mumbai for Aarey Forest and Pune for #VetalTekdi, in the US, would have shut down those projects super fast. Cos the system here gives its citizens ways to push back against leaders.
Indian system is about compliance.
Indian system is about compliance.
Indian system says, here are IAS babus, very smart, cos chosen by older IAS babus who we all have to agree are very smart cos that exam is so tough! And we have elections for just 3 posts - MP, MLA, local representative. Everything else, we will only decide.
In NYC, I vote for a dozen or so different posts in a 2 year cycle.
Twice! Cos primaries.
That means almost everyone with any power doing anything, is still answerable to voters in a much more direct way than in India, where we get only 3 votes every 5 years.
Twice! Cos primaries.
That means almost everyone with any power doing anything, is still answerable to voters in a much more direct way than in India, where we get only 3 votes every 5 years.
If you attend community board meetings for NYC, you will see how much say and how much sway politically engaged citizens have.
It's not all lollipops & rainbows.
But it's real participative democracy for those who want to participate.
Indian system just doesn't have that!
It's not all lollipops & rainbows.
But it's real participative democracy for those who want to participate.
Indian system just doesn't have that!
I say NYC cos that's where I saw it first.
But that's how things operate everywhere in the US.
Lots of posts that run the machinery of the state are up for elections. In addition to MP, MLA, local representative. Twice.
It makes things messy too. But the arc tilts progressive.
But that's how things operate everywhere in the US.
Lots of posts that run the machinery of the state are up for elections. In addition to MP, MLA, local representative. Twice.
It makes things messy too. But the arc tilts progressive.
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