TROPOLISM

"New York was always singular for the dynamism with which the Brooklyn Bridge went up and skyscrapers went up and roads were built," he said. "Then, in the 1970's, civic reputation began to be acquired by people who prevented things from happening. There are some things you shouldn't do, but many things now get stopped for no reason."

A little reminder from our dear departed good-force ghost, Patrick Moynihan.

I propose a new possibility: that criticism must be backed up with a proposal. The ground rule is no complaints without ways of moving forward. In short, nothing stops. This is, after all, New York.