Why do inner cities have distinctive problems? Chapter 13 Key Issue 3 Why do inner cities have distinctive problems?

Inner Cities Inner-city physical problems Inner-city social problems Deterioration process Urban renewal Inner-city social problems Underclass Culture of poverty Inner-city economic problems Annexation

Inner-City Physical Problems Housing is the main physical problem as neighborhoods shift from middle-class to low-income occupants. Originally a large house becomes subdivided into smaller apartments for lower income people, eventually houses are abandoned as landlords quit maintaining the buildings. Some banks refuse to loan $ in areas identified as low income, known as redlining, which is illegal.

Urban Renewal With urban renewal, cities neighborhoods in need, buy the properties from owners, relocate residents and clear and rebuild. Private developers and agencies can build new again. Public housing is reserved for low-income families, pay 30% of income for rent. A housing authority maintains the housing. U.S.- 2% of all dwellings are public housing, U.K.- 1/5 of housing is public housing U.S. government has stopped funding construction of new public housing.

Renovated Housing An alternative to demolishing housing is renovating (fixing). Renovated housing often attracts middle-class people, therefore not helping the low-income who need the housing. Gentrification is the process of middle-class people moving into inner-city neighborhoods and renovate the homes. They’re attracted to the larger, substantially constructed and cheaper buildings, often with attractive architecture. Gentrified neighborhoods attract individuals who work downtown, single people and couple without children. Gentrification can alter ethnic patterns in a city.

Gentrification in Boston The Back Bay area near downtown Boston has attracted many wealthy residents.

Gentrification in Boston The Back Bay area near downtown Boston has attracted many wealthy residents.

Inner-City Social Problems Underclass are the inner-city residents as they are often permanently trapped in a cycle of economic and social problems. High unemployment, alcoholism, drug addiction, illiteracy, juvenile delinquency and crime. Deteriorated schools and inadequate police and fire protection. Often lacking job skills and a complete education. Some underclass are also homeless, estimated at more than 3 million in the U.S. Cannot afford housing, had family problems or job loss, others cannot cope with society or are children. LDCs have a serious problem with homelessness.

Racial Change in Chicago 1980 - 2000 Fig. 13-17: Racial & ethnic change in Chicago, 1980-2000. Dots represent where race and ethnicity increased. White population increased in the inner city and North Side, while African American and Hispanic population increased in the outer city and inner suburbs.

Culture of Poverty 80% of children in inner-cities live with 1 parent, 2/3 of the children are born to unwed mothers. Gangs form in inner-city neighborhoods to control drug distribution, violence erupting amongst rivals. High-density inner-city areas: drugs more likely to be sold on street corners vs. low-density suburbs where transactions occur behind closed doors. Strong social and ethnic distinctions among neighborhoods. Cities face a loss of $ as inner-city residents rarely pay their taxes, therefore a loss of revenue for the city for services. Some cities cut back on tax-funded services like libraries, public transportation, etc. Others have raised tax revenues through new construction projects. Annexation is the process of legally adding land area to a city. Expanding the peripheral land and rules vary among states. Cities are less likely today to annex peripheral land as the residents prefer to organize their own services than pay the city taxes for them.

Dayton, Ohio Drug-related Arrests Fig. 13-18a: Drug-related arrests have been concentrated in the low income inner-west side of the city.

Dayton, Ohio Race and Voting Fig. 13-18b: In the 2005 mayoral election, votes for Rhine McLin, an African American incumbent, concentrated in the African American west side of the city.