What do you think?
Rate this book
Greater than Ever: New York's Big Comeback
The former deputy mayor of New York City tells the story of the city's comeback after 9/11, offering lessons in resiliency under the most trying of circumstances, and a model for the rejuvenation of any city.
Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff led New York's dramatic and unexpected economic resurgence after the September 11 terrorist attacks. With Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he developed a remarkably ambitious five-borough economic development plan to not only recover from the attacks but to completely transform New York's New neighborhoods were created. Hundreds of thousands of jobs were generated. The largest municipal affordable housing plan in American history was completed. Ground Zero was rebuilt. And New York adopted a pathbreaking sustainability plan.
None of this was straightforward. New York has some of the most entrenched financial and political interests anywhere, and it has a population that is quick to let its public officials know exactly what is on its mind. Doctoroff's plans for a New York Olympic Games and a stadium on the West Side crashed and burned, but phoenix-like he engineered the transformation of the city anyway.
Greater than Ever is a bracing adventure--when can-do attitude dove headlong into New York's unique realpolitik of "fuggedaboutit" -- during which the city was changed for the better.
Deputy Mayor Daniel L. Doctoroff led New York's dramatic and unexpected economic resurgence after the September 11 terrorist attacks. With Mayor Michael Bloomberg, he developed a remarkably ambitious five-borough economic development plan to not only recover from the attacks but to completely transform New York's New neighborhoods were created. Hundreds of thousands of jobs were generated. The largest municipal affordable housing plan in American history was completed. Ground Zero was rebuilt. And New York adopted a pathbreaking sustainability plan.
None of this was straightforward. New York has some of the most entrenched financial and political interests anywhere, and it has a population that is quick to let its public officials know exactly what is on its mind. Doctoroff's plans for a New York Olympic Games and a stadium on the West Side crashed and burned, but phoenix-like he engineered the transformation of the city anyway.
Greater than Ever is a bracing adventure--when can-do attitude dove headlong into New York's unique realpolitik of "fuggedaboutit" -- during which the city was changed for the better.
400 pages, Hardcover
Published September 12, 2017
35 people are currently reading
618 people want to read
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews
October 12, 2017
I have mixed feelings about this book. It was a very informative look at NYC from 2001 through 2017. The inner workings of government at the state and local level helped make it easy to see why some things did or did not get done. The author seems to be well-intentioned and intelligent.
My problems lie in some of the things that were left unsaid or whitewashed.
There is talk of a "five-borough strategy" throughout, and pictures in the book of before and after locations. However, there are 2 boroughs not shown (Staten Island and the Bronx). He talks of helping with financing the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, but neglects any of the neighborhood criticism it has since entailed. Also, he mentions the fact that Barclays Center in Brooklyn has both Nets basketball and Islanders hockey without mentioning that attendance for Islanders has been terrible and the arena was not originally built for hockey. This has led to poor sight lines in parts of the arena and has the Islanders looking for a new home.
He mentions how people want services performed but to not want the operational parts of those jobs be placed in their neighborhoods (i.e. Plowing roads during snowstorms but not wanting the ugly garages actually nearby). I would have liked him to show how and where his administration put some of those things. He saves most of his talk for his "sexier" projects.
The most pertinent oversight is the focus on population growth while neglecting the maintenance of the subway system. I understand that it is a huge fight between the MTA, the state of New York, and the City of New York, but I think boasting of extending the 7 leaves some questions as to why there was less of a focus on the other lines and the system in general.
I for one am glad the West Side stadium and Olympics fell through. They would have been terrible for the city in the long run. Mr Doctoroff has benefited from that falling through.
Finally, there is this quote from his Epilogue:
"Our economic team had initiated 289 separate projects and initiatives that we expected to culminate in the creation of 130 million square feet of commercial and residential space, three sports arenas or stadiums, a new subway line, 2,400 acres of parks, the regeneration of more than sixty miles of waterfront, and an affordable housing plan for a half million New Yorkers."
I find it darkly humorous that he was able to create commercial and retail space, along with a "plan" for affordable housing. I am sure that all of those people affected by the explosive growth of rent in NYC sleep better at night knowing there is a yet to be implemented plan.
Sarcasm aside, this book helped me learn more about the city and its planning process. Hopefully the author will be more thoughtful of unintended consequences with his new work at Sidewalk Labs.
My problems lie in some of the things that were left unsaid or whitewashed.
