Discovering the West Side, Politically Speaking

An urban economic development tour stops along Manhattan's west side highway

For the past month, my Political Science professor Bruce Berg has been detailing the ins and outs of urban economic development and state-city relations in his class: New York City Politics. Whether a Political Science enthusiast or not, one can appreciate the complex and distinct ways in which this city operates and serves its residents. Yet, only so much can be demonstrated in a conventional classroom. I say conventional because, last Saturday, New York City became our classroom for the afternoon.

Taking advantage of the bright and temperate weather, my class ventured into Manhattan for an informal tour. The description was as follows: meet in front of Lowenstein (Lincoln Center's main building) at 11am, wear comfortable shoes, and bring a MetroCard. As we walked and talked, the past lectures about landmark regulations, zoning shifts, air rights, gentrification, various court cases and many other events and concepts were brought into perspective. Robert Moses and the creation of Lincoln Center, the rejuvenation of the West Side and the "Trump Village," (see picture) the transformation of Riverside Park, and many other sites, turned theory into reality. All Fordham students know that New York City is a cultural and entertainment mecca. However, personally, to see the city through a very systematic and political lens made me appreciate it so much more.

Most, if not all, of my close friends have experienced academic excursions similar to this one. Whether to the major Manhattan museums (Metropolitan Museum of Art, MoMA, etc.), Ellis Island, or the Metropolitan Opera, New York City offers an infinite amount of educational opportunities that Fordham professors enthusiastically take advantage of. As they always say: location, location, location.