Op-Ed: Don’t Close Times Square
Check out our editorial that has now appeared in the North Jersey Record, the Pocono Record, the San Marcos Record, and the Southeast Missourian.
While some might react to the recent NYC bombing attempt by encouraging a fortressing of Times Square, we argue that the safest spaces are those without barriers to access or mobility. In this recent case, it was precisely the numerous “eyes on the street” - particularly those of the street vendors and tourists - that discovered the smoking, explosive-laden SUV. If security officials decide to close down or limit public access to parts of Times Square, just as they did in Lower Manhattan after 9/11 (see here), disastrous consequences could follow.
Times Square events prompt popular coverage of security zones article
Partly due to recent interest in the Times Square terrorism case, my recent co-authored article on Security Zones in New York City’s public spaces has received coverage by several media outlets.
1. http://cityroom.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/04/30/like-a-pigeon-on-a-train/
2. http://www.dnainfo.com/20100429/manhattan/lower-manhattan-loses-public-space-security-study-finds
3. http://www.metropolismag.com/pov/20090708/mapping-security
4. http://www.huffingtonpost.com/f-kaid-benfield/village-green-security-me_b_244390.html
5. http://www.crainsnewyork.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008809119966
6. http://www.securityinfowatch.com/Public+Safety+Watch/1315359
New article published on security zones in New York City
A new piece co-authored with Justin Hollander at Tufts University appears in the current issue of the International Journal of Urban and Regional Research (Volume 34, Number 1: 20-34). In the article, we use a simple index to assess the presence and intensity of security zones - areas cordoned off or allowing only limited access for security purposes - in New York City. We find that approximately 27% of the city’s Financial and Civic Center districts is located within a security zone. This map shows limited areas in orange and closed areas in red. Click on individual security zones to view photos and scoring results for each.
The article is available here; for those without access please e-mail me at jeremy(dot)nemeth(at)ucdenver(dot)edu.
Nemeth article on public space management published in Urban Studies
My article detailing the results of empirical work on urban management in New York City appears in the current issue of Urban Studies. The article, “Defining a public: The management of privately owned public space” (Volume 46, No. 11, pp. 2463-2490) presents findings from 163 site visits to privately owned spaces in Manhattan. I find that while managers employ a number of techniques to control who uses their space (and how), the most dominant management approach is one that carefully selects and filters in an appropriate or desirable set of users. The article is available here; for those without access please e-mail me at jeremy(dot)nemeth(at)ucdenver(dot)edu.
Secure Cities website appears in popular blogs
The Secure Cities website got some recent press via an article by F. Kaid Benfield, Director of the Smart Growth program for the National Resources Defense Council (NRDC) in Washington, DC.
NRDC Switchboard article here (July 24, 2009)
Huffington Post article here (July 24, 2009)
Benfield founded both Smart Growth America and the LEED for neighborhood (LEED-ND) initiative, a program intended to certify superior neighborhood development projects. Readers of the planning and development website Planetizen voted Benfield the #41 “urban thinker” in their recent poll.
WELCOME!
Welcome to Jeremy Nemeth’s blog/website. I’ll use this blog to update you all on projects I’m working on, teaching I’m currently involved in, or just to post articles/thoughts of interest. I hope to update this page fairly regularly, but no promises. For now, you can always view my university webpage by clicking here.
