Is Sprawl an Effective Solution for Pandemics?


Recently, I came across a YouTube video series from "Eco Gecko" that does a much better job of explaining the problems with sprawl and the suburbs than I did in previous posts.

I wanted to bring this issue back up not only because I found some videos that I like, but with the COVID-19 pandemic, some politicians such as NY Governor Cuomo are suggesting that density is bad and we need to spread out more.



The argument is simple and I could see it gaining traction without pushback: we are too close together. Epidemics and pandemics can travel through our cities too quickly!

THIS IS A DANGEROUS MESSAGE! It's dangerous for our budgets, for the environment, for our mental & physical health, for our communities, and yes, even for future pandemics. With density comes greater access to healthcare, support services for vulnerable populations, and healthier local budgets to respond to crises.

Maybe another BAD takeaway can put the density argument in perspective. Italy was hit hard for a number of reasons including the fact that they have an older population that interacts with younger generations more than other cultures. Maybe it makes sense to start isolating older generations from society even more. Let's not throw the baby out with the bathwater.

Without further ado, here is the six-part video series. Enjoy!

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