Amazon, YIMBYs, electric scooters, Europe’s war on cars, and more.

The Year in Review

2018 was a year of ups and downs. From NIMBY battles to natural disasters, from elections to electric scooters, the stories that dominated the headlines are sure to resonate in 2019 and beyond. To cap off an eventful year, our writers and editors unpacked some of the issues we’ve been following over the past 12 months, explaining what mattered, what changed, and what to look for going forward.

2018 Was...

The Year Cities Trusted Amazon


Sarah Holder

The Year Progressive Populism Roared Back

Populism was reclaimed by American progressives, as citizen-initiated ballot measures and a Poor People’s Campaign took aim at poverty and voter suppression.

K.A. Dilday

The Year of the Complicated Suburb


Amanda Kolson Hurley

The Year of the Scooter


Andrew Small

The Year of the Affected Generation


Nicole Javorsky

The Year 1968 Replayed Itself


Brentin Mock

The Year Some Notable Ideas Died



The Year of Europe’s War on Cars


Feargus O'Sullivan

The Year of the Smart City Skeptic


Laura Bliss

The Year of the YIMBY


Kriston Capps

The Year of the Aspirational Park


CityLab Staff


About the Author

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