The big downsides of Distrust First strategies

Trust thought for today - some of the implications of Distrust First strategies here in Wired exploring the changes in NYC which began in the wake of 9/11, and have been escalated by fear of 'them' responses since & now exacerbated by Covid.

20 years after 9/11, surveillance has become a way of life

The casualties include: a sense of community and freedom to wander the streets in what used to be a fabulous vibrant open city; the closing or surveilling of shared spaces like parks, office plaza's, libraries; the eye-sore architecture of bollards, barricades, planters, razor-wire, thermal imaging machines, cameras, cameras, cameras.

The result is exactly the opposite of that achieved through the Trust First principle. It is polarising, demeaning, disrespectful, disempowering, depressing, increases distrust and undermines human connection.

"In the aftermath of the attacks, we heard patriotic platitudes from those who promised to “defend democracy.” But in the ensuing years, their defense became democracy’s greatest threat, reconstructing cities as security spaces. The billions we spent to “defend our way of life” have proved to be its undoing, and it’s unclear if we’ll be able to turn back the trend."

The author hoping "...we can rebuild a city where we are free to explore and embrace each other without the suspicion that has defined this city, and the country, for the past 20 years."