Last week, the 1912 Institute—where I serve as Board Chair—hosted the first event in a series of America 250-themed events in Scottsdale, Arizona. 50+ civic-minded Arizonans of all ages gathered to break bread and learn about Arizona's state constitution, the U.S. Constitution, and the state and national founding eras.
We had a stellar panel that included:
Arizona Supreme Court Justice Clint Bolick
Dr. Sean Beienburg, an associate professor at Arizona State University’s School of Civic and Economic Thought and Leadership
Chris Cottrell, a 1912 Board Member and small business owner
Joel Malkin, a 1912 Board Member and small business owner
Interested in attending events like this and joining a cohort of likeminded Arizonans who want to make Arizona the best state in the nation to live, work, and raise a family? Become a subscriber to the 1912 Institute today (subscribers get a complimentary “Ditat Deus” (“God Enriches”—Arizona’s state motto) ballcap:
Building a great city in the twenty-first century
One of the great insights of twentieth-century urbanist Jane Jacobs is that flourishing cities cannot be created from the top-down. They must grow organically. “Organic” growth, however, should not be understood to exclude personal will. Cities depend upon their people (in their private and public capacities, in their personal lives and through corporate endeavors) to flourish.
Moreover, great cities must assent to some level of competent public sector management: It is particularly important in resource-constrained environments such as Phoenix that the public sector plays a role in managing growth. Nonetheless, the public sector, insofar as it manages growth, must make room for non-state actors to build communities, organizations, and businesses without undue interference.
As the era of the Great American City comes to a close, we need not abandon the many blessings of city life. Our task—the task of policymakers, civil society builders, job creators, everyday people—is great. But it is far from insurmountable. The era of the New American City has begun.
What I’m reading and listening to
Mamdani Is Trumpifying the Democrats — Geoff Shullenberger
Fusionism for the 21st Century — Henry Olsen
We Don’t Know How to Talk About Assisted Dying — Valerie Pavilonis
How to Become a Person After Smartphones Have Rotted Your Brain — Luke Burgis
Finally, an Action Movie About Washington’s French and Indian War Years — James Parker
Gen Z Doesn’t Trust Anyone — Ryan Burge
The Death and Life of Great American Cities — Jane Jacobs
Child’s Play — Sam Kriss
Let’s Get Something Clear About America’s National Identity — Ross Douthat