New york could sacrifice a few parking spots per block and put garbage bins there. But the city has spoken and rather have the sidewalks covered with stinking trash than give up parking spaces.

Ex: https://www.google.com/search?q=barcelona+trash+bins+parking...

> and is probably the biggest reason that downtown Chicago smells like chocolate instead of trash.

Is Bloomer's still violating EPA particulate regulations during chocolate manufacturing? I would've thought their new Japanese owners would've clamped down on that by now.

It was a very deliberate decision in planning NYC not to have alleys.

This was for safety reasons: alleys provide many poorly-lit, poorly visible locations to commit crimes: mugging, illegal transactions (drugs etc.) and worse.

So just to be clear that alleys aren't necessarily a net benefit. New York may very well have been much safer, at the price of late-night garbage out visibly for pickup.

this was a tangible benefit of the chicago fire IIRC

Also makes it easier to recover and reuse things.