The Republican Response to Democratic Urban Program

The Republican Response: Outline WWII and the Great Depression. The wartime urban program delivery system.The wartime urban program delivery system Immigration. Eisenhower-era program delivery system. –Urban renewal.Urban renewal –The suburban bias in national transportation policies.The suburban bias in national transportation policies. –National housing policy and the suburbs.National housing policy and the suburbs. Results of suburbanization: concentrated poverty in the central city.Results of suburbanization: concentrated poverty in the central city.

The Republican Response to Democratic Urban Program Review. –"Pro-growth coalitions" became a central and defining task of the national Democratic party. –Republicans reacted to the power of the Democrats. own –Articulated their own, but opposed pro-growth coalition. –Adapted the federal urban program delivery system to their own ends.

WWII and the the Great Depression Demonstrated that Keynesian intervention worked Demonstrated that Keynesian intervention worked But Keynesian economics could be used to promote conservative as well as liberal ends But Keynesian economics could be used to promote conservative as well as liberal ends

The Wartime Urban Development Program Delivery System Invested $23 billion in new plants.Invested $23 billion in new plants. Doubled, in some cases tripled local economies practically overnight.Doubled, in some cases tripled local economies practically overnight. Spurred internal migration and metropolitan growth for a quarter of a century after the war.Spurred internal migration and metropolitan growth for a quarter of a century after the war.

In 1938 manufacturing investment was valued at $39.5 billion.In 1938 manufacturing investment was valued at $39.5 billion. Between 1942 and 1943, wartime investment amounted to almost 38.Between 1942 and 1943, wartime investment amounted to almost 38. – 10.1 billion for military facilities. – 4.0 billion for housing. – billion was spent on new manufacturing facilities. The Wartime Urban Development Program Delivery System

Immigration Immigrants entering the United States increased steadily since 1940.Immigrants entering the United States increased steadily since The sources of immigration shifted from Europe to Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean.The sources of immigration shifted from Europe to Asia, Latin America, and the Caribbean. …And within the united states.

Eisenhower-era Program Delivery System Election gave Republicans a chance to define an alternative urban program. Trimmed New Deal programs. wouldCreated new programs that would create a their own "growth coalitions." –Urban renewal. –Inter-state highway system. –Expansion of the FHA and VA.

Urban Renewal Financed by the 1949 Housing Act:Financed by the 1949 Housing Act: – Elimination of "slum and blight" conditions in cities. Generally the oldest areas in the cities.Generally the oldest areas in the cities. –A designation applied by an Urban Renewal Authority. – First step in a process that led to condemning and clearing property for a "higher" public use.

Added up to good politics. Added up to good politics. – Scale of projects was large. – An alliance could to be forged between local officials and the business community. – Metropolitan newspapers. – Construction trade unions lent their support. Urban Renewal

Boston’s West End before urban renewalBoston’s West End after urban renewal

The Automobile! Highway subsidies were pushed through by a powerful coalition.Highway subsidies were pushed through by a powerful coalition. –Auto, oil, and tire companies.

The Suburban Bias In National Transportation Policies The 1956 National Defense Highway Act was justified partly on military grounds. The 1956 National Defense Highway Act was justified partly on military grounds. – Recommended that the new freeway system should be used to decentralize American urban areas. – The main rationale: freeways would stimulate the economy by creating a modern and efficient transportation system.

– Placed federal gasoline taxes into a Federal Highway Trust fund. Distributed via a grant-in-aid formula. Distributed via a grant-in-aid formula. – Would be administered by state highway departments. The program was also justified as slum clearance. The program was also justified as slum clearance. The Suburban Bias In National Transportation Policies

National Housing Policy and the Suburbs The pace of suburbanization was quickened and its shape was determined, by national housing policies.The pace of suburbanization was quickened and its shape was determined, by national housing policies. –Federal Housing Administration (FHA) loans. –Veteran’s Administration (VA) loans.

National Housing Policy and the Suburbs The Housing Act provided for FHA insurance of 80 percent of the value of the property. The Housing Act provided for FHA insurance of 80 percent of the value of the property. – The VA loans had much the same impact as the FHA. Table 6.1 shows how much the FHA eased the task of buying a home. Table 6.1 shows how much the FHA eased the task of buying a home.

National Housing Policy and the Suburbs Almost all of the new homes bought with FHA-VA loans were built in the suburbs.Almost all of the new homes bought with FHA-VA loans were built in the suburbs. –…FHA administrators promoted the idea that housing, and therefore neighborhoods, should be segregated. FHA ranking of ethnic groups ( page 148 in your book).FHA ranking of ethnic groups ( page 148 in your book).

Results of Suburbanization: Concentrated Poverty in the Central City The problems of the urban poor are magnified by the fact that they have been abandoned by the middle and working classes.The problems of the urban poor are magnified by the fact that they have been abandoned by the middle and working classes. The spatial segregation of the minority poor would intensify racial tensions and animosities.The spatial segregation of the minority poor would intensify racial tensions and animosities.