Everyone in cities wants different things
It's no wonder it's difficult to make progress
Having thousands or millions of people live together in a confined space is no piece of cake. Everyone wants different things. Interests are not aligned.
People with money and power want more of both, while those without either are just trying to get by. Homeowners want their property values to increase while renters want stability and predictability. Developers and real estate investors want to maximize profit by adding as much density as possible. Residents’ associations want to preserve neighbourhood character and prevent too-tall buildings next to their homes.
Small businesses want to find their ideal, passionate customers, large businesses want to increase efficiency and serve as many customers in as little time as possible. The mayor wants to look strong and above the frey, city councillors want to serve their constituants and get re-elected, and city staff want to understand what council wants form them while providing service to the citizens with as little stress as possible.
Engineering consulting firms want to increase their profit margins, contract sizes, and market share. Electrical and other field contractors want to do a good day’s work, get paid fairly, and get their work done safely. Unions want to retain their influence, negotiate the best possible collective agreements, and protect their members.
Environmental groups want to protect green space and reduce carbon emissions. Cycling advocates want more protected bike lanes while drivers want more lanes and convenient parking. Police and emergency services want clear access routes so they can respond to incidents more quickly.
All of these groups are not homogenous in their desires, so the above are just examples of what some of them want—there is more. So you can see why it’s so complicated and challenging to make progress in cities. By definition, there are lots of types of people with lots of different backgrounds, experiences, desires, wants, and needs. Many of these seem completely incompatible, but compromises must be found. That takes work, time, effort, dialogue, and patience. While these are often in short supply, it’s the only way forward.