The article suggests that if not for Cleveland, Ohio, New York’s rise as the nation’�s capital, commerce and culture may never have happened. It points out that John D. Rockefeller, the richest man in America, reincorporated Standard Oil in 1899 as a Jersey holding company while he retained his New York City home base. This move was influenced by New Jersey’ decision to liberalize its corporate laws and resulted in a $1.5 million tax bill, $200 million today, being threatened with a 50% penalty for non-payment by Cleveland. Despite this, Rockefeller remained in Cleveland and never returned, leading to one of the greatest concentrations of private philanthropy, scientific investment, cultural construction and urban development ever associated with a single family and its adopted home city: New York. The article suggests this shift in approach to taxation, regulation and housing could signal a shift in the city's relationship with the wealthy who fund its institutions and build the future.