New York City is working on removing scaffolding from many of its wobbly buildings. This development has been met with applause, especially after one such site said goodbye to its scaffolding after two decades of support.
I’m not so joyous at the prospect. For one thing, scaffolding is a nice place to stand during a rainstorm. It provides cover unequaled by standard awnings. But even more than that, scaffolding represents endless possibilities. It doesn’t matter if it’s covering the ugliest of structures, planks of wood, metal posts and uneven nails give hope to every passerby.
Scaffolding is where dreams are made. Yes, it’s true there can be an errant bucket or falling hammer to jostle one from existential slumber, but mostly they’re safe. To see scaffolding on a building is to believe things do get better. As a society, we’re always trying to improve, one concrete gargoyle at a time.
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