Letter from the Editors
Will Greenberg & Jilly Edgar, Co-Editors in Chief
Editorial Board
Will Greenberg – Co-Editor in Chief, Story Editor – (he/him) is a Master of Urban Planning student at Hunter. He received his bachelor’s from the University of Michigan’s Gerald R. Ford School of Public Policy and has written for The Washington Post, Mother Jones, In These Times, and Vice.
Jilly Edgar – Co-Editor in Chief, Contributor, Story Editor – (she/her) is a Master of Urban Planning student at Hunter working to decarbonize the built environment and improve people’s lives along the way. After gaining years of experience as a climate justice organizer, she is building a career in urban planning to advance renewable energy development, strengthen social and physical resilience, equitably distribute costs, and ultimately implement a just transition.
Associate Editors
Maya Brewster – Head of Design, Cover Designer/Illustrator, Copy Editor – is a proud Bronx native with a deep love for her city and its rich culture. Maya is passionate about urban design and how it can transform our communities for the better. She enjoys using designing systems to express her unique perspective on the world, whether through innovative architecture or vibrant public spaces. When she’s not writing, you’ll find her exploring the streets, inspired by the energy around her.
Lawrence Dutton – Head of Copy, Story Editor – (he/they) is a graduate student in the Master of Urban Planning program at Hunter College. He works in public housing and is interested in continuing to work in municipal and social housing spaces to continue expanding and improving the affordable housing stock in its various forms.
Editors and Contributors
Minda Arrow – Story Editor, Copy Editor – (she/her) is a third-generation CUNY student currently pursuing a M.S. degree in the Urban Policy and Leadership program at Hunter College. She holds additional degrees from Princeton University and the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Owen Bomba – Copy Editor
Dana DeBari – Contributor, Copy Editor – (she/her) has completed her first year in the Urban Planning program. Raised in central New Jersey, Dana’s interest in economic development and resilience grew while developing public policy and managing a legislative office’s communications strategy within the Massachusetts House of Representatives. Dana’s engagement with local reporters in New Bedford, Massachusetts—a coastal city with industrial roots—helped solidify her reverence for investigative journalism. More recently, Dana was involved in developing Northeastern University’s proposal for the Center for Climate Solutions competition on Governors Island.
Megan Diebboll – Contributor – is an urban planner, social worker, and artist working to create and sustain liberating environments in green and public spaces across New York City. She focuses on maintaining and strengthening the social and physical infrastructure that makes shared spaces feel safe, welcoming, cared for, and grounded in community.
Amanda Friedman – Story Editor, Copy Editor – (she/her) is a Master of Urban Planning student at Hunter College. She is interested in street (re)design, pedestrian safety, and micromobility infrastructure.
Isabella Geeding – Contributor, Story Editor – Isabella is entering her 4th semester at Hunter college, exploring the intersections of science, cities, people, and art. Originally from Cincinnati, she spent a few years in New Orleans before moving to New York. While not at school or work, she enjoys painting, traveling, and going to (mostly free) events around the city.
EJ Katz – Contributor – (he/him) is a Master’s in Urban Planning student at Hunter College interested in all things transportation and resiliency planning. With a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Tufts University, he is also interested in planning in different contexts, and learning about issues facing cities outside of the United States. EJ has lived and worked in Brooklyn for four years.
Marley Kinser – Contributor – is a recent graduate of the Master of Urban Planning (MUP) program at Hunter College, currently working in zoning and land use for the City of New York.
Joe Kusters – Story Editor, Copy Editor – (he/him)
Rebecca Odell – Contributor, Story Editor, Copy Editor – (she/her) is pursuing her master’s in urban planning at Hunter College with a focus on pedestrian safety and environmental justice. She has worked as a GIS analyst mapping trails, flood risk areas, and safety improvements.
Rocco Praderio – Contributor – (he/him) is an arts administrator based in Brooklyn. He has worked at a variety of arts and cultural organizations in New York, Pennsylvania, and Massachusetts supporting artists across disciplines. He holds a BA in Theatre Studies and Creative Writing from Ithaca College and is pursuing an MS in Urban Policy at CUNY Hunter College.
Taylor Richards – Contributor – (she/her) is an urban planning graduate student whose primary interests include land use planning, urban design, walkability, and accessibility. She currently works in the Land Use and Transportation divisions at Westchester County Department of Planning. Taylor has skated for 5 years and her passion for the sport directly informed her piece. Other interests include cooking, biking, playing geoguessr, and thrifting.
Sebastian Sopek – Contributor – (he/him) has always been intrigued why things, no matter how minute, contribute to the greater everyday urban experience. Growing up in New York and studying at Queens College and Hunter College, he gained an appreciation for the urban planning field. Sebastian is interested in transportation planning, largely due to his long-time obsession with the subway system, although now he looks forward to helping improve bicycle infrastructure all over the United States.
Grace Walz – Copy Editor – (she/her) is a Hunter College Master of Urban Planning student focused on the influence of urban design and traffic engineering on public space and social connectivity in the built environment. She currently spends her days working at the NYC Department of Design and Construction and her evenings dreaming of parks, plazas, and pedestrianization.
Noah Wharton – Contributor – (they/them) is a graduate student in the Master of Urban Planning program at Hunter College. They are interested in green retrofitting, decarbonization, and how planning shapes wellbeing, familial and platonic relationships, and community ties. In their spare time, you can find them baking, reading, or dancing tango.
Ben Verde – Story Editor, Copy Editor – (he/him) is an urban planning student at Hunter College focusing on transportation, infrastructure and land use. He previously worked as a journalist covering transportation, community boards, and real estate.
