One thing we know about cities is that they are extremely resilient. While the introduction of new markets and technology make our lives easier, they also promote the inherent disparities that already exist in cities.

We have seen numerous examples of the devastating consequences that constant introduction of technology has had on the blue collar workers and city service providers. Horrific headlines about New York City cab drivers committing suicide because of the introduction of ride-hailing apps, restaurants being forced to compete on cost instead of quality of food and ingredients, and residents continuing to be priced out of their neighborhoods because of bed-and-breakfast introduction are all examples of how new markets and technology in cities have gone wrong.

So Is technology and innovation the culprit?

Should we fight introduction of new tech and attempt to mitigate the negative impacts resulting from technology introduction by imposing stringent regulation through policy that restricts adoption? Should we price the negative social impacts of technology and charge service providers when they introduce new markets within cities?

I do not think either is a sustainable approach.

Cities need to acknowledge the present and future technological disruptions are a consequence of the human pursuits that the cities are designed to prosper in the first place and focus on better implementation of such technologies by taking a collaboration-first approach with technology introducers. Forcing the preservation of  status quo ways of economic-exchange that may promote in-person human interactions and inter-cultural bonding is never the best way forward, rather being intentional about creating opportunities and spaces that foster unpredictability can be a potential intervention. Cities like Providence do this by hosting events such as Water Fire, an event around fire sculpture installation on the three rivers in downtown Providence that brings together people from across the city regardless of their social status. In Mexico city, major boulevards are closed off every Sunday allowing inhabitants to congregate,  foster human interaction, and take over the streets to celebrate life. The fate of cities in technology-driven society is as predictable as the ingenuity of the efforts of city administrators to preserve in-built randomness within cities.