In Planning There Is No Such Thing as a "Race Neutral" Policy

Mier, through his experience in the Harold Washington administration, has helped to remind us that planning decisions more often than not result in unequal benefits. Most transportation infrastructure investment decisions, for example, provide disproportionate benefits to suburban commuters as compa...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of the American Planning Association 1994-06, Vol.60 (2), p.240-241
Main Author: Grigsby, J. Eugene
Format: Article
Language:English
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Summary:Mier, through his experience in the Harold Washington administration, has helped to remind us that planning decisions more often than not result in unequal benefits. Most transportation infrastructure investment decisions, for example, provide disproportionate benefits to suburban commuters as compared to those for low-income inner city dwellers. Construction of convention centers, sports arenas, and high rise office towers also provides few long-term tangible benefits to low-income residents. Tax breaks, land write-downs and other incentives targeted toward large employers and developers seldom create new jobs for low-income people. In short, without an understanding of the differential impacts of public policy on various class and ethnic groups, what is planned in the name of "the public" seldom provides significant benefits to minorities, particularly those with limited incomes.
ISSN:0194-4363
1939-0130
DOI:10.1080/01944369408975577