When Brian Oxley went to New York for a short break, he saw aspects of city life that would be worth considering in Brighton and Hove.

The Tory opposition leader on the city council was particularly impressed with the "broken windows" style of policing, which has led to a big reduction in crime and drug abuse.

I have also been to New York and returned with a long list of notions, which would be worth considering in Brighton and Hove or other parts of Sussex.

That's not to say America's biggest city is overwhelmingly superior or that we haven't a lot of good ideas that could be exported to the USA.

The overwhelming impression I got from New York in particular and America in general is that it is a can-do society whereas ours is a can't-do one. Glance at the letters page each day in The Argus and it tends to be full of people moaning about something. We should certainly be keeping a critical watch on what is going on but all that constant cynicism can be corrosive in public life.

There is also a real willingness to help and be of service in America. People go out of their way to give you directions if you look lost. Service in bars and restaurants is almost invariably pleasant and polite, even from people doing the humblest jobs.

A few good ideas include having iced water in drinking fountains and air conditioning in nearly all public buildings - handy during a heatwave.

The city takes pride in pocket parks, no matter how small, and in having water features. It has litter collection going on at all times with on-the-spot fines for demeanours.

I like the easily identifiable cabs and the clear crossing times given at traffic lights. It was also intriguing to see a cable car used as a means of commuter transport to get over a river.

I appreciated seeing so many local heroes honoured in the names of streets and buildings; we still seem shy of doing this. There are also large number of statues.

While Steve Ovett has been honoured in Brighton, we are still waiting for tributes to comedian Max Miller in his home resort and to Tommy Cooper in Eastbourne.

It was great that parts of New York are a 24-hour city. There were cafes open at 5am and roadworks were going on then to prevent problems with jams in the day.

Liberal licensing laws stop drunks spilling into streets at closing time. The subway runs all night at regular intervals.

New York gives you what you want, when you want it. When it rains, people are on the streets selling cheap umbrellas. Cold water is served without prompting with all meals and the bread served is warm.

You can find out all the basic information you need through electronic billboards that give you news headlines, stock market prices, the time and temperature.

In parks, a few basic rules are displayed at the entrance rather than a set of archaic bylaws. Plaques on historic buildings give you information rather than simply a name and a date.

There is also no doubt about who runs this show and that's the city mayor. Like him or hate him, the buck stops with the first citizen instead of becoming ensnared in some mighty bureaucracy.

Mayors can also be fast and decisive when this is needed. But Brighton and Hove has rejected the notion and I don't doubt despite all the moaning about the current set up the same thing would happen again.

Most of all there is a pervasive public pride in New York; a feeling that if this isn't the best city in the world already it soon will be. Just a scintilla of that same passion would not go amiss here. Brian Oxley may feel the same way although I notice he hasn't suggested importing Manhattan skyscrapers to Hove.