Bloomberg's New Plan For New York

18 December 2006 - 5:00am

New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg has unveiled a broad plan to re-envision the city. He has recognized three major challenges: a population increase of 1 million residents within 25 years, a crumbling infrastructure, and a need to go green.

"To transform New York into a 'sustainable city' Mr Bloomberg has set ten goals, to be monitored by a new Sustainability Advisory Board made up of scientists, scholars, academics, city planners and environmentalists. The goals include a massive increase in affordable housing; the pledge that every New Yorker will live within ten minutes' walk of a public park; and an overhaul of public transport, including a subway extension. Mr Bloomberg wants New York to have the cleanest air of any big city in America and to reduce emissions that contribute to global warming by 30% by 2030. And he wants to open 90% of the surrounding rivers, harbours and bays for recreation by reducing water pollution and preserving natural spaces."

"Wisely, Mr Bloomberg left the details of how to implement his vision to another day—probably in March."

Full Story: The new New York
Source: The Economist, December 13, 2006
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