Freakonomics Radio 337. How to Build a Smart City
Jun 7, 2018
Dan Doctoroff, CEO of Sidewalk Labs and former Deputy Mayor of New York City, shares his vision for the future of urban living. He discusses the rise of cities amid urbanization, the challenges of retrofitting aging infrastructures, and the innovative projects he spearheaded in NYC. Doctoroff highlights the balance between corporate needs and enhancing quality of life. He also emphasizes the importance of flexibility in urban design, showcasing successful initiatives like the High Line and the transformative power of strategic planning for smart cities.
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From Olympic Bid To City Hall
- Dan Doctoroff recruited Mike Bloomberg into the Olympic bid and later joined Bloomberg as deputy mayor after 9/11 to help rebuild New York.
- He used the Olympic effort as a catalyst to push through rezonings and large infrastructure projects even without winning the Games.
Manage Supply To Keep Cities Inclusive
- Successful cities attract people, which raises demand and can make them unaffordable without more supply.
- Doctoroff argues the core problem is producing more supply via land and funding for subsidized housing.
Rezoning Cleared With A Midnight Favor
- Rezoning the Brooklyn waterfront faced a last-minute state-politician demand for a million-dollar daycare favor before the city council vote.
- Doctoroff pulled an all-night call to secure the money and get the rezoning passed despite state-level grubbiness.