Density, equity, and the history of epidemics in New York City
New York City's current responses to COVID-19 have a lot in common with the long history of epidemics that have devastated the health and well-being of the city's population. Today, as during the epidemics that scourged New York in the 19th century, those most affected are those most essential to the functioning of the economy. Also revived is the question of the efficacy of "social distancing" and the effect it might have on the future of cities and of urban density in general. Some affluent New Yorkers have fled the city for the suburbs and rural areas, and some urban planners are left wondering to what degree urban density should be reduced in order to protect residents from contagious diseases. And we see a revival of questions related to equity of response across the population and its relationship to the city's economy.