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The Erosion of Public Space and the Public Realm: paranoia, surveillance and privatization in New York City

The Erosion of Public Space and the Public Realm: paranoia, surveillance and privatization in New... City University New York Introduction ichard Longstreth’s landscape of fear has also created a new structure of feeling in New York City, not only because of architectural changes, but because of the state and citizen paranoia that stimulates the restricted use of public space and ethnic profiling of users, reinforced by new regulations and land use policies. Not only are we facing the deleterious impact of 9/11 on an already insecure and frightened populace, we are also seeing the consequences of forty years of privatization and an increasing number of physical barriers on streets and sidewalks as part of Homeland Security measures.1 Moreover, the current management style of increased control of unregulated places has altered how public spaces are used and perceived. In New York City, we are losing public space and the democratic values it represents when we need it most. People went to Washington Square Park and Union Square after 9/11, and later to protest the Iraq war and mourn the dead soldiers. But during the Republican Convention, Central Park was closed to protesters because of the cost of re-seeding the lawn. What does this closure of the most symbolic of public spaces portend? Nancy Fraser http://www.deepdyve.com/assets/images/DeepDyve-Logo-lg.png City & Society Wiley

The Erosion of Public Space and the Public Realm: paranoia, surveillance and privatization in New York City

City & Society , Volume 18 (1) – Jun 1, 2006

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References (10)

Publisher
Wiley
Copyright
Copyright © 2006 Wiley Subscription Services, Inc., A Wiley Company
ISSN
0893-0465
eISSN
1548-744X
DOI
10.1525/city.2006.18.1.43
Publisher site
See Article on Publisher Site

Abstract

City University New York Introduction ichard Longstreth’s landscape of fear has also created a new structure of feeling in New York City, not only because of architectural changes, but because of the state and citizen paranoia that stimulates the restricted use of public space and ethnic profiling of users, reinforced by new regulations and land use policies. Not only are we facing the deleterious impact of 9/11 on an already insecure and frightened populace, we are also seeing the consequences of forty years of privatization and an increasing number of physical barriers on streets and sidewalks as part of Homeland Security measures.1 Moreover, the current management style of increased control of unregulated places has altered how public spaces are used and perceived. In New York City, we are losing public space and the democratic values it represents when we need it most. People went to Washington Square Park and Union Square after 9/11, and later to protest the Iraq war and mourn the dead soldiers. But during the Republican Convention, Central Park was closed to protesters because of the cost of re-seeding the lawn. What does this closure of the most symbolic of public spaces portend? Nancy Fraser

Journal

City & SocietyWiley

Published: Jun 1, 2006

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