Crypto News: Can dollar vans go legit?

New York City's "shadow transit network" — a fleet of licensed and unlicensed vans connecting immigrant communities and jobs — has been a lifeline for tens of thousands of riders in neighborhoods underserved by traditional public transportation. Now, one local entrepreneur aims to turn these dollar vans into a mode that's both formally regulated and environmentally sustainable.

Su Sanni is the founder of the startup Dollaride, which launched an app that uses ride-hailing technology to make vans easier to find for users. Last fall, he received a $10 million grant from New York State to provide battery-powered vans and set up a charger network. The grant would also help drivers become licensed and insured, writes Patrick Sisson. But like past microtransit startups in the US, Dollaride faces a tough road ahead. Today on CityLab: NYC's Shadow Transit Network Seeks a Greener Future

— Sri Taylor

Kansas City's $1.5 Billion Airport Renovation Spurs Hopes for Business Boom

Kansas City, Missouri, views its new $1.5 billion airport terminal as a shiny gateway, symbolic of the economic and commercial success that city officials expect is forthcoming.

First DeSantis Took On Disney. Now He's Coming for Wall Street

The Florida governor's battle with Disney is a cautionary tale for corporate America and could be the launching pad for a 2024 presidential campaign.

Chicago Crime Defines Mayor's Race as Spending, Lawbreaking Surge

Chicago is spending more than ever on police, yet crime is on the rise and many residents say they feel unsafe.

Come see CityLab's Laura Bliss discuss her recent book, The Quarantine Atlas: Mapping Global Life Under COVID-19, Wednesday evening at the Central Library in Copley Square. Sculptor and graphic designer Rajiv Raman will join the conversation, which will be moderated by Garnette Cadogan, the Tunney Lee Distinguished Lecturer in Urbanism at the School of Architecture and Planning at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. More information and registration here.

The parched metropolis: Can eco architecture save LA from megadrought? (The Guardian)
O.C. malls, fading from their hip glory days, may get new lives as apartments (Los Angeles Times)
Sports events have gotten downright dystopian (The Atlantic)
Doctor's orders — head to the museum instead of the pharmacy (Harvard Public Health)
TikTok's landlord influencers want you to stop being mad and start landlording (Vice)