Honoring the Departed

In the world of urban studies and politics, the loss of Fred Siegel is being deeply felt. A prominent figure in the renewal of American cities, particularly New York, during the 1990s, Siegel passed away recently.

Siegel served as editor of City Journal in the early 1990s and remained a contributing editor for many years. His work was instrumental in shaping the discourse on urban issues, and City Journal will be running tributes to him on their website this week.

One of Siegel's most notable works is "The Prince of the City: Giuliani, New York, and the Genius of American Life" (2005), which chronicles the restoration of New York as a leading city under the leadership of Rudy Giuliani. Siegel also wrote speeches for Giuliani during his mayoral campaign in 1993.

Siegel's influence extended beyond New York. His book, "The Revolt Against the Masses: How Liberalism Has Undermined the Middle Class" (2014), received praise for its originality and conviction. It poses a question for historians in the not-too-distant future: who lost the middle class?

Throughout his career, Siegel interviewed or wrote about important personalities, not limited to Rudy Giuliani, for City Journal. However, specific names beyond Giuliani are not readily identifiable in the provided search results.

Siegel's work was central to the renewal of American cities. His book, "The Future Once Happened Here: New York, D.C., L.A., and the Fate of America's Big Cities" (1997), analyzes the trajectory of major cities since the 1960s.

In the political arena, Siegel's insights were sought after. He wrote about the Liberal Top-Bottom Coalition, which started with Mayor Lindsay and continues with President Obama. He also addressed the collapse of government legitimacy as a factor in the rise of Donald Trump, the current Republican frontrunner.

Siegel's work also touched on broader societal issues. He wrote about the Progressives Against Progress, referring to the rise of environmentalism poisoning liberals' historical optimism. He also delved into the unmaking of a mayor and the making of a national coalition, a subject that was influenced by William F. Buckley's actions.

Baltimore, a city associated with Ta-Nehisi Coates and new racial politics, was also a subject of Siegel's analysis. He wrote about a riot ideology reborn in the city, reflecting his comprehensive approach to understanding urban issues.

Siegel's body of work also included studies on historical figures such as H.G. Wells, a novelist, historian, authoritarian, anticapitalist, eugenicist, and advisor to presidents.

Fred Siegel's contributions to urban studies and politics will continue to be felt and debated in the years to come. His passing marks the end of an era, but his work serves as a foundation for future discussions on the fate of America's cities and the middle class.