Skip to Content
Streetsblog USA home
Streetsblog USA home
Log In
Streetsblog.net

Message to Cities: Don’t Try to Be the New York Yankees

Today on the Streetsblog Network, Charles Marohn at Strong Towns writes about the tendency for cities to pin their hopes on splashy new projects. Kind of like how the Yankees always go out and sign an expensive free agent slugger.

false

But what most cities need more than an A-Rod, Marohn writes, is a well-balanced roster of solid, dependable players:

Adopting the strategy of the Yankees -- one where we keep throwing money at marquee players to try and buy more wins -- is not only a really high risk approach for most markets, it doesn't have a track record of success. We have to think more strategically.I can't tell you how many places I've been where they point to New York's High Line as a project worthy of emulation. It is a beautiful project, but how many cities have an elevated rail line and $152 million sitting around that they can commit to a parkway?

When it comes to local government, we're all trying to be the Yankees. We're all acting like that next big project is the one that will make our team successful. We discount all the little things that make a team/city successful, the things that we can do with our non-Yankee budgets.

Reconfigure that street crossing to improve foot traffic. Narrow that STROAD to make the street more livable. Plant some shrubs along that parking lot to break up the dead space. Fight the light pollution on the commercial/residential interface. Focus on the transition between your roads and your streets.

None of these things are flashy. None will get the fan base all excited and give tons of accolades to management for "making things happen." The same can be said in baseball about drawing a walk, hitting the cutoff man or making contact on the hit and run. But those are the little things that win games. Do them well and you'll win more often than you'll lose. And most importantly, you'll never completely blow up.

Elsewhere on the Network today: I Bike TO says the fixation on bike helmets arises from our dangerous street culture in North America. World Streets shares a word cloud of the chief proponents of "old mobility." And Bike Portland says news of the Columbia River Crossing's death may have been exaggerated.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog USA

Friday Video: Ride The Best Bike Tunnel In the World

Take a break from U.S. transportation news in one of Norway's most iconic biking hot spots.

March 21, 2025

Friday’s Headlines Fill ‘Er Up

As electric vehicles cut into gas tax revenue, it looks like raising gas taxes is a more viable option politically than taxing miles driven.

March 21, 2025

Talking Headways Podcast: The Public Works Director for Democrats

U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen on the Trump administration's recent guidance for stripping sustainable projects of funding, and why he thinks active transportation advocates should focus on safety.

March 20, 2025

Trump, Republicans Make D.C. Ground Zero in Their War on Cities

The Trump administration is bullying D.C. — and other cities (looking at you, New York) could soon fall in the crosshairs, advocates say.

March 20, 2025
See all posts