What Should Phoenix Be Tomorrow?

Making A Desert Progeny Grow Old Prettily

 

Those of us who live in Los Angeles may love it, but no sane Angeleno would describe the metropolis as a model of urban planning. We’re too scattered and too crowded. Our buses work, but we don’t like them. Our subway works, but it doesn’t go very far. We sprawl, and we crawl. But what about Phoenix? It’s smaller and younger. Can it do a better job of planning for its future than L.A. has? In advance of a Zócalo event “Is Phoenix the Next L.A.?“, we asked several notable …

More In: Up For Discussion

Is This the Golden Age of Television?

Maybe You Should Feel Better About the Junk You Watch—Maybe

 

We hate it and we love it. Television is worse than ever and better than ever. Most of us can reel off the names of ten shows that we consider …

Can’t We Just Visit the Louvre By Mouse?

Assessing the Proper Role of Museums in the Information Age

 

In recent years, museums have come under criticism for many alleged sins–overly aggressive collection practices, questionable finances, elitism, or failure to adapt to the digital world. This has led to …

Is Philanthropy Too Powerful?

(We’re Not Talking About You, Of Course)

 

Philanthropy has a good name, but it doesn’t always make friends. Every foundation has its own mission, and these missions can be in conflict with one another. They can also, …

What Should Universities Do For Their Cities?

Perspectives On How Gown Can Help Town

 

Universities often set up shop in cities, and cities often set up shop around universities. But the relationship between the two communities–town and gown–can be quite distant, even hostile. What …

A Sickening Dispute

Why Are Healthcare Policy Battles in the United States So Bitter?

 

Most Americans agree that everyone needs doctors, hospitals, and access to the best medical care possible. Countries compete for the highest life expectancies and the lowest infant mortality rates. But …