'The Works' of New York City: Past and Present
New York has long been one of the most fully wrought of America's cities. A new book serves as a historical primer on how the Big Apple uses its municipal might to support millions of people — and deliver a billion gallons of water daily.
Whether the question is the number of pay phones to how many buildings have their own zip code, The Works: Anatomy of a City has the answers.
Kate Ascher's book also explores past efforts to smooth communications and travel in the city, from the Pneumatic Tube Mail Network to a schematic breakdown of asphalt and curb theory.
Guest:
Kate Ascher, author and executive vice president of the New York City Economic Development Corporation
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