There is talk of a "five-borough strategy" throughout, and pictures in the book of before and after locations. However, there are 2 boroughs not shown (Staten Island and the Bronx). He talks of helping with financing the new Yankee Stadium in the Bronx, but neglects any of the neighborhood criticism it has since entailed. Also, he mentions the fact that Barclays Center in Brooklyn has both Nets basketball and Islanders hockey without mentioning that attendance for Islanders has been terrible and the arena was not originally built for hockey. This has led to poor sight lines in parts of the arena and has the Islanders looking for a new home.
He mentions how people want services performed but to not want the operational parts of those jobs be placed in their neighborhoods (i.e. Plowing roads during snowstorms but not wanting the ugly garages actually nearby). I would have liked him to show how and where his administration put some of those things. He saves most of his talk for his "sexier" projects.
The most pertinent oversight is the focus on population growth while neglecting the maintenance of the subway system. I understand that it is a huge fight between the MTA, the state of New York, and the City of New York, but I think boasting of extending the 7 leaves some questions as to why there was less of a focus on the other lines and the system in general.
I for one am glad the West Side stadium and Olympics fell through. They would have been terrible for the city in the long run. Mr Doctoroff has benefited from that falling through.
Finally, there is this quote from his Epilogue:
"Our economic team had initiated 289 separate projects and initiatives that we expected to culminate in the creation of 130 million square feet of commercial and residential space, three sports arenas or stadiums, a new subway line, 2,400 acres of parks, the regeneration of more than sixty miles of waterfront, and an affordable housing plan for a half million New Yorkers."
I find it darkly humorous that he was able to create commercial and retail space, along with a "plan" for affordable housing. I am sure that all of those people affected by the explosive growth of rent in NYC sleep better at night knowing there is a yet to be implemented plan.
Sarcasm aside, this book helped me learn more about the city and its planning process. Hopefully the author will be more thoughtful of unintended consequences with his new work at Sidewalk Labs.
February 14, 2018
A fascinating and fast-paced read, providing valuable insight into the Bloomberg Administration. Doctoroff's vision and can-do attitude are undeniably infectious, but this book is such a zealous ode to technocracy and business culture that it really doesn't sincerely acknowledge why so many New Yorkers feel concerned or disenfranchised by the last 20 years of life in the city. It is truly remarkable how much the city physically changed during the Bloomberg years, and it is true on paper that the Bloomberg Administration made a major contribution to affordable housing, creating or preserving 175,000 units. But Doctoroff sees low and middle-income New Yorkers struggling to afford housing, civil rights advocates, and preservationists as just so many minor speed bumps to push past rather than spending any time on really considering their critiques. I remember the real concerns about the harm and waste of an Olympic bid, I remember the anger I personally and many of my fellow New Yorkers felt when the Republicans were wooed by the city for the RNC in 2004. Anyone living in New York since 2000 must at least pause and question whether Columbia kept its promise to Morningside Heights when it expanded its campus; whether the drop in crime has come at the expense of excessive surveillance and policing, particularly of people of color; whether the rezoning of 40% of the city has drowned most New Yorkers' hopes of being able to live here permanently.
I fear that someone might read this book and be seduced by its uncritical trust in the idea that cities should be run like businesses; however it is a good book to get an overview of the Bloomberg philosophy and is an interesting counterpoint to the anti-gentrification literature, like Vanishing New York or Naked Cities.
I fear that someone might read this book and be seduced by its uncritical trust in the idea that cities should be run like businesses; however it is a good book to get an overview of the Bloomberg philosophy and is an interesting counterpoint to the anti-gentrification literature, like Vanishing New York or Naked Cities.
August 30, 2017
Originally posted on Bats Are Not Bugs
In some respects, Greater than Ever: New York's Big Comeback could appear to be the victim of bad timing. This summer the city has struggled with especially frequent subway delays, due in part to unprecedented levels of overcrowding. It should be noted, however, that the increased ridership is largely a result of the tremendous growth the city has enjoyed as it recovered from the September 11th attacks. At the start of the Bloomberg administration in 2002, the future of the city seemed much bleaker and the prospect of subway crowding far unlikelier. New York had lost 43,000 jobs in the wake of the attack, 18,000 small businesses were destroyed or displaced and vacancy rates in lower Manhattan skyrocketed. Fifteen years later, the city has seen tremendous development in lower Manhattan, Brooklyn has enjoyed spectacular growth in both population and purveyors of artisan mayonnaise, and new developments such as the High Line, Barclays Center, Hudson Yards, and Brooklyn Bridge Park have revitalized neighborhoods and driven sizable economic growth. Daniel Doctoroff served as the Deputy Mayor for economic development and rebuilding during the first six years of the Bloomberg administration, and in Greater than Ever he reflects on his tenure in the role and how the city achieved such impressive, subway-clogging growth. It is an enlightening and engaging peek into the messy world of urban politics and one of the better books I've read on the subject.
