Think about how powerless a mayor is,” [physicist-cum-urban-theorist Geoffrey] West says. “They can’t tell people where to live or what to do or who to talk to. Cities can’t be managed, and that’s what keeps them so vibrant. They’re just these insane masses of people, bumping into each other and maybe sharing an idea or two. It’s the freedom of the city that keeps it alive.
A Physicist Turns the City Into an Equation - NYTimes.com
Great article. Jane Jacobs is mentioned, too: West is seen as (somewhat) providing the math to support her arguments.
