The City as One Organism
Harvey inspires utopian beliefs and ideals for a better world with his catalytic writing The Right to the City. He produces a worldwide movement which fights against privatization of public processes and utilities. To what extent is the city modeled for its own people, the working class, people of color, immigrants, and other underrepresented populations? Our cities lose something valuable when only the rich control its shape, development, and conditions that affect our lives. The Right to the City encompasses the social issues of a body of people such as education, transportation, the workforce, security, justice, environmental sustainability and much more.
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Haussmann as the Demolitioner of Paris-
disemboweling the necrotic streets of Paris as a
means to allow for new, healthy growth of the upper class.
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Before Hausmann's overhaul of Paris, all social classes inahbited
the same building complex. They were deliniated by size and
difficulty of access to living quarters.
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I never really thought about how cities were economically, politically and socially organized until reading Harvey. I reflected on some of the cities that I've frequented or briefly lived in and analysis beyond this reading makes it apparent. Cities aren't designed or developed for everyone. Like most things in the US, the 1% define many of the everyday experiences we have.
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