Social / Demographics

Advocacy to Protect Borderlands Areas Lagging
Construction of a border wall would have grave social and environmental consequences, but retailers with clout are not stepping up as they have when other places have been threatened.

Next Steps After S.F. Bay Area Adaptive Bikeshare Pilot Program
A summer program incorporated adaptive bikes into the region’s bikeshare network as a first step in making the system accessible to more riders.

Homeowners Staying Put for Longer Than Ever
Aging in place means fewer homes for young homebuyers, according to a new report by Redfin.

The Affluent, White Suburb With Toxic Polluters in its Midst
Ascension Parish, Louisiana, located between Baton Rouge and New Orleans along I-10, would look like a typical affluent, growing suburb, if it weren't for the toxic pollution emitted from nearby petrochemical facilities.

How a Subway Fare Increase Kicked Off Chile's Largest Protest
For many residents, Santiago's subway system and its fare hikes became a nexus for anger over deeper inequities across Chilean society.

Homelessness Fuels a Backlash in California
The Golden State's ongoing homelessness crisis has residents on edge and is testing the limits of empathy in a state known for its liberal values.

Distinguishing the Housing Shortage from Gentrification
Gentrification "mutates particular neighborhoods" while scarce housing "squeezes entire regions," Devin Michelle Bunten writes. Conflating the two can lead to inaccuracies in understanding.

When Noise Is a Matter of Life and Death
The world is noisier than ever, and the long-term effects of exposure are serious. Still, noise pollution isn’t considered a legitimate environmental hazard.

The Deadliest Day for Young Pedestrians
Children are three times more likely to be killed by a driver on Halloween than another day of the year. It's worse for kids between the ages of 4 and 8.

For 2020 Census, Cities Face Hurdles Finding People to Count
In many cities, people are living in places that are hard to locate. But accurate census counts are crucial to ensuring cities get their fair share of political power and funding.

Report: Urban Planning and Design Neglecting the Needs of Seniors
Many cities aren't planning and designing for their aging residents, despite a world full of examples to model from, according to a new report from the Milliken Institute.

The Demographics of Leaving California
The state is seeing an outmigration of residents moving to more affordable places, but it isn’t just wealthy retirees leaving the Golden State.

Gentrification Up Close in N.Y.C.'s West Village
A former resident of the iconic neighborhood reflects on its past, present, and future.

Engaging, Then Planning, for Equity
The interdisciplinary work of the Kounkuey Design Initiative, led by executive director Chelina Odbert, and deeply committed to the homegrown potential of neighborhoods and communities.

Equity Planning for the 21st Century
The 20th century roots of equity planning, born in Cleveland, are evolving to meet the challenges of the 21st century. Portland provides a case study of that evolution.

How to Improve Buses, the Overlooked but Essential Part of Urban Mobility
A new book argues that buses are an integral part of successful mobility networks and that better bus systems improve cities in ways benefiting all residents.

The Gentrification Effect of Urban Parks
New research finds that different types of parks correlate with different gentrification effects, adding to the complexity of urban change.

Massive Discrepancies Identified in Official Homeless Counts
The Los Angeles Times crunched data from the 2019 point-in-time count of homelessness in Los Angeles County. What they found diverged profoundly from official findings.

Neighborhood Responds as Gentrification Concerns Spread in Cincinnati
Development interest is flocking to Avondale, a mostly Black neighborhood with relatively high poverty rates in Cincinnati.

The Central Park Squirrel Census
Some people ask why anyone would want to do a census of all the squirrels in Central Park. Others ask why not?
Pagination
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