Skip to Content
Streetsblog New York City home
Streetsblog New York City home
Log In
Barack Obama

The Last Thing This Nation Needs

10:42 AM EST on January 21, 2009

I hate to nitpick at an outstanding and historic speech but it's January 21 and time to start talking about the stimulus bill, so, well, I'll let James Howard Kunstler do the nitpicking...

“We will harness the sun and the winds and the soil to fuel our cars…” -- Barack Obama's inaugural address.“The last thing this nation needs now is a stimulus plan aimed atthe development of non-gasoline-powered automobiles married withextensive rehabilitation of the highway system.” -- James Howard Kunstler

Aaron Naparstek
@naparstek.bsky.social

Aaron Naparstek is the founder and former editor-in-chief of Streetsblog. Based in Brooklyn, New York, Naparstek's journalism, advocacy and community organizing work has been instrumental in growing the bicycle network, removing motor vehicles from parks, and developing new public plazas, car-free streets and life-saving traffic-calming measures across all five boroughs. He was also one of the original cast members of the "War on Cars" podcast. You can find more of his work on his website.

Stay in touch

Sign up for our free newsletter

More from Streetsblog New York City

Today's Headlines

Tuesday’s Headlines: The Storm Before the Calm Edition

What a mess (was Gersh actually right?!). Plus other news.

January 27, 2026
Bike Shops

Frank Arroyo, Lower East Side Bike Shop Legend, Has Died

The death of a beloved small business owner is always cause for mourning in the neighborhood. But Frank, who opened his shop on the far eastern end of Grand Street in 1976, evokes more than mere grief.

January 27, 2026
MTA

Memo to Mamdani: Bring Back the Weekend G Train to Forest Hills

The new mayor should work with Gov. Hochul and the MTA to restore the Crosstown Local to 71st Avenue.

January 27, 2026
Greenways

How Mamdani Can Fix NYC’s Neglected Greenways

This vital transportation infrastructure needs a lot of TLC by the new mayor.

January 26, 2026
Opinion

Cycle of Rage: NYC Is A HELLSCAPE For Pedestrians

We can apportion the blame later in the day, but the greatest walkable city in North America is completely impassible to people on foot or in wheelchairs.

January 26, 2026
Auto Insurance

Gov. Hochul’s Car Insurance Proposal is a Disaster for Crash Victims’ Rights

As a state that values walking and biking, we cannot allow the governor to gut the rights of the people most at risk — especially since it won't lower insurance rates anyway.

January 26, 2026
See all posts