Op-Ed: Dallas Suffers From Long-Term, Entrenched Segregation

Opportunity Dallas executive director Mike Koprowski takes a strong stance on segregation in Dallas. "Dallas is one of the most residentially segregated places in America, according to the Pew Research Center, with low-income families (disproportionately people of color) overwhelmingly clustered in areas of concentrated poverty [...]"

By income and by race, segregation has been linked to a whole host of urban problems. "We can downplay segregation by saying it's just a symptom of poverty, but segregation is a key driver of poverty because it spatially isolates families from critical assets, resources, transportation, institutions, employment opportunities and networks."

Koprowski points to research by the Metropolitan Planning Council in Chicago, which found that "less segregation can lead to a more balanced property tax base and higher city revenue; better school outcomes and an enhanced workforce pipeline; economic growth and increased productivity; improved safety and lower policing and correctional costs; and a more balanced consumer base across the city."

School and housing policy are some places Koprowski sees as ripe for reform. "The most important thing we can do to reduce concentrated poverty and segregation is to adopt a comprehensive housing policy (which we've never had) that incentivizes and promotes more mixed-income and affordable housing throughout the entire city."