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I’ve written several essays over the past two months on the topic of urban inequality and the crises we’re living through.
1
On the potential for a new community-oriented institution to take over primary responsibility for public safety and wellbeing @washingtonpost https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/12/defund-police-violent-crime/?arc404=true
On the potential for a new community-oriented institution to take over primary responsibility for public safety and wellbeing @washingtonpost https://www.washingtonpost.com/outlook/2020/06/12/defund-police-violent-crime/?arc404=true
2
On the way our social policy has built different, unequal worlds in Black and white n'hoods w @KeeangaYamahtta @iarynam @nytimes https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/19/opinion/politics/opportunity-gaps-race-inequality.html
On the way our social policy has built different, unequal worlds in Black and white n'hoods w @KeeangaYamahtta @iarynam @nytimes https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/06/19/opinion/politics/opportunity-gaps-race-inequality.html
3
On the role of urban policy in creating areas where our greatest challenges, from disease to police violence, are concentrated @TheAtlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/barricades-let-urban-inequality-fester/613312/
On the role of urban policy in creating areas where our greatest challenges, from disease to police violence, are concentrated @TheAtlantic https://www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/06/barricades-let-urban-inequality-fester/613312/
4
On the way we solve spatial problems in the US, and the unique challenge of coronavirus @citylab https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/why-coronavirus-is-a-call-for-collective-action
On the way we solve spatial problems in the US, and the unique challenge of coronavirus @citylab https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-03-24/why-coronavirus-is-a-call-for-collective-action
5
On the places where social distancing wasn’t happening and the challenge of collective action, now and in the future, in the US @voxdotcom
On the places where social distancing wasn’t happening and the challenge of collective action, now and in the future, in the US @voxdotcom
5(Cont): https://www.vox.com/2020/4/10/21216216/coronavirus-social-distancing-texas-unacast-climate-change
6
On the people and local organizations working to keep neighbors out of the hospital @PhillyInquirer https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/coronavirus-frontline-workers-social-services-clinics-seniors-20200415.html
On the people and local organizations working to keep neighbors out of the hospital @PhillyInquirer https://www.inquirer.com/opinion/commentary/coronavirus-frontline-workers-social-services-clinics-seniors-20200415.html
7
The essays all cohere (tho some of them loosely) around an argument about urban inequality in the United States.
The essays all cohere (tho some of them loosely) around an argument about urban inequality in the United States.
8
Beginning several decades ago, the US stopped trying to solve big social problems in American cities. Instead, we’ve given some residents the chance to avoid them.
Beginning several decades ago, the US stopped trying to solve big social problems in American cities. Instead, we’ve given some residents the chance to avoid them.
9
We’ve done this by establishing an urban policy built around barricades in space.
We’ve done this by establishing an urban policy built around barricades in space.
10
Spatial barricades quarantine social problems; they allow advantaged groups to separate themselves from those problems; and they restrict access to areas of opportunity.
Spatial barricades quarantine social problems; they allow advantaged groups to separate themselves from those problems; and they restrict access to areas of opportunity.
11
This approach to urban policy creates inequality; it pits areas against each other; it shifts the burden of social problems to small areas and targeted segments of the population.
This approach to urban policy creates inequality; it pits areas against each other; it shifts the burden of social problems to small areas and targeted segments of the population.
12
It exacerbates political division. And it makes it more difficult to develop collective solutions to pressing social challenges.
It exacerbates political division. And it makes it more difficult to develop collective solutions to pressing social challenges.
13
Our approach explains why Black and white neighborhoods are so unequal. Why police violence is concentrated in Black communities. Why covid hits Black neighborhoods harder than others.
Our approach explains why Black and white neighborhoods are so unequal. Why police violence is concentrated in Black communities. Why covid hits Black neighborhoods harder than others.
14
It also explains why it is so difficult to develop collective solutions to problems ranging from covid to opioids to police brutality to failing schools to suicide.
It also explains why it is so difficult to develop collective solutions to problems ranging from covid to opioids to police brutality to failing schools to suicide.
15
The US is able to develop a large-scale response to big challenges only when they are viewed as collective, national challenges that transcend the barricades we’ve built.
The US is able to develop a large-scale response to big challenges only when they are viewed as collective, national challenges that transcend the barricades we’ve built.
16
The financial/housing collapse is one recent example, the war on terror was another.
The financial/housing collapse is one recent example, the war on terror was another.
17
I thought covid would be another example, b/c it doesn’t respect the barriers we’ve built. But Americans are learning that in different stages, and so we still have no collective response.
I thought covid would be another example, b/c it doesn’t respect the barriers we’ve built. But Americans are learning that in different stages, and so we still have no collective response.
18
I continue to think that at some point Americans will see their usual style of avoiding big problems thru barricades in space isn’t working here, and leaders will step up with a collective, national plan.
I continue to think that at some point Americans will see their usual style of avoiding big problems thru barricades in space isn’t working here, and leaders will step up with a collective, national plan.
19
But even if that happens, when this is all over we’ll face lots of other collective action problems—the most important being climate change.
But even if that happens, when this is all over we’ll face lots of other collective action problems—the most important being climate change.
20
Here’s my fear: Our nation’s style of social policy through barricades is so entrenched that it will continue to amplify inequality and make any collective solution to big social problems unlikely.
Here’s my fear: Our nation’s style of social policy through barricades is so entrenched that it will continue to amplify inequality and make any collective solution to big social problems unlikely.
21
To move forward, we need a rhetoric of unity. But that’s not enough. We also need to tear down the barricades that have been built, over decades, to divide us.
To move forward, we need a rhetoric of unity. But that’s not enough. We also need to tear down the barricades that have been built, over decades, to divide us.
Created with @ThinkNested
