David Simon on the Uniqueness of New York

The creator of "The Wire" talks to CityLab about "The Deuce," New York City in the 1970s, and how strategies for one town won't always work for another.

2 minute read

October 30, 2017, 8:00 AM PDT

By Katharine Jose


1970s

US National Archives / Wikimedia Commons

Until recently, most of David Simon’s literary and television projects have been based in America’s less-gentrified cities. "Homicide: Life on the Streets" and "The Wire" took place in Baltimore, "Treme" in New Orleans and "Show Me a Hero" in the rarely celebrated town of Yonkers.

His newest, "The Deuce," about the legalization and popularization of pornography, takes place largely in Midtown Manhattan in the early 1970s. It is resplendent with wardrobe and hairstyles true to the period, and it is a portrait of a Times Square that is virtually unrecognizable next to the current one.

Simon doesn't necessarily subscribe to the nostalgia for a seedier New York that is hard to avoid in the city, but neither does he see any lessons in urbanism. "New York’s future is not indicative of a resolution to America’s urban problems," Simon tells CityLab, "[it] has metrics that other cities can’t replicate economically or culturally."

More than new police tactics or social programs, the mayors that presided over the city during its most transformative year—he names Ed Koch and Rudy Guiliani—"were able to money the city again," Simon said, referencing Baltimore’s attempt to adopt "broken windows" policing

Recognizing the cultural dilution that has come with a safer New York, Simon added, "Not that I’m rushing into Bubba Gump Shrimp in Times Square, but, hey, it’s tax base. I mean, I don’t mean to make fun. When stuff [like that] shows up in Baltimore, Maryland, I’m happy. I’ve watched my city lose 120,000 people. The idea that any business wants to come back in and start up—OK, welcome."

Monday, October 16, 2017 in CityLab

portrait of professional woman

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

Get top-rated, practical training

Close-up of "Apartment for rent" sign in red text on black background in front of blurred building

Trump Administration Could Effectively End Housing Voucher Program

Federal officials are eyeing major cuts to the Section 8 program that helps millions of low-income households pay rent.

April 21, 2025 - Housing Wire

Logo for Planetizen Federal Action Tracker with black and white image of U.S. Capitol with water ripple overlay.

Planetizen Federal Action Tracker

A weekly monitor of how Trump’s orders and actions are impacting planners and planning in America.

April 23, 2025 - Diana Ionescu

Ken Jennings stands in front of Snohomish County Community Transit bus.

Ken Jennings Launches Transit Web Series

The Jeopardy champ wants you to ride public transit.

April 20, 2025 - Streetsblog USA

Floor-to-ceiling rotating gates at Fairmount subway station in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Crime Continues to Drop on Philly, San Francisco Transit Systems

SEPTA and BART both saw significant declines in violent crime in the first quarter of 2025.

4 hours ago - Mass Transit

South LA Wetlands Park in Los Angeles, California.

How South LA Green Spaces Power Community Health and Hope

Green spaces like South L.A. Wetlands Park are helping South Los Angeles residents promote healthy lifestyles, build community, and advocate for improvements that reflect local needs in historically underserved neighborhoods.

5 hours ago - ABC 7 Eyewitness News

Intersection in downtown Sacramento, California with neoclassical building with columns on left.

Sacramento Plans ‘Quick-Build’ Road Safety Projects

The city wants to accelerate small-scale safety improvements that use low-cost equipment to make an impact at dangerous intersections.

6 hours ago - The Sacramento Bee