Communities have long faced the problems and impacts related to careless development and overuse of local property in favor of economic gain. Typically this involves the creation of industry in a local area with the intention to create jobs and stability to a community and usually that is how it is or was pitched. As we see though in the readings, along with other regional example there are several unintended consequences that may have caused more distress than good. Also, we see the development and placement of industry within areas which may not have a strong voice of opposition due to lack of resources. Based on David Konisky’s article, the results are somewhat astonishing displaying that the lower social economic class within an area, the less environmental enforcement takes place. Is this merely because residents are unaware of conditions, lack community unity in favor of more action, or are just apathetic towards local conditions? For the most part I would assume that most of the time the community lacks organizing efforts and financial resources to push for more enforcement.
Now industry development has been vital to economic success over the last century, however new foresight was and is needed to improve the use of these areas. This could include improving the conditions and reinventing an industrialized area under Brownfield development. Also, some of these buildings have the potential to be converted to housing, retail, office, or possibly some other type of mixed-use. Pittsburgh, PA has done just this by now using former industrialized buildings for use of high-tech development and offices. This has allowed not only a safer way to utilize these structures, but has given the city a rebirth instead of slowly suffering and dying like their other rustbelt counterparts, Cleveland and Detroit.
Furthermore, there is a new mentality to improve areas along equitable lines that includes a new term called smart growth. Mainly, the basic premise of smart growth looks to revive urban and inner city areas, where many low-income citizens reside. Ideally the policy sounds pretty good, however such as the development several decades ago of industry, there are unintended consequences. One of the problems that can occur is gentrification of the community. Ironically, this hurts those intended to help, and new-comers somewhat benefit as free-riders off of the redevelopment. Fortunately, in areas across the nation more citizens have begun to get involved in the discussion of revitalization of communities voicing their concern, and allowing smart growth to be curbed in their interest. This needs to continue in order to increase the quality of life for low-income individuals (improving education and deterring crime), increase the discussion and thought behind being innovative (development of more efficient and effective ways of doing things), and give a renewal to areas that are drifting away and causing more economic distress (eliminating more money being used to only fix certain parts of a large problem).
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I agree with your statement about low income communities lacking organizing efforts as well as the financial resources to push for more environmental enforcement. For example in my opinion if you look at the Phoenix Metropolitan area residents of North Scottsdale would be in a better position to enforce environmental concerns than residents of South Phoenix or notorious other lower income areas. My opinion might seem harsh but unfortunately it is the truth. However, I do believe the Phoenix Metropolitan area has made great strides over the years to attempt to develop these areas. I’ve lived in this area all my life and up until recently when people spoke about South Phoenix it was always in a negative light. The area was high in crime and considered a place you wanted to avoid. Recently the area has seen economic development in areas I thought we never would. I believe if development continues in low income areas like this, the residents will take pride in their neighborhoods and insist environmental enforcement becomes a top priority for local leaders.
ReplyDeleteYou are right and you make a great point. Even being an out-of-stater I can see some of these divisions. Sadly they are still there, but from talking to people and study some things around the area I can kind of see what you are talking about. Progress is definitely being made, and the inequality that the region has witnessed is slowly being bridged.
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