Doctoroff's book is essentially a memoir of his tenure under Mike Bloomberg and touches upon all of the major projects he worked on. It details efforts such as re-zoning 40% of the city to foster growth in neighborhoods such as Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, building new stadiums for the Mets and Yankees, attracting businesses to locate in the city, and improve the lives of New Yorkers through environmental regulations and pedestrianizing streets. The author was a political neophyte when he initially took on the role, having worked in investment banking and private equity before being tapped by Bloomberg. He quickly learned the importance of schmoozing and vote-trading and developed advanced politician mollification techniques to help manufacture the sausage known as urban policy. Doctoroff was at the front lines of many massive initiatives conducted by the Bloomberg administration and describes the often contentious behind-the-scenes negotiations with state and city politicians to get his ideas off the ground.
The book is not afraid to get into the policy weeds, and Doctoroff spends ample time analyzing the rationale for his redevelopment strategy and the intended effects of his policy interventions. Greater than Ever is intended for the lay reader, however, (basically if you are a regular reader of the "New York" section of The New York Times, liked The Power Broker or The Death and Life of Great American Cities, or have any interest in New York City or urban development in general, you'll really like this book and nothing is going to go over your head from a reading difficulty perspective), and Doctoroff is an amiable and intelligible guide through urban economic development concepts. While he may have a business background rather than an academic one, Doctoroff delves into topics such as tax increment financing and selling air rights with a clarity and lucidity that college students probably wish their professors had.
Greater than Ever also offers an account of life in the Bloomberg administration and some insight into how the mayor ran the city (very much like a business, it turns out). Calculating, analytical, and hyper-rational, Bloomberg comes off very well in the book and is portrayed as someone with the best interest of New Yorkers at heart. He was willing to make the tough call on politically-unsavory measures such as raising property taxes and restricting smoking if it meant that overall quality-of-life would improve for the city. The reader also learns about Bloomberg's management philosophy, which is largely based around finding smart, talented, and passionate people and trusting them to make the right calls, which is how Doctoroff had a brief stint as head of Bloomberg L.P. after stepping down as deputy mayor. Doctoroff acknowledges that Bloomberg had his flaws and wasn't the perfect mayor, and while he clearly admires the man Greater than Ever doesn't ever feel like a hagiography of Bloomberg or the city. Greater than Ever is fair-minded and objective throughout, quick to admit mistakes and Doctoroff and Bloomberg's foibles.
Doctoroff was criticized by some in the press as being too preoccupied with the city's 2012 Olympics bid, and his efforts at wooing the International Olympic Committee receive several chapters in Greater than Ever. While his Olympic role may seem unrelated to his deputy mayorship, he viewed the games as a way to galvanize action and development. The thinking is that every city wants to put their best foot forward while hosting the world and hosting the Olympics both motivates considerable new construction and improvements and creates a hard deadline for their completion. Doctoroff specifically wanted to leverage the games to get a new stadium and convention center built on what would eventually become Hudson Yards. The book covers all the wining-and-dining necessary in an Olympic bid and navigating through all the national governing bodies and greasing and/or fawning over them, as well as the campaign's pitches to the IOC and other bodies and how absurdly stubborn former MLB Commissioner and head of the 1984 Los Angeles games Peter Ueberroth was throughout the process (even Donald Trump comes off better in the book, as while he had a few petty spats with Doctoroff he sent him a nice thank you card (albeit with a typo) when he stepped down and was occasionally cooperative with Doctoroff). I'm not sure such extensive coverage of the selection process and other minutiae really contributed to the book's major topic, but the Olympics were central to some major redevelopment processes and I also am personally interested in all the work that goes into such a bid. Readers less enthusiastic about sports and/or associated selection processes in order to attract sporting events can find solace in the fact that these passages are interwoven throughout the book (because again, the Olympics was intended to serve as a catalyst for development to achieve Doctoroff's development goals) and it's not like Greater than Ever turns into a book about the IOC for 100 consecutive pages or anything.
Ultimately, Greater than Ever does a splendid job at outlining New York's economic comeback that began in the 2000's. Doctoroff worked tirelessly on New York's development and its Olympic bid and his passion for both areas comes through on every page, as well as his deep knowledge on such subjects. His book is an excellent read and benefits greatly from his prominent role in the rebuilding effort as an insider and trusted confidante of Mike Bloomberg. If you are looking for an enlightening and at times even engrossing read about urban policy and development you should pick up Greater than Ever.
