Financial Costs And Social Costs

A fair housing struggle in a New Jersey suburb illustrates a tension in fast-growing areas from coast to coast "as the cost of education turns the social logic of the suburbs upside down. Havens for families are expensive to run, and many of the people who run them are trying to draw childless couples, single people, retirees -- anybody but children." According to Myron Orfield, "As school costs rise,...The local governments' first line of defense...is simply to fend off housing. 'They aren't providing land for housing, especially apartment buildings. Everyone's zoning for commercial buildings. In California, auto malls are king. In New Jersey, commercial office parks are the most valuable things'....Orfield says the problem is worst in 'places that are turning into bedroom suburbs, where people are not so affluent and have blinding taxes.'"

Thanks to Connie Chung