Transcript Lecture 5 Urban Planning and the end of Public Space

The Militarization of Urban
Space
“Fortress LA”
By Mike Davis
The Making of
Urban Public Space
 For many urban residents, public space is something that
we inhabit every day, but we tend not to think too much
about it.
 We take for granted that cities have parks, sidewalks,
libraries, schools, governmental buildings and recreation
facilities.
 And we take for granted that we can gain access to these
places free of charge and without special privileges such
as membership.
 This kind of space is called public space, because it is for
public use.
Liberal vs. Post-Liberal View of
Public Space
 Liberal View
– Spaces of Tranquility and Mixed Use
 Fredereck Olmsted - Designed public landscapes and parks to
be “natural” so that they would contrast with crowded urban
environment, which he viewed as unhealthy. Parks should have
different kinds of spaces (fields, walks and paths that flow
through the landscape, etc.). These spaces would encourage
tranquility for those who use the park.
– Democratic Spaces - Public landscapes and parks as safety valves
for social discontent (areas of mixed racial and mixed class
recreation and pleasure).
 Post-Liberal View
– Public space should be converted into (semi) private, corporatedominated space for commerce, business and tourism.
– “Safety” is the key concern
Privatization of Public Space
– Unable to pay for parks and other public facilities, cities now allow
for private stewardship.
– Malls and exclusive residential enclaves are now replacing parks,
recreation centers and public squares.
– Access is reduced because public stewardship is replaced by
private stewardship (malls are not exactly public).
 “Less desirables” are kept out by making the park “attractive.”
 BIDs - parks integrated into Business Improvement Districts.
 Control, accountability and vision for public space in the hands
of corporate donors and patrons.
Militarization of Space
 Democratization of public space reversed since
1980s
 Fear of dangerous “other” has caused parks to be
fenced in and closed at night.
 According to geographer Sharon Zukin, public
space is now “too dangerous for public culture.”
 More policing, less freedom
Costs of Militarization
 What happens when public space is militarized?
– Middle-class favored as proper park patrons.
– Park aesthetics designed for “normal” people
– Corporations (untaxed) control public space.
 Private security forces control what happens in these spaces?
– “Undesirables” kept out or exploited (homeless).
– Commercial space substituted for truly public space.
Sequestering the Poor
 Removing the homeless from public view.
 Eliminating toilets, park benches and other public facilities.
 Heavy policing of poor neighborhoods.
– “Security” but loss of freedom.
 Containment of poor in certain areas.
– Elimination of public transportation, blocking off of streets and other
measures designed to isolate poor and homeless in areas far away
from affluent city centers.
New York City – Stop and Frisk
 97,296 in 2002
 531,159 in 2008
 10% result in any
fine or arrest
 Disproportionately
black and Latino
 Information put into
a database
Securing the Rich
 High security design in architecture.
– Malls, libraries and high rise buildings are
guarded, surveilled, etc.
 “Fortress enclaves” for the rich.
– Private security forces, high tech security,
fortress architecture fortifies the high-tech
castles of the rich.
Security by Design
Goldwyn Branch Library in Hollywood
Tompkins Square Park
 Gate-lined
walkways
 Curfew
 Semi-public events