8.0 / 10
In some respects, Greater than Ever: New York's Big Comeback could appear to be the victim of bad timing. This summer the city has struggled with especially frequent subway delays, due in part to unprecedented levels of overcrowding. It should be noted, however, that the increased ridership is largely a result of the tremendous growth the city has enjoyed as it recovered from the September 11th attacks. At the start of the Bloomberg administration in 2002, the future of the city seemed much bleaker and the prospect of subway crowding far unlikelier. New York had lost 43,000 jobs in the wake of the attack, 18,000 small businesses were destroyed or displaced and vacancy rates in lower Manhattan skyrocketed. Fifteen years later, the city has seen tremendous development in lower Manhattan, Brooklyn has enjoyed spectacular growth in both population and purveyors of artisan mayonnaise, and new developments such as the High Line, Barclays Center, Hudson Yards, and Brooklyn Bridge Park have revitalized neighborhoods and driven sizable economic growth. Daniel Doctoroff served as the Deputy Mayor for economic development and rebuilding during the first six years of the Bloomberg administration, and in Greater than Ever he reflects on his tenure in the role and how the city achieved such impressive, subway-clogging growth. It is an enlightening and engaging peek into the messy world of urban politics and one of the better books I've read on the subject.
Doctoroff's book is essentially a memoir of his tenure under Mike Bloomberg and touches upon all of the major projects he worked on. It details efforts such as re-zoning 40% of the city to foster growth in neighborhoods such as Greenpoint and Williamsburg in Brooklyn, building new stadiums for the Mets and Yankees, attracting businesses to locate in the city, and improve the lives of New Yorkers through environmental regulations and pedestrianizing streets. The author was a political neophyte when he initially took on the role, having worked in investment banking and private equity before being tapped by Bloomberg. He quickly learned the importance of schmoozing and vote-trading and developed advanced politician mollification techniques to help manufacture the sausage known as urban policy. Doctoroff was at the front lines of many massive initiatives conducted by the Bloomberg administration and describes the often contentious behind-the-scenes negotiations with state and city politicians to get his ideas off the ground.
The book is not afraid to get into the policy weeds, and Doctoroff spends ample time analyzing the rationale for his redevelopment strategy and the intended effects of his policy interventions. Greater than Ever is intended for the lay reader, however, (basically if you are a regular reader of the "New York" section of The New York Times, liked The Power Broker or The Death and Life of Great American Cities, or have any interest in New York City or urban development in general, you'll really like this book and nothing is going to go over your head from a reading difficulty perspective), and Doctoroff is an amiable and intelligible guide through urban economic development concepts. While he may have a business background rather than an academic one, Doctoroff delves into topics such as tax increment financing and selling air rights with a clarity and lucidity that college students probably wish their professors had.
Greater than Ever also offers an account of life in the Bloomberg administration and some insight into how the mayor ran the city (very much like a business, it turns out). Calculating, analytical, and hyper-rational, Bloomberg comes off very well in the book and is portrayed as someone with the best interest of New Yorkers at heart. He was willing to make the tough call on politically-unsavory measures such as raising property taxes and restricting smoking if it meant that overall quality-of-life would improve for the city. The reader also learns about Bloomberg's management philosophy, which is largely based around finding smart, talented, and passionate people and trusting them to make the right calls, which is how Doctoroff had a brief stint as head of Bloomberg L.P. after stepping down as deputy mayor. Doctoroff acknowledges that Bloomberg had his flaws and wasn't the perfect mayor, and while he clearly admires the man Greater than Ever doesn't ever feel like a hagiography of Bloomberg or the city. Greater than Ever is fair-minded and objective throughout, quick to admit mistakes and Doctoroff and Bloomberg's foibles.
