Joe Flood, Steven Johnson and Geoff Manaugh

Flood's new book, The Fires, is an intellectually ambitious and fascinating study of New York City's decision to use a new computer system in the late ’60s to help facilitate public services (and cut costs). This program was influential in other U.S. cities, but the computers proved disastrous here, particularly in poorer neighborhoods: What followed were years of devastating fires that displaced almost 600,000 residents. Tonight, Flood discusses the book with two other specialists in urban-planning methods and technology, Johnson (author of, among other things, The Ghost Map) and Manaugh (The BLDGBLOG Book). Wine will be served. Please RSVP at rsvp@powerhousearena.com.