People in the street (photo: NYC Department of Transportation)

May 15, 2023 - Max Politics Podcast: A Vision for a More Livable City, with Sara Lind of Open Plans

Sara Lind, co-executive director of Open Plans, joined the show to discuss the group's vision for a more livable New York City, including specific programs, like Open Streets and Open Restaurants, state and city policy priorities, and more.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the show through the

Use of public space on Tompkins Ave, BK (photo: Jackson Chabot)

July 29, 2022 - Max Politics Podcast: Rethinking How Public Space is Allocated in New York City

Jackson Chabot, Director of Public Space Advocacy at nonprofit Open Plans, joined the show to discuss rethinking the use of public space in New York City, including the organization's 'reimagine the curb' plan, the push for an Office of Public Space Management, and more.

Listen to the conversation and let us know what you think, on Twitter @TweetBenMax. You can listen to the

Public space (photo: John McCarten/City Council)

Summer is in full swing and street fairs, parades, and block parties are enlivening public space across New York City. But these vital signs of city life exist alongside indicators of the challenges we are facing: trash blocking sidewalks, lack of staff to keep crucial community spaces activated, and the threat of traffic violence.

The activity on our streets, parks, and stoops helps define what makes New York special. These spaces would not thrive without committed

Prospect Park (photo: Michael Appleton/Mayor's Office)

In New York City, virtually every square foot of open space is highly contested, considered, or counted on. Because of COVID-19 restrictions, open spaces have become more important than ever. Yet while open space initiatives such as outdoor dining and car-less streets were widely praised during the summer months and into the fall, questions have persisted about how people will adapt during the winter and what the long-term plans are for the utilization of open space in New