This book would have suffered greatly but for the intellect and diligence of its principal editor, Meghan Bogaerts, and the talent, professionalism, and good spirits of its principal designer, Brenda Ruby. Both were and are a delight to work with and very good at their tasks. It also would not be the same without my frequent writing collaborator, Lee Epstein, co-author of two of these essays and someone whose friendship and insights contribute to my thinking and writing even when he isn’t trying to. Thank you, Meghan, Brenda, and Lee.
Special thanks also to the excellent photographers and illustrators who have allowed their work to enhance this book through commercial use license and personal communications. To be honest, I’m not sure I would have wanted to write it without your generosity and kindness.
The life of a writer can be a lonely one at times, punctuated by episodes of doubt. Thanks so much to those who have supported and encouraged my writing on these topics. You keep me going. I have to begin with Phil Gutis, former communications director at the Natural Resources Defense Council who always believed in my instincts, and Ian Wilker, without whom there never would have been the blog from which most of these essays were born. Lloyd Alter, Richard Florida, and David Whitaker, you are too kind in encouraging my work, but I am honored by your good words along the way. I also have drawn confidence and energy from the folks at The Atlantic, The Atlantic Cities, and The Sustainable Cities Collective, whom I cannot thank enough for recruiting me and publishing my articles.
The list of fellow travelers in the quest for better cities whose immense talent and dedication inspires me daily is long, but it must begin with my direct collaborators in my daily professional life, including Eliot Allen, Jessica Millman, Marissa Ramirez, David Dixon, and my colleague and longtime sister-in-arms Shelley Poticha.
I also must thank those at NRDC past and present for their impact on my career and thus on this book. I might never have begun the journey for better cities at all without the example of my friend David Goldstein, and these topics were informed by five years of daily conversations with Rachel Sohmer. It was NRDC’s presidents John Adams and Frances Beinecke, however, who gave me the trust and professional room to pursue a new kind of environmentalism under our organization’s flag. The ideas that culminated in this book would not have happened without your support and, I must admit, indulgence. Ashok Gupta, you have understood and supported my pursuit of these ideas more than anyone, and in the process have become a great friend. To all of NRDC’s many friends and supporters, I cannot thank you enough for enabling our organization to become as strong and effective as it has.
I have always reached outside my employer for ideas, learning, and formal and informal partnerships, every one of which has informed this book. This has led me to a very special friendship and professional relationship with Don Chen, the best big-picture thinker I know, and to so many mentors in the wonderful world of green urbanism. I can’t possibly name all, but I can’t imagine a page such as this without acknowledging the influence and friendship of Victor Dover, John Norquist, Steve Mouzon, Reid Ewing, Jane LaFleur, Hank Dittmar, Chuck Wolfe, Peter Calthorpe, Chuck Marohn, and David Crossley.
Finally, I have reserved the most special thanks for Sharon Marsh. I would adore you even without your incredible intellect, insight, and professional judgment, all of which made this a better book. But those qualities and many more make you my most trusted partner of all.