【聊了什么】
一座占地仅三分之一街区的小花园,为何能让纽约的政客们冲突、登上纽约时报、还惊动马丁·斯科塞斯和罗伯特·德尼罗等名流亲自站台?
2025年11月,刚刚当选纽约市长的马姆达尼还没上任,即将离任的Eric Adams就抢先签署行政令,将伊丽莎白街花园永久划为公园用地——这被外界解读为一枚"政治毒丸"。这座花园的命运,折射出纽约乃至美国城市治理中的一个核心的矛盾:我们到底应该建更多房子,还是保护现有社区?谁有权决定一个街区的未来?
本期节目,我们邀请到纽约城市规划师罗雨翔老师,从一座社区花园的十年争议出发,聊聊纽约政治中那些看不见的博弈。罗雨翔此前也做过两期纽约相关的节目《纽约的房价到底为什么这么高》和《纽约地铁为什么这么破》,两期播客都发布在我们的友台《选修课》上,也欢迎大家前去收听,并关注这档播客。如果你对这期节目内容感兴趣,欢迎购买罗雨翔的新书《创造大都会——纽约空间与制度观察》,国内各大平台均有销售,海外用户请使用此链接购买。
【支持我们】
如果喜欢这期节目并希望支持我们将节目继续做下去:
也欢迎加入我们的会员计划: https://theamericanroulette.com/paid-membership/
会员可以收到每周2-5封newsletter,可以加入会员社群,参加会员活动,并享受更多福利。
合作投稿邮箱:[email protected]
【时间轴】
03:45 马姆达尼当选与Eric Adams的"政治毒丸"
05:40 伊丽莎白街花园的前世今生
09:40 社区的阶层分化:SOHO富人区vs唐人街低收入社区
12:57 花园之争背后的市议会选战
16:01 公园异化法:为什么正式公园用地几乎无法改变
21:17 Adams给马姆达尼的台阶?
23:41 社区规划与NIMBY现象
30:24 政府的复杂角色:豪华公寓与保障房的平衡术
35:04 Eric Adams的另一面:区划法改革与垃圾革命
42:31 纽约的小政府传统
51:14 Robert Moses vs Jane Jacobs
54:25 为Robert Moses翻案?丰裕议程与当代回响
【我们是谁】
美轮美换是一档深入探讨当今美国政治的中文播客。
我们的主播和嘉宾:
小华:媒体人
罗雨翔:美国注册城市规划师,哈佛大学与伦敦政治经济学院建筑与经济双硕士。现居纽约,参与以及主持北美20余地区的地产开发、区域经济政策与公共领域投资项目。
【 What We Talked About】
How can a tiny garden—barely a third of a city block—spark political battles in New York, make headlines in the New York Times, and rally celebrities like Martin Scorsese and Robert De Niro to its defense?
In November 2025, just days after Zohran Mamdani won the New York City mayoral race but before he could take office, outgoing Mayor Eric Adams signed an executive order permanently designating Elizabeth Street Garden as parkland—a move widely seen as a "political poison pill." The fate of this garden reflects a core tension in urban governance, not just in New York but across America: Should we build more housing, or protect existing communities? And who gets to decide the future of a neighborhood?
In this episode, we're joined by Yuxiang Luo, an urban planner based in New York, to explore ten years of controversy surrounding a single community garden—and the invisible power struggles that shape New York City politics. Yuxiang has previously appeared on two episodes about New York: "Why Is Housing in New York So Expensive?" and "Why Is the New York Subway So Run-Down?", both available on our sister podcast Mo Electives (选修课). We encourage you to check them out and follow that show. If you're interested in this episode's topics, consider picking up Yuxiang's new book, Creating the Metropolis: Observations on Space and Institutions in New York, available on major platforms in China. Overseas readers can purchase it here.
【Support Us】
If you like our show and want to support us, please consider the following:
Join our membership program: https://theamericanroulette.com/paid-membership/
Support us on Patreon: www.patreon.com/americanroulette
Business Inquiries and fan mail: [email protected]
【Timeline】
03:45 Mamdani's Election and Eric Adams' "Political Poison Pill"
05:40 The History of Elizabeth Street Garden
09:40 Class Divide: Wealthy SoHo vs. Low-Income Chinatown
12:57 The City Council Race Behind the Garden Battle
16:01 Parkland Alienation Law: Why Official Parkland Is Nearly Untouchable
21:17 An Off-Ramp for Mamdani?
23:41 Community Planning and NIMBYism
30:24 The Government's Balancing Act: Luxury Condos vs. Affordable Housing
35:04 The Other Side of Eric Adams: Zoning Reform and the Trash Revolution
42:31 New York's Small-Government Tradition
51:14 Robert Moses vs. Jane Jacobs
54:25 Rehabilitating Robert Moses? The Abundance Agenda and Its Echoes Today
【Who We Are】
The American Roulette is a podcast dedicated to helping the Chinese-speaking community understand fast-changing U.S. politics.
Our Hosts and Guests:
小华 (Xiao Hua): Journalist, political observer
Luo Yuxiang: U.S. Registered Urban Planner, holding dual master's degrees in Architecture and Economics from Harvard University and the London School of Economics. Currently residing in New York, he has participated in and led over 20 real estate development, regional economic policy, and public domain investment projects across North America.