Consider two thoughts. First, a mall is not a true public space. It is a branded, controlled experience designed for shopping. For many teenagers in America, the mall is a default hang out space—or at least was when I was a kid. Second, today you can easily see an ad on your phone before you say hello to your partner or kids, before you go outside, before you use the bathroom.
Underpinning these issues is the gnawing feeling, for many people, that we must be _more productive_. Time is money. Space is money. You should be doing something or, if you must do nothing, do nothing so that you can do something more later. Did you know that these CEOs read this many books this year? This successful person mediates an hour a day. What have you shipped today?
Her solution is not to delete your social media accounts, throw out your smart phone, and disappear into the woods. Her solution is to ground yourself. Watch birds. Learn about who lived on the land before you. Talk to your neighbors. Walk down a river. Get involved in local politics. This process of remembering that you're a physical being in a physical place, that you live in a real community, is a reminder that your life is interdependent upon everything around you.
I'm not quite sure how this is related to public housing, but I suspect it is, e.g. this article's main theme is that these public spaces grew out of labor movements that also fought for things like the 8-hour work day.