Doctoroff was criticized by some in the press as being too preoccupied with the city's 2012 Olympics bid, and his efforts at wooing the International Olympic Committee receive several chapters in Greater than Ever. While his Olympic role may seem unrelated to his deputy mayorship, he viewed the games as a way to galvanize action and development. The thinking is that every city wants to put their best foot forward while hosting the world and hosting the Olympics both motivates considerable new construction and improvements and creates a hard deadline for their completion. Doctoroff specifically wanted to leverage the games to get a new stadium and convention center built on what would eventually become Hudson Yards. The book covers all the wining-and-dining necessary in an Olympic bid and navigating through all the national governing bodies and greasing and/or fawning over them, as well as the campaign's pitches to the IOC and other bodies and how absurdly stubborn former MLB Commissioner and head of the 1984 Los Angeles games Peter Ueberroth was throughout the process (even Donald Trump comes off better in the book, as while he had a few petty spats with Doctoroff he sent him a nice thank you card (albeit with a typo) when he stepped down and was occasionally cooperative with Doctoroff). I'm not sure such extensive coverage of the selection process and other minutiae really contributed to the book's major topic, but the Olympics were central to some major redevelopment processes and I also am personally interested in all the work that goes into such a bid. Readers less enthusiastic about sports and/or associated selection processes in order to attract sporting events can find solace in the fact that these passages are interwoven throughout the book (because again, the Olympics was intended to serve as a catalyst for development to achieve Doctoroff's development goals) and it's not like Greater than Ever turns into a book about the IOC for 100 consecutive pages or anything.
Ultimately, Greater than Ever does a splendid job at outlining New York's economic comeback that began in the 2000's. Doctoroff worked tirelessly on New York's development and its Olympic bid and his passion for both areas comes through on every page, as well as his deep knowledge on such subjects. His book is an excellent read and benefits greatly from his prominent role in the rebuilding effort as an insider and trusted confidante of Mike Bloomberg. If you are looking for an enlightening and at times even engrossing read about urban policy and development you should pick up Greater than Ever.
8.0 / 10
September 20, 2021
Daniel Doctoroff is a pro-growth businessman turned politician whose primary goal was bringing the Olympics to NYC. After our bid failed, he says the Olympics was a good catalyst to building, and NYC did build extensively. His welcome memoir about Bloomberg's team's accomplishments gives a more conservative perspective in a progressive city, and is mostly honest although his stories are self-serving.
He emphasizes process more than product, as if he were rewriting "In Search of Excellence" for government service. It reads as an argument, as he defends each controversial step taken. He screams at a staffer “Why would anyone care about any of this?” and that's also the reader's attitude hearing so much of the memoir extremely personalized to show his own irritation, fatigue or personal disappointment.
He's honest about his conservative opinions. He expects NYC renters to endure the competition he's familiar with on Wall St. His flamboyant style sounds like him during the back-to-back meetings he laments. His "new stadium elegantly solved" a problem (to fit a quarter mile track? just give it more size) and "was incredibly creative and iconic." (If you say so.) He's over-enthusiastic about his own efforts.
It's fun to hate his evil names: Minority Leader S.Silver, developer L.Silverstein, Governor G.Pataki, USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth and others less well known, blamed for specific interference with his apparently worthwhile plans. He exposes these primadonnas. And he credits some less famous good guys. But sometimes you recall the same stories in tabloids that report personalities instead of substance. We never learn why most enemies oppose him, beyond implying they have craven interests. His own NYC politics of networking connections sounds a lot like Albany's entitled partners. He had DOT block traffic flow to prioritze Olympic traffic, and sent "apologies to the other drivers that night, but this one was for the city." Chris Christie's gang went to jail for similar attitude on BridgeGate.
It's interesting to get an insider view of each crisis project (Ground Zero, West Side Stadium, Olympics 2012, Rezoning) - the same controversies we know from media reporting. His inside info is incomplete, just adding teasers for unknowns whose answers he should have uncovered.
He admits that this administration missed at least one important issue, affordable housing. He talks about housing only in context of zoning to promote business development. He talks least about environmental protection. One of the last chapters covers plaNYC which is a master plan including the environment, but there are few details in his book.
He admits that gentrification changes a neighborhood's character but cites NYU Furman Center analysis that defends gentrification economics, saying it doesn't change racial mix. Saying "The single biggest change in the gentrifying neighborhoods is that better-educated people of the same races typically moved into these communities." Not bad, he thinks.
He talks less about housing, saying he "came into City Hall with only a vague sense that housing should be a priority." He then gives an outline of housing history: that Koch spent an astonishing $5.1 billion on his housing plan. That Giuliani ... wasn’t interested in the city’s being an apartment owner. That neither Dinkins/Giuliani continued the Koch development. For Bloomberg he claims "165,000 units we erected as part of a pathbreaking affordable-housing plan." He admits more is needed. DeBlasio promised more, and still not enough.
His opinions are couched in terms of (dis)agreement with his partners. His meager opinion on zoning includes general agreement with Amanda Burden's idea of "context" which he calls a vague concept; I think he'd really prefer open zoning.
