Electronics companies (I think Apple) build planned obsolescence into their products. I think they got sued and actually lost the case, because they put out "updates" to make their older still-used products slower.

NYC is notoriously bad with extremely slow roadwork. I think some small town rented out this giant machine that broke up the asphalt, refined it with new asphalt, then laid it back down. Quick and easy and cheap, none of which NYC does. Look at "track work." 10 people standing around watching 3 people work. Unions are a blight on the country.