11 Comments
User's avatar
John Strong's avatar

Thank you for defending this impressive & admirable project, Zach!

Expand full comment
Mikhail Klassen's avatar

Great piece, Zach! I'm so sad to see what journalism at so many major outlets has become. There's no real analysis anymore. Thanks for this thoughtful piece.

Expand full comment
Ryan Puzycki's avatar

Great essay, and I love your identification of the concept "the argument from vibes.” A similar phenomenon seems to be behind the criticism of California Forever. I wrote an essay drawing a similar conclusion to you on my blog (https://www.ryanpuzycki.com/p/california-whatever). Haters seem to spring up wherever ambitious optimists seek to create something new.

Expand full comment
zach.dev's avatar

Long time no speak since Sophomore year at NYU, Ryan! Glad you enjoyed it and I agree your analysis is touching on the same toxic phenomenon.

Expand full comment
Ryan Puzycki's avatar

For real! I came across your writing randomly in the way that one does on Substack, but I was happy to find it. Great stuff!

Expand full comment
Jean Hansen's avatar

Awesome piece, Zach! It's important to push back against these cynical and nonsensical pieces loaded with bias and ideology.

I'm producing a Startup Society Documentary during my 2-month stay in Vitalia, the pop-up city taking place in Próspera. I would love to interview you and have your ideas about the startup society revolution. This is our website: https://startupsociety.film.

Expand full comment
zach.dev's avatar

Hey Jean, will follow up with your email.

Expand full comment
Jean Hansen's avatar

looking forward to it :)

Expand full comment
Virginia Postrel's avatar

I'm having flashbacks to the press coverage of Universal Citywalk in the 1990s. That is literally a shopping mall but it was written up as if it were an alternative to city life rather than a nice public space that, over time, became hugely popular with throngs of Angelenos of all sorts. (I haven't been in years, so it may have declined.)

Expand full comment
Maria Teresa Agurcia's avatar

Thanks for writing this. It’s so frustrating to read piece after negative piece from people who live in firstworldistan...cheers from a Honduran fan! 🙏🏻

Expand full comment
zach.dev's avatar

Thanks for reading, Maria Teresa!

Expand full comment