He considers himself a successful urban leader and wants us to understand how he formed his team, made great decisions, and followed the Boy Scout Law. He accepts Daily News description of him as "brilliant” but “imperious" - much like his own leader, Mayor Bloomberg, he wasn't the most likable or well-spoken person but did earn respect and trust. Elizabeth Warren would disagree, as she throttled Bloomberg in 2020 debate saying he was an arrogant billionaire who
"calls women fat broads and horse faced lesbians, that he hides his tax returns, supports racist policies like redlining and stop n frisk".
Much of the story covers accounting and finance of the projects which he and Bloomberg undertook. It's ironic to me that a man worth $60B was considered esential to help raise the money for Ground Zero memorial foundation because “it just won’t get done without you.” His rich friends wouldn't donate until Bloomberg led? He could have better explained Ground Zero economics concerning insurance, federal bonds, legal actions and who owns/rents land and buildings. The book overdoes taking credit and fails to inform sufficiently.
Post-Bloomberg Doctoroff worked at Sidewalk Labs who formed another company to install LinkNYC, six thousand kiosks that offer free high-speed broadband throughout the five boroughs. You'll see these rarely used towers in some neighborhoods, perhaps useful to road warriors walking between meetings?
He emphasizes process more than product, as if he were rewriting "In Search of Excellence" for government service. It reads as an argument, as he defends each controversial step taken. He screams at a staffer “Why would anyone care about any of this?” and that's also the reader's attitude hearing so much of the memoir extremely personalized to show his own irritation, fatigue or personal disappointment.
He's honest about his conservative opinions. He expects NYC renters to endure the competition he's familiar with on Wall St. His flamboyant style sounds like him during the back-to-back meetings he laments. His "new stadium elegantly solved" a problem (to fit a quarter mile track? just give it more size) and "was incredibly creative and iconic." (If you say so.) He's over-enthusiastic about his own efforts.
It's fun to hate his evil names: Minority Leader S.Silver, developer L.Silverstein, Governor G.Pataki, USOC chairman Peter Ueberroth and others less well known, blamed for specific interference with his apparently worthwhile plans. He exposes these primadonnas. And he credits some less famous good guys. But sometimes you recall the same stories in tabloids that report personalities instead of substance. We never learn why most enemies oppose him, beyond implying they have craven interests. His own NYC politics of networking connections sounds a lot like Albany's entitled partners. He had DOT block traffic flow to prioritze Olympic traffic, and sent "apologies to the other drivers that night, but this one was for the city." Chris Christie's gang went to jail for similar attitude on BridgeGate.
It's interesting to get an insider view of each crisis project (Ground Zero, West Side Stadium, Olympics 2012, Rezoning) - the same controversies we know from media reporting. His inside info is incomplete, just adding teasers for unknowns whose answers he should have uncovered.
He admits that this administration missed at least one important issue, affordable housing. He talks about housing only in context of zoning to promote business development. He talks least about environmental protection. One of the last chapters covers plaNYC which is a master plan including the environment, but there are few details in his book.
He admits that gentrification changes a neighborhood's character but cites NYU Furman Center analysis that defends gentrification economics, saying it doesn't change racial mix. Saying "The single biggest change in the gentrifying neighborhoods is that better-educated people of the same races typically moved into these communities." Not bad, he thinks.
He talks less about housing, saying he "came into City Hall with only a vague sense that housing should be a priority." He then gives an outline of housing history: that Koch spent an astonishing $5.1 billion on his housing plan. That Giuliani ... wasn’t interested in the city’s being an apartment owner. That neither Dinkins/Giuliani continued the Koch development. For Bloomberg he claims "165,000 units we erected as part of a pathbreaking affordable-housing plan." He admits more is needed. DeBlasio promised more, and still not enough.
His opinions are couched in terms of (dis)agreement with his partners. His meager opinion on zoning includes general agreement with Amanda Burden's idea of "context" which he calls a vague concept; I think he'd really prefer open zoning.
He considers himself a successful urban leader and wants us to understand how he formed his team, made great decisions, and followed the Boy Scout Law. He accepts Daily News description of him as "brilliant” but “imperious" - much like his own leader, Mayor Bloomberg, he wasn't the most likable or well-spoken person but did earn respect and trust. Elizabeth Warren would disagree, as she throttled Bloomberg in 2020 debate saying he was an arrogant billionaire who
"calls women fat broads and horse faced lesbians, that he hides his tax returns, supports racist policies like redlining and stop n frisk".
