In a comprehensive look at the New York governor's attraction to big infrastructure projects, the analogy to Robert Moses is made by the Regional Plan Association, while the right-leaning Manhattan Institute faults Cuomo for ignoring MTA.
Will Gov. Andrew Cuomo be remembered by two mega-projects that began under his watch: the replacement of the Tappan Zee Bridge and redesign of LaGuardia Airport? That is to say, will that be his legacy?
"Political analysts say the governor’s penchant for large-scale projects is unmatched among his recent predecessors, and is reminiscent of the administration of Nelson A. Rockefeller, the Republican who was elected to four terms as governor and whose lengthy construction resume included state office buildings and college campuses," write Thomas Kaplan and Patrick McGeehan for The New York Times.
But Mr. Cuomo’s zeal for marquee construction projects has come with some consequences. It remains unclear how, exactly, the state will pay for the estimated $3.9 billion Tappan Zee replacement, and how high the tolls may climb for those who cross it.
Tom Wright, president of the Regional Plan Association, said Mr. Cuomo had taken a page from the playbook of Robert Moses, New York’s master builder, by pushing ahead without working out every financial detail. In the process, Mr. Wright said, the governor was bucking the tendency of "policy wonks" who "let the perfect be the enemy of the good and spread their limited resources around instead of concentrating on a couple key strategic priorities."
Other Cuomo projects barely made it to the light of day, most notably the redevelopment of Aqueduct Raceway in Queens into a huge convention center and casino, only to collapse six months later. While the process to overhaul LaGuardia Airport appears to have begun, the word is still out on Cuomo's proposed AirTrain to provide subway access.
Another perspective is offered by Nicole Gelinas, a senior fellow at the Manhattan Institute for Policy Research, a right-leaning think tank, who looks at MTA's underfunded capital plan.
“His infrastructure legacy will ultimately hinge on what he does with the subways,” said Gelinas. “Allowing them to deteriorate really harms New Yorkers’ quality of life more so than an airport that’s in bad condition.”
"More than halfway through his first year as governor, he admitted that he had not taken a single ride on the subway during his time in office," note the reporters.
Political science Professor Gerald Benjamin of SUNY New Paltz perhaps summed it up best. "You get credit for things you build, not things you maintain."
FULL STORY: Cuomo’s Legacy? It May Be Big New York Projects

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

Restaurant Patios Were a Pandemic Win — Why Were They so Hard to Keep?
Social distancing requirements and changes in travel patterns prompted cities to pilot new uses for street and sidewalk space. Then it got complicated.

Map: Where Senate Republicans Want to Sell Your Public Lands
For public land advocates, the Senate Republicans’ proposal to sell millions of acres of public land in the West is “the biggest fight of their careers.”

Maui's Vacation Rental Debate Turns Ugly
Verbal attacks, misinformation campaigns and fistfights plague a high-stakes debate to convert thousands of vacation rentals into long-term housing.

San Francisco Suspends Traffic Calming Amidst Record Deaths
Citing “a challenging fiscal landscape,” the city will cease the program on the heels of 42 traffic deaths, including 24 pedestrians.

California Homeless Arrests, Citations Spike After Ruling
An investigation reveals that anti-homeless actions increased up to 500% after Grants Pass v. Johnson — even in cities claiming no policy change.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Heyer Gruel & Associates PA
JM Goldson LLC
Custer County Colorado
City of Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Astoria
Transportation Research & Education Center (TREC) at Portland State University
Camden Redevelopment Agency
City of Claremont
Municipality of Princeton (NJ)