Michael Goldberg

Hint of lime tortilla chip enthusiast

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@anthonyfurey why should I vote for you for Don Valley West councillor when you don’t even live in the riding? #TOpoli

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@MartyG234 This could be your billion dollar idea. You should delete before someone else steals it...

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

Miss this Kanye

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@Gabe_Blanc Congrats Gabe (and Happy birthday)! Wish I lived in Etobicoke North...

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@itsthatkevin1 That said, perhaps such massive amounts of money can lead to some useful innovations that can later be applied to existing cities.

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@itsthatkevin1 Agreed. It's frustrating to see how much countries are willing to spend to make to fuel utopian visions and attempt to draw global attention to their cities. These funds could be used much more pragmatically to address existing problems with existing solutions. #newcitiesmcgill

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@MaxMickelson8 Well it may not be as flashy, this is a much more pragmatic way to attract investment than re-inventing the wheel (or in this case, the city!) as Akon and others are attempting to do.

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@MaxMickelson8 I think Tatu City is an interesting contrast to other African new cities. Though not perfect, SEZ's are well-established and proven ways of attracting investment to a region and increasing a states economic development.

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@ryan_rocho If we are to truly reach the technological singularity in our lifetime, an increasing proliferation of ever-more-connected and ever-smarter Smart Cities is a scary thought!

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@ryan_rocho Another thought I had reading this piece: smart cities seem almost antithetical to typical models of economic growth. Instead of creating jobs, won't Smart Cities facilitate the increasing shift to automation?

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@ryan_rocho This is also perhaps one reason why @sidewalklabs was unpopular and eventually failed in Toronto. Most citizens today don't want their life dictated and controlled by technology companies.

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@ryan_rocho The idea of cities being controlled by single companies (e.g. Samsung in this example, Toyota and Disney in others) is odd to me. How will governance work in cities this way? Seems to me like this would lead to a rise in urban technocracies...#newcitiesmcgill

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

"The system back home treats them unfairly in so many different ways and they only go through it because they feel that there is no other way. If you're coming from America or Europe or elsewhere in the diaspora, we want Senegal to be your first stop"

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

One perspective left out of most reporting on Akon City: the residents of Mbodiène, the site where Akon City is being built. Important to consider the human costs when constructing Smart Cities #newcitiesmcgill https://t.co/TuXyc5mOhB

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

In some ways, Akon has framed the project as a spiritual successor to the early 20th Century Back-to-Africa movement.

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

Also interesting that the project is not built to house locals, but rather is meant as a haven for the African diaspora in the West.

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@Akon Nevertheless, I hope I'm wrong and look forward to visiting Beautiful Akon City in 30 years. After all, Akon is a [Soul] Survivor!

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

The new city projects in Senegal and Uganda from @Akon are some of the most interesting cities currently being built. The Akon City projects have been marketed as luxury get-aways for Black Americans. #newcitiesmcgill https://t.co/qhNZVhrwcf

[Michael Goldberg @mgoldberg19]

@Akon Local residents have also pointed out that the futuristic Black-Panther inspired architecture of Akon city is ill-suited to the sweltering climates of Senegal and Uganda.