Much of the story covers accounting and finance of the projects which he and Bloomberg undertook. It's ironic to me that a man worth $60B was considered esential to help raise the money for Ground Zero memorial foundation because “it just won’t get done without you.” His rich friends wouldn't donate until Bloomberg led? He could have better explained Ground Zero economics concerning insurance, federal bonds, legal actions and who owns/rents land and buildings. The book overdoes taking credit and fails to inform sufficiently.
Post-Bloomberg Doctoroff worked at Sidewalk Labs who formed another company to install LinkNYC, six thousand kiosks that offer free high-speed broadband throughout the five boroughs. You'll see these rarely used towers in some neighborhoods, perhaps useful to road warriors walking between meetings?
September 9, 2017
As a counterpoint to "Vanishing New York", the recent Moss book that details the loss of working class and 'weird' NYC and argued that development has ripped away the City's soul, Doctoroff's new book "Greater than Ever" tells the tale of NYC in the Bloomberg years but from the other side; Doctoroff was Bloomberg's right hand man for development and his argument is that by nature government is inactive and that 9/11 provided a moment for meaningful change. By his own admission, Doctoroff is a lucky man; good family, Harvard education, success on Wall Street, and so on his bike rides to City Hall from his upper West side townhouse, he became a dreamer and visionary and Bloomberg, freed from normal government 'needs', empowered his vision. For folks with time, money, and talent, NY does seem a 'better place'. Of course, is this the 'great man' theory or simply a response to the technological and national changes that have made cities popular again? Only time will tell. Reviewers will find a number of small errors -- it's Livingston Street, not avenue and Bloomberg was not an Eagle Scout at 12 (you can't join the Boy Scouts until you're 11), but overall the book is well worth reading as a timeline of NYC development. As for the issues of the working class and the middle class and housing, one will need to read other books for a fuller understanding. Yes, NYC is a great second home but what about those for whom it's their only home and they feel rent burdened and fear displacement? That's the challenge that Doctoroff should return to government and spin his luck against and that's the story that will determine how history views the Bloomberg years. We all love riding our Citibikes and stopping at coffee shops but we also miss all the young writers and artists displaced and yearn for the return of the City of Dreams for ALL.
November 29, 2019
This book provides a fascinating peek at the inner workings of NYC’s City Hall under former Mayor Mike Bloomberg, who current presidential ambitions make it all the more compelling. The author, Dan Doctoroff, then-the Deputy Mayor, narrates how key decisions were taken, highlights guiding principles and strategies, and details of the initiatives that produced the City’s remarkable change in fortunes. It should be required reading for anyone involved in urban planning and management. As a literary work, it is well written, transparent, factual, balanced and informative. If there is a downside, it is trying to keep track of the myriad of City, State and Federal agencies and their respective (and often conflicting) remits, which is probably unavoidable in a book of this sort.
As a study in political realpolitik, it is refreshing to read an inside account where the major players base their decisions on the merits of the matter at hand, with almost total disregard for any personal or party considerations. This may be Bloomberg’s most exceptional legacy to the City. As the author states in his conclusions, “Government can work … fearless vision and leadership, nonideological policies grounded in hard truths, facts, and analysis [coupled with] great people organized, inspired and unleashed to work together to improve lives.” We can only hope this “timeless recipe” prevails after the forthcoming elections.
As a study in political realpolitik, it is refreshing to read an inside account where the major players base their decisions on the merits of the matter at hand, with almost total disregard for any personal or party considerations. This may be Bloomberg’s most exceptional legacy to the City. As the author states in his conclusions, “Government can work … fearless vision and leadership, nonideological policies grounded in hard truths, facts, and analysis [coupled with] great people organized, inspired and unleashed to work together to improve lives.” We can only hope this “timeless recipe” prevails after the forthcoming elections.
December 12, 2021
Quick read.
Not an unbiased view of the Bloomberg years of leading NYC, but a valuable insiders view of how to make big plans for city wide redevelopment; Generate economic development and enhance quality of life.
Planning The post 9-11 NY requires its own genre of books that pull back the curtain on planning, architecture, economic development, real estate, political science, citizen participation and financing and engineering public infrastructure. I’d read them all. In time, this book by Doctoroff will be seen as an important contribution from the person who had both the micro and macro view as the city’s development czar.
There is one theme he carries though the story; which is: virtuous cycle of healthy cities. Don’t over tax citizens, but enhance their quality of life by attracting private investment It can be increased tourism, residential real estate development, new office buildings, athletic and cultural
Facilities and events. What they do is generate revenue. That revenue can be spent to pay for what the public expects in way of parks, roads, affordable housing, and safety. More investment leads to more revenue, which cycles back to financing the public life.
