Challenges of Urban Growth

Key Terms

urban renewal, infrastructure, revitalization, gentrification, metropolitan government

Find Out

• What large problems do metropolitan governments face today and in the future?

• How have shifts in the population affected cities and their governments in recent years?

Challenges of Urban Growth

Understanding Concepts

Federalism What is the financial relationship between local governments and state and federal governments?

Section Objective

Identify problems that metropolitan areas face and potential solutions.

In the 1990s one of the most significant shifts in population was from large cities and suburbs to small towns. Two million more Americans moved from metropolitan centers to rural areas than migrated the other way during that decade. There were many reasons for this population shift. Some families moved to escape the social problems of the cities. Some were attracted by the lower taxes, more affordable housing, and the slower pace of small town life.

A. Municipal governments attempt to manage land use to encourage orderly growth. This is difficult since population shifts have caused inner cities to decline.

I. Population and Housing (pages 677–679)

B. Mayors of large cities in decline appealed to the federal government for help in the 1950s and 1960s.

C. The federal government provided massive spending to help cities address their housing problems. The results were not encouraging.

D. Urban renewal programs added new low-rent public housing, but slowed construction of other types of housing.

E. For many years, suburbs and smaller communities excluded African Americans and other minorities, and apartment owners discriminated against the elderly, the poor, and families with children.

F. Many large cities responded to the housing shortage by renovating older housing units. The federal government also provided loans to local housing authorities through public housing programs.

I. Population and Housing (pages 677–679)

How do you think municipal governments should deal with the decline of inner cities?

Answers will vary. See Managing Decline on text page 677.

I. Population and Housing (pages 677–679)

A. Large cities face serious social problems.

II. Social Problems (pages 679–680)

B. Unemployment and housing shortages contribute to the problem of homeless people.

C. The federal government, through the media, has publicized drug abuse and spent huge amounts for drug treatment and prevention programs.

II. Social Problems (pages 679–680)

What social problem do you think most affects your neighborhood?

Students may mention poverty, homelessness, crime, drug abuse, alcohol abuse.

A. Large cities also have many problems that add to their financial burdens.

III. Meeting Future Challenges (pages 680–682)

B. The infrastructure of older large cities shows severe signs of wear and needs repair.

C. Local governments encourage the public to use mass transit to reduce traffic and air pollution.

D. Cities struggle to solve their financial problems, and recently have focused on stimulating greater economic development.

E. Beginning in the 1980s, middle income suburbanites and recent immigrants moved into the cities, often restoring old houses and other buildings. While this improved many neighborhoods, it also displaced residents.

F. In the 1980s, the nation’s attention seemed to be shifting from city problems to suburban opportunities.

G. Many people feel that metropolitan government must be reorganized to serve a larger region and to reduce government waste and duplication of services.

III. Meeting Future Challenges (pages 680–682)

III. Meeting Future Challenges (pages 680–682)

Discuss the pros and cons of gentrification and how it affects neighborhoods in large cities.

Pro: Restores vitality to the city, brings in new business; Con: raises property taxes, drives out long-time residents.

1. Main Idea Use a graphic organizer like the one below to compare challenges that municipal governments faced in the 1950s to those they face today.

Checking for Understanding

1950s: job losses, deteriorating housing, poor sanitary conditions, rising crime rates Today: repairing infrastructure, maintaining and developing mass transit, providing for economic development, dealing with issues resulting from gentrification

___ urban renewal

___ infrastructure

___ revitalization

___ gentrification

___ metropolitan government

A. the basic facilities of a city

B. the phenomenon of new people moving into a neighborhood, forcing out those who live there and changing the area’s essential character

C. a type of government that serves several different communities in the same region

D. programs under which cities apply for federal aid to clear slum areas and rebuild

E. investments in new facilities in an effort to promote economic growth

Checking for Understanding

D

A

E

B

C

Match the term with the correct definition.

3. Identify Drug Enforcement Administration, Office of National Drug Control Policy.

Checking for Understanding

The Drug Enforcement Administration is a federal program that enforces the controlled substances laws and regulations of the United States.

The Office of National Drug Control Policy is a federal program that establishes policies, priorities, and objectives for the nation’s drug control program.

4. What are the positive and negative outcomes of gentrification?

Checking for Understanding

Positive: It restores vitality to the city by reclaiming deteriorating property and bringing new business to decayed areas. Negative: It accelerates property sales, inflating property values and increasing taxes; property becomes too expensive for poorer residents to remain in these neighborhoods.

5. How would a metropolitan government address urban problems?

Checking for Understanding

Metropolitan government would reduce government waste and duplication of services; it also might provide services such as water, sewage disposal, and sanitation.

6. Predicting Consequences Analyze additional problems cities will face if governments are unable to fund replacement of urban infrastructures.

Critical Thinking

more traffic congestion; problems with services such as water, sewage disposal, and sanitation

Federalism Mayors of large cities must present strong arguments to get federal funds to address city problems. What could a mayor say to the president and Congress to support the cities’ cause? Research the types of projects that would benefit your community. Write a proposal explaining the need for federal money to support that project for your community.