Chapter 13Chapter 13Key Issue 3Key Issue 3

Why do inner cities have Why do inner cities have distinctive problems?distinctive problems?

Inner Cities

• Inner-city physical problems– Deterioration process– Urban renewal

• Inner-city social problems– Underclass– Culture of poverty

• Inner-city economic problems– Annexation

Inner-City Physical ProblemsInner-City Physical Problems Housing is the main physical problem as Housing is the main physical problem as

neighborhoods shift from middle-class to neighborhoods shift from middle-class to low-income occupants.low-income occupants.

Originally a large house becomes subdivided Originally a large house becomes subdivided into smaller apartments for lower income into smaller apartments for lower income people, eventually houses are abandoned as people, eventually houses are abandoned as landlords quit maintaining the buildings.landlords quit maintaining the buildings.

Some banks refuse to loan $ in areas Some banks refuse to loan $ in areas identified as low income, known as redlining, identified as low income, known as redlining, which is illegal.which is illegal.

Urban RenewalUrban Renewal With urban renewal, cities neighborhoods in need, With urban renewal, cities neighborhoods in need,

buy the properties from owners, relocate buy the properties from owners, relocate residents and clear and rebuild. Private residents and clear and rebuild. Private developers and agencies can build new again.developers and agencies can build new again.

Public housing is reserved for low-income Public housing is reserved for low-income families, pay 30% of income for rent. A housing families, pay 30% of income for rent. A housing authority maintains the housing.authority maintains the housing.

U.S.- 2% of all dwellings are public housing, U.K.- U.S.- 2% of all dwellings are public housing, U.K.- 1/5 of housing is public housing1/5 of housing is public housing

U.S. government has stopped funding U.S. government has stopped funding construction of new public housing.construction of new public housing.

Renovated HousingRenovated Housing An alternative to demolishing housing is renovating An alternative to demolishing housing is renovating

(fixing). Renovated housing often attracts middle-class (fixing). Renovated housing often attracts middle-class people, therefore not helping the low-income who people, therefore not helping the low-income who need the housing.need the housing.

Gentrification is the process of middle-class people Gentrification is the process of middle-class people moving into inner-city neighborhoods and renovate the moving into inner-city neighborhoods and renovate the homes. They’re attracted to the larger, substantially homes. They’re attracted to the larger, substantially constructed and cheaper buildings, often with constructed and cheaper buildings, often with attractive architecture.attractive architecture.

Gentrified neighborhoods attract individuals who work Gentrified neighborhoods attract individuals who work downtown, single people and couple without children.downtown, single people and couple without children.

Gentrification can alter ethnic patterns in a city.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 BostonGentrification in Boston

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

Inner-City Social ProblemsInner-City Social Problems Underclass are the inner-city residents as they are Underclass are the inner-city residents as they are

often permanently trapped in a cycle of economic and often permanently trapped in a cycle of economic and social problems.social problems.

High unemployment, alcoholism, drug addiction, High unemployment, alcoholism, drug addiction, illiteracy, juvenile delinquency and crime. Deteriorated illiteracy, juvenile delinquency and crime. Deteriorated schools and inadequate police and fire protection.schools and inadequate police and fire protection.

Often lacking job skills and a complete education.Often lacking job skills and a complete education. Some underclass are also homeless, estimated at Some underclass are also homeless, estimated at

more than 3 million in the U.S. Cannot afford housing, more than 3 million in the U.S. Cannot afford housing, had family problems or job loss, others cannot cope had family problems or job loss, others cannot cope with society or are children.with society or are children.

LDCs have a serious problem with homelessness.LDCs have a serious problem with homelessness.

Racial Change Racial Change in Chicagoin Chicago1980 - 20001980 - 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 PovertyCulture of Poverty 80% of children in inner-cities live with 1 parent, 2/3 of the 80% of children in inner-cities live with 1 parent, 2/3 of the

children are born to unwed mothers. children are born to unwed mothers. Gangs form in inner-city neighborhoods to control drug Gangs form in inner-city neighborhoods to control drug

distribution, violence erupting amongst rivals.distribution, violence erupting amongst rivals. High-density inner-city areas: drugs more likely to be sold on High-density inner-city areas: drugs more likely to be sold on

street corners vs. low-density suburbs where transactions street corners vs. low-density suburbs where transactions occur behind closed doors.occur behind closed doors.

Strong social and ethnic distinctions among neighborhoods.Strong social and ethnic distinctions among neighborhoods. Cities face a loss of $ as inner-city residents rarely pay their Cities face a loss of $ as inner-city residents rarely pay their

taxes, therefore a loss of revenue for the city for services. taxes, therefore a loss of revenue for the city for services. Some cities cut back on tax-funded services like libraries, Some cities cut back on tax-funded services like libraries, public transportation, etc. Others have raised tax revenues public transportation, etc. Others have raised tax revenues through new construction projects.through new construction projects.

Annexation is the process of legally adding land area to a Annexation is the process of legally adding land area to a city. Expanding the peripheral land and rules vary among city. Expanding the peripheral land and rules vary among states.states.

Cities are less likely today to annex peripheral land as the Cities are less likely today to annex peripheral land as the residents prefer to organize their own services than pay the residents prefer to organize their own services than pay the city taxes for them.city taxes for them.

Dayton, OhioDayton, OhioRace and VotingRace 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.