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In most places in the world people want to live in cities because of economic opportunities and governments invest heavily in them. There has been an urban revival in the US, but even in the most popular cities there is large contingency of people that are anti density, anti public transit, prefer to live in the suburbs, believe cities are not great for families, etc. It's a real shame because the US had great public transportation systems and great cities. Will we continue to see the urban revival we are seeing now?
In most places in the world people want to live in cities because of economic opportunities and governments invest heavily in them. There has been an urban revival in the US, but even in the most popular cities there is large contingency of people that are anti density, anti public transit, prefer to live in the suburbs, believe cities are not great for families, etc. It's a real shame because the US had great public transportation systems and great cities. Will we continue to see the urban revival we are seeing now?
I feel like that sentiment is a holdover from the white flight era.
I feel like that sentiment is a holdover from the white flight era.
Yeah.. bad public school systems, high crime, political structures devoid of White citizens, etc. A lot of American cities are unattractive to White families. White gentrification is different, bcuz childless Caucasian millennials aren't concerned with schools.. so they're repopulating American' city limits. But White families are more comfortable in the 'burbs. And honestly I think families of all races, with middle class means, prefer suburban school districts..
I think the 'urban revival' is flimsy, & short-term bcuz the millennial yuppies aren't having kids, so the 'revival' won't sustain itself. Time will tell tho..
I think its likely because of the American view on individualism rather then any economical or other social reason.
I'm not anti-city, but I don't prefer to live in cities. I live in a ruralish area about 10 minutes from a city and about 1 hour from a real metro. I've lived in cities in the US, China, and in Italy, and there is nothing wrong with cities, but I like the peace and quiet of rural life. I work a lot, and when business is done, I need a retreat away from people.
On the other hand, I would prefer to live in the city rather then a suburb. I have an apartment in a city in China, and its okay, but again, sometimes one wants to get away from it all.
Location: Appalachian New York, Formerly Louisiana
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Crime is a major hindrance to re-populating many inner cities.
That and when an area recovers, builds back up, and crime drops white people are accused of doing something malicious like "gentrifying" out the black folks! Gentrification is not necessarily a bad thing, I don't understand the hatred for it.
So it's a social lose-lose for middle and upper class whites to move back into depressed areas that are mainly black or otherwise.
If things stay bad, it's white people's fault. If things get better but the jobless drug addicts/dealers can't join the party, it's white people's fault. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, so why bother.
I wish the cities would take everybody back though. They're ruining my rural.
Crime is a major hindrance to re-populating many inner cities.
That and when an area recovers, builds back up, and crime drops white people are accused of doing something malicious like "gentrifying" out the black folks! Gentrification is not even a bad thing, I don't understand the hatred for it.
So it's a social lose-lose for middle and upper class whites to move back into depressed areas that are mainly black or otherwise.
If things stay bad, it's white people's fault. If things get better but the jobless drug addicts/dealers can't join the party, it's white people's fault. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, so why bother.
I wish the cities would take everybody back though. They're ruining my rural.
A lot of the higher crime areas in my general area (let's say 30 mile radius) are suburban. I would rather live in a high crime NYC neighborhood than high crime Nassau or Suffolk County neighborhood.
I agree the catch 22 is silly, though. The idea that white people aren't "allowed" to move to certain places is ridiculous.
Crime is a major hindrance to re-populating many inner cities.
That and when an area recovers, builds back up, and crime drops white people are accused of doing something malicious like "gentrifying" out the black folks! Gentrification is not necessarily a bad thing, I don't understand the hatred for it.
So it's a social lose-lose for middle and upper class whites to move back into depressed areas that are mainly black or otherwise.
If things stay bad, it's white people's fault. If things get better but the jobless drug addicts/dealers can't join the party, it's white people's fault. Damned if you do, damned if you don't, so why bother.
I wish the cities would take everybody back though. They're ruining my rural.
The issue is more about long time residents have fought for services and investment in those neighborhoods, that suddenly appear once those that gentrify come in. So, it makes those residents and others wonder/know why that is the case.
This doesn’t even get into the aspect of assuming urban and people of color has to equal high crime, instead of looking at the complexities within the city and groups of people.
Yeah.. bad public school systems, high crime, political structures devoid of White citizens, etc. A lot of American cities are unattractive to White families. White gentrification is different, bcuz childless Caucasian millennials aren't concerned with schools.. so they're repopulating American' city limits. But White families are more comfortable in the 'burbs. And honestly I think families of all races, with middle class means, prefer suburban school districts..
I think the 'urban revival' is flimsy, & short-term bcuz the millennial yuppies aren't having kids, so the 'revival' won't sustain itself. Time will tell tho..
Well I think there are always going to be people who prefer urban areas and people who prefer suburban areas, racial aspects aside. The difference is that now many younger (as in 40 and under) white people realize that living in an urban, mostly nonwhite neighborhood is not necessarily a bad thing.
The issue is more about long time residents have fought for services and investment in those neighborhoods, that suddenly appear once those that gentrify come in. So, it makes those residents and others wonder/know why that is the case.
What are the services and investment you speak of? If it's something like new, interesting businesses then that's just capitalism at work rather than the city government stepping in helping white people out.
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