Not an unbiased view of the Bloomberg years of leading NYC, but a valuable insiders view of how to make big plans for city wide redevelopment; Generate economic development and enhance quality of life.
Planning The post 9-11 NY requires its own genre of books that pull back the curtain on planning, architecture, economic development, real estate, political science, citizen participation and financing and engineering public infrastructure. I’d read them all. In time, this book by Doctoroff will be seen as an important contribution from the person who had both the micro and macro view as the city’s development czar.
There is one theme he carries though the story; which is: virtuous cycle of healthy cities. Don’t over tax citizens, but enhance their quality of life by attracting private investment It can be increased tourism, residential real estate development, new office buildings, athletic and cultural
Facilities and events. What they do is generate revenue. That revenue can be spent to pay for what the public expects in way of parks, roads, affordable housing, and safety. More investment leads to more revenue, which cycles back to financing the public life.
October 29, 2017
This book provides the backstory for NYC's amazing revitalization . I started reading this as I was finishing watching the PBS film "The Vietnam War" by Burns and Novick. Whether or not you watched the film, a major theme is "Things Fall Apart". The film's story is profound and often depressing. This book was therapeutic for me to see how people from diverse backgrounds came together to plan for NYC's comeback and then actually implement many actions in the face of significant obstacles (bureaucracy, politicians, NIMBY, etc.). I enjoyed learning about all that went into unsuccessful Olympic 2012 bid and how it served as the catalyst for so many positive developments. I also enjoyed how the author describes some of his most difficult struggles and how he worked with his team to find solutions. This story could restore your faith in the idea of "good government".
September 21, 2020
A look at the bid for the 2012 Olympics and NYC's general recovery after September 11 including zoning changes, Hudson Yards and the Brooklyn Navy Yard. An interesting read in many facets, especially as it covered my workplace, but also the shores of the East River which I was exploring alongside reading this. A lot of this happened while I was overseas, so it was fun to have the background on (relatively) recent openings such as Hudson Yards and the 7 Line expansion. A solid read about the challenges facing the Olympic bid, the city's recovery and re-development. My only concern was how much it jumped around, would have been easier to follow if linear.
October 11, 2017
Excellent information but tendentious and pedantic
The history is a bit skewed, so far as I can tell. In fairness the author is not attempting history. the information within indispensable. The style unfortunate - roughly as heavy as a Rachel Maddie editorial. Leaves one with a slight headache.
The history is a bit skewed, so far as I can tell. In fairness the author is not attempting history. the information within indispensable. The style unfortunate - roughly as heavy as a Rachel Maddie editorial. Leaves one with a slight headache.
November 10, 2017
Great overview of the various projects completed by the Bloomberg administration. A fascinating account of how cities compete to win the Olympics, great summaries of political maneuverings to get the World Trade Center developed and more than 40% of the city rezoned, and just a general great play by play of the hugely transformational Bloomberg years and their lingering economic effect on NYC.
October 3, 2017
Very interesting read into how things get done in cities. In depth perspective on the politics between New York City, the state government in Albany, and the Port Authority. Inspiring read for urbanists anywhere.
Read
December 1, 2017A fascinating memoir of service in city government, in which seemingly insurmountable obstacles were overcome to make lives better for millions of New Yorkers. It is filled with insights on topics ranging from what makes cities grow to what makes leaders successful. —Thomas J. Miles
May 29, 2022
This was really eye-opening and educational! Fascinating to read about all the complicated processes that went into building sites that feel so core to New York now. Definitely recommend to other New Yorkers or people interested in learning more about the inner workings of city/state government.
November 21, 2017
From the ashes of 9/11 - Bloomberg, Doctoroff, and a talented team revitalize the greatness of Gotham through dedicated hard work and keen business acumen.
January 11, 2019
Recommend to any New Yorker, or anyone who wants to see, in recent history, how a city can grow and everything that goes into a changing city
May 15, 2019
An amazing look into the work of Bloomberg administration. Some details were horrifying, but very interesting to see all the in's and out's of how things actually get done in a city.
November 18, 2022
was not expecting a whole lot, but easily became one of my favourites
July 28, 2023
Good read if you’re into city governance and politics. Goes quickly and is a cool BTS
October 3, 2024
I wish everyone salivating over the Power Broker would read this instead
Displaying 1 - 20 of 20 reviews