Robert (Bob) Fitch was a writer, researcher, teacher and organizer. He was born in 1939, and died tragically in 2011 from complications resulting from a fall near LaGuardia Community College, where he taught for many years. Every year since, LaGuardia has held a Robert Fitch Memorial Lecture, in which writers present thoughts inspired by Fitch’s work. Progressive City is proud to publish the entire lecture series, along with their introductions by Doug Henwood, publisher of Left Business Observer and host of KPFA’s Behind the News. Among other subjects, Fitch was a passionate critic of American urban planning and uncovered the connections between real estate, finance, non-profits, and planners in New York, Chicago, and other cities. The Fitch lecture series is an important resource for radical planners everywhere, and particularly those interested in challenging real estate and emboldening labor.
Samuel Stein, Progressive City editorial committee member