Social / Demographics

HUD's Proposed Rule Would Displace 55,000 Children
Efforts by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development to "purge" undocumented immigrants from public housing would hurt a lot of legal residents and citizens.

Neighborhood-Based Apps and the Socialized Fear of Crime
Violent crime is at the lowest rate in decades, but don't tell that to the people who use neighborhood-based apps like Nextdoor, Citizen, and Neighbors.

Gentrification Studies Must Inspire Solutions
The study of gentrification took center stage at the recent conference of the Urban Affairs Association. It's up to planners to put all of that research to good use.

Many Lives, One Space on an L.A. Bus
A reporter rides the bus in Los Angeles and discovers the interesting, complicated, and sometimes heartbreaking stories that riders bring on board.

Community Planning Gives Voices to the Voiceless
People who can't vote can still have a say in the processes by which their neighborhoods are planned and developed. An example from New York City illustrates the point.

Trump Administration Proposes Changes to the 'Official Poverty Measure'
The Office of Management and Budget wants to save money by shrinking the definition of poverty used to calculate access to welfare programs.

Toward a More Useful, and Accurate, Definition of Gentrification
Recent studies have called into question the predominant narratives on gentrification. A more precise definition of the term as it works in the United States is required.

Whites Moving Into Black Neighborhoods Tip the Scales in Problematic Ways
Black neighborhoods near city centers are diversifying as whites move in and buy up properties. But the influx of these higher-income residents is leading to more divisions than inclusivity.

An Unexpected Turn for California's New State Population Report
Population data released May 1 by the Department of Finance reveals the Golden State's lowest population growth rate on record, at 0.47 percent.

Millennials Searching for Affordable Homebuying Opportunities in Smaller Cities
A new report from the National Association of Realtors ranked the top homebuying destinations for Millennials.

Unequal Distribution of Shade Is Environmental Injustice
A longread, written by Sam Boch and published by Places Journal, has been creating a stir online and is highly recommended for those with an interest in intersections between social justice and urban design.

New York Hasn't Been the Same Since the Avengers
A satirical take on the "Leaving New York" genre of confessional makes believe Marvel Comics style. No spoilers included here.

Housing Costs Rise for Philly's Poorest Residents, Fall for the Wealthy
Poor households in Philadelphia are spending nearly much on housing as wealthy residents. And while costs for the wealthy are going down, costs for the poor continue to rise.

Younger, Low Income, Minority Voters Favored Transit in MARTA Referendum
New maps show demographic trends in voting after a March special election to expand MARTA in the Atlanta region.

Middle-Class Seniors Losing Access to Housing and Healthcare
In the next decade, the number of middle-income seniors who can't afford assisted living will nearly double.

Puget Sound Travel Survey Highlights What's Influencing Region’s Travelers
The 2017 survey shows that most people drive, but income and housing location also affect people’s options and choices.

Tech Money Dominates S.F. Housing Market
The tech industry has created massive wealth, and the impacts on the real estate market are most dramatic in San Francisco.

Putting a Stop to Disabled-Placard Fraud in L.A.
The fine for misuse of a placard will increase considerably, but not everyone agrees this is the right way to address a growing problem.

What Central Florida's Population Growth Reveals About U.S. Real Estate Trends
Big trends—a geographic shift back to the suburban and exurban areas and a "silver tsunami"—are apparent in population figures for two Florida locations.

Mapping the Political Ramifications of a Census Citizenship Question
The Supreme Court heard opening arguments Department of Commerce v. New York this week.
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