Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s pothole purge saw nearly 8,000 craters filled in a single day – the same number that would usually take New York’s Department of Transport (DOT) a week.
You’re right, it is a wonderful metric! The metric boils down to “public servant uses public money to improve the lives of the public.” The same can be said for all public services: parks, playgrounds, healthcare, inspection and maintenance, just to name a few.
Contrary to what seems to be a widely held opinion in the US the government should not be a for-profit enterprise, rather an entity entrusted with spending public money (i.e. taxes) for the good of the public, and on things no private company would bother with as there is no expected return on investment other than “making people healthier and happier”. Healthy, happy people are more likely to contribute and be more productive, which in turn raises more taxes and so the cycle continues. So yes, fixing potholes is a great start, well spotted.
You’re right, it is a wonderful metric! The metric boils down to “public servant uses public money to improve the lives of the public.” The same can be said for all public services: parks, playgrounds, healthcare, inspection and maintenance, just to name a few.
Contrary to what seems to be a widely held opinion in the US the government should not be a for-profit enterprise, rather an entity entrusted with spending public money (i.e. taxes) for the good of the public, and on things no private company would bother with as there is no expected return on investment other than “making people healthier and happier”. Healthy, happy people are more likely to contribute and be more productive, which in turn raises more taxes and so the cycle continues. So yes, fixing potholes is a great start, well spotted.