When Cities Say No to New Transportation Technology

Last December, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti announced that the city would become “an unmistakable leader on urban mobility.” Tech companies designing futuristic “low-noise electric aircraft” — think flying cars — would be invited to join a new, first-of-its-kind Urban Air Mobility Partnership that L.A. would help launch through Urban Movement Labs, a public-private organization closely tied to the mayor’s office.

The popular response was skeptical, to put it mildly.