Planet Shot: New New York

 
Background

Named after the great American megapolis, New New York is one of the wealthiest and most powerful worlds in the galaxy. It is the financial capital of the Known Sphere, and a major center of trade, industry, commerce and culture. The aptly nicknamed MegaApple also plays an active role in interstellar politics, both representing itself and as a leading member of the Conference of Free Stars. Politically, the planet is divided into six boroughs (five of which represent parts of New New York City and the sixth representing the rest of the planet). The national government is led by an elected President.

History

Originally a sleepy, backwater fishing colony, New New York developed into a major entrepôt after finding itself at the confluence of several major trade routes, including the Oregon Trail. Under the strong and capable leadership of President Amari Yoruba, the planet wisely invested in education and infrastructure as it grew, and the future MegaApple was well placed for its next lucky break.

The planet's next major leap forward in development occurred after the Terran Federal Forces smashed the small but prosperous Commonwealth of Algari. After the Federals conquered the industrial powerhouse, the MegaApple warmly embraced the millions of fleeing Algari refugees, particularly their business and technical skills, and their capital. Powered by the Algari's expertise and their machines and wealth, New New York became an industrial power almost overnight.

Ever aware of the wandering eye of Terra, the aged and ailing President Yoruba managed to secure New New York's independence from the growing reach of the Blue Planet by striking a deal with the megacorporations. The money mills, eager to extricate themselves from Terra's crushing embrace, agreed to relocate their largest banks and major financial institutions to New New York in exchange for individual corporate fiefdoms euphemistically called "Special Economic Zones", where they would be free to do pretty much as they pleased. For mutual benefit, the megacorps used their powerful influence to keep the MegaApple a free and independent world.

Government

New New York is a unitary state dominated by its massive metroplex, New New York City. An elected President serves as the head of both the national and city government, though when dealing with municipal affairs he is often referred to as "Mayor." The President is elected to a single seven-year term and is not eligible for reelection. The planet's Great Charter vests legislative power in the Constituent Council. Council members are elected every four years, and the leader of the majority party is called the Speaker.

To deal with local matters, the planet is divided into six boroughs (five of which represent parts of New New York City and the sixth representing the rest of the planet: Midtown, Yoruba, Queens, the Dodgers, Lenape, and the Outers). The boroughs have identities and histories distinct from the city and the planet, and residents will often identify with their borough as much as or even more than their planet.

Economy

Lacking the territorial ambitions of other worlds, the MegaApple has instead turned its energies inward in developing its world. As an entrepot, it also has one of the least restricted economies in the Known Sphere and is basically duty-free. As a result, more Avarice 1000 corporations are headquartered here other than any other planet, save for Earth.

New New York City

Life on New New York is centered on New New York City (also called "York City", "The City", and "NNYC" for short, and also, confusingly, "the MegaApple"), a vast metroplex that is home to the great majority of the planet. Located in the temperate zone on the northeast coast of the northern continent, York City is centered on the Bay of the City, into which flow the Syracuse, Nana, and West Rivers.

The City has a dazzling skyline that stretches over an archipelago just off the coast of the main continent and extends to several nearby peninsulas. The capitol of New New York exists on several levels, with large underground areas with malls, amusement areas, and various shops, and a series of walkways that connect various skycrapers. This metroplex is the most densely populated city in the galaxy, and its many millions of residents are constantly on the move.

The massive bridges that connect the main islands together are considered some of the greatest engineering marvels of the Known Sphere. York City, as it is often referred to by residents, is blessed with one of the best deep water harbors in the galaxy, which helps to bring raw materials from mines, forests, and farms across the planet to the perpetually resource hungry metroplex.

The City is a study in startling contrasts, from gleaming, next generation towers in the Corporate Sector, to vast sprawls of aged and rusting factories and the gigantic estates in the Hamptons, to kilometers of crime-ridden ghetto. Although parks and other quiet places dot York City, generally, life for most Citysiders is very fast paced. The government has done a good job of accommodating this situation with a highly developed and sophisticated transportation system including a well designed freeway, subway, elevated monorail, and moving walkways.

Boroughs

Midtown
Points of Interest: Tammany Hill, Financial District, Midtown Towers, Airport Park

The aptly named Borough of Midtown is located at the geographic center of the MegaApple on Midtown Island. Midtown is the smallest, but most urban, fashionable, popular, and wealthiest of the boroughs. The last is unsurprisingly as Midtown is also where the Financial District is located, which is home to the Galactic Stock Exchange, and the Midtown Towers. The capitals of both the planetary and city governments and all of the international embassies are on and around Tammany Hill.

The oldest part of New New York, Midtown Island was the site of the original fishing colony. In 2103, after New Idlewyld Spaceport opened, the city government decided to close NNYC's first and now obsolete and inadequate spaceport, Midtown. Instead, the area was turned into Airport Park. An oasis for Citysiders escaping from their skyscrapers, it is one of the galaxy's most famous city parks.

Yoruba Isles
Points of Interest: North Spaceport, Yoruba Botanical Garden

The borough of Yoruba Isles, or Yoruba for short, is a cluster of islands and part of the mainland to the north of Midtown. The borough is named after the late President. The lowest rent area, Yoruba is known for its rough neighborhoods and, unfortunately, the borough also hosts a large criminal element.

Many small factories are located here. As a result, Yoruba is also home to many of the immigrants that come to the MegaApple, and many of the city's best restaurants are found here.

Queens
Points of Interest: Queens County Fair Ground, New Idlewyld Spaceport, the Hamptons, City Library, Science Park

Queens is the large island to the east of Midtown. This borough is the most diverse area in the city, from bohemian enclaves, to tiny fishing hamlets, to the sprawling mansions in the Hamptons on the east side of the island. An increasing amount of cutting edge research is also conducted at Science Park.

North & South Dodger
Points of Interest: City University, Sea Gate Arcade

The Dodgers consist of two long peninsulas, North Dodger and South Dodger, formed from the three rivers that empty into City Bay. The original breadbasket for most of the planet, much of the farmland has since been converted to other purposes. Nevertheless, the Dodgers are still relatively less developed than the rest of NNYC, and this borough and its residents cultivate a bit of a rustic ambiance. It is the most suburban part of city, although skyscrapers increasingly dominate as one approaches the bay.

Sea Gate Arcade, the City's recreational center, is located in the Dodgers. On the lip of North Dodger, the Arcade is on the waterfront boardwalk and home to a number of amusement parks, a major resort, and the city's galaxy-class aquarium.

Lenape
Points of Interest: Grand Central Spaceport, West Bay Coliseum

Most of the planet's heavy industry is located in Lenape. However, as the planet's economy has moved away from manufacturing and toward finance and services, this area has taken a sharp turn for the worse, with blocks and blocks of rusting metal and decayed factories as far as the eye can see. To support the industrial infrastructure, Lenape has one of the galaxy's largest spaceport and the city's main seaport facilities are also located in this borough.

Lenape is a tough, working-class area, and its residents pride themselves on their blue-collar ethic and outlook.