It's a motte and bailey strategy. As you say, it would be a good thing if cities were built with sufficient affordable housing and services near where you want people to work, but anyone who genuinely means that when they say "15 Minute City" is being used as cover for the totalitarians who just want to put everyone under house arrest.
15 minute cities were perfectly accomplished and figured out in the late 1800's. 5-10 story apartments with the street facing ground level being reserved for businesses, courtyards with plenty of greenery for those who want peace and quiet, wide boulevards with trams for public transport.
Paris and Stockholm used to be perfect examples of this.
It's a motte and bailey strategy. As you say, it would be a good thing if cities were built with sufficient affordable housing and services near where you want people to work, but anyone who genuinely means that when they say "15 Minute City" is being used as cover for the totalitarians who just want to put everyone under house arrest.
15 minute cities were perfectly accomplished and figured out in the late 1800's. 5-10 story apartments with the street facing ground level being reserved for businesses, courtyards with plenty of greenery for those who want peace and quiet, wide boulevards with trams for public transport.
Paris and Stockholm used to be perfect examples of this.