Local boards that oversee land use and housing construction in Massachusetts are dominated by white male homeowners, potentially skewing their decisions, according to a Boston University study.
Boston University researchers found roughly two-thirds of members were homeowners, even though most of the voters in the communities were renters. The researchers examined zoning, planning and other boards in 22 cities across the state.
"The underrepresentation of renters means that those concerns about rising housing costs may not be fully represented on these boards," said the BU professor. The study also found that people of color and renters are often underrepresented in municipal surveys about land use. For instance, BU researchers found homeowners make up 54% of Newton voters, but 93% of the people who participated in a city poll on local development.At this point, BU researchers concluded, the voices of people who would most benefit from new housing are"almost entirely absent" from the government's decision-making process.
"These seemingly minor events constitute yet another form of exclusion, at once discriminatory and an exacerbation of past exclusionary practices," Harris said in an email.
Österreich Neuesten Nachrichten, Österreich Schlagzeilen
Similar News:Sie können auch ähnliche Nachrichten wie diese lesen, die wir aus anderen Nachrichtenquellen gesammelt haben.
NPR Cookie Consent and Choices
Weiterlesen »
Study finds that LAUSD needs to do more to recruit and retain Black teachersA recent study by the school district found that LAUSD has been losing 100 Black educators every year since 2016.
Weiterlesen »
Small plane lands on Anchorage street after running out of fuel, officials sayA small plane on its way back to Merrill Field Airport made an emergency landing on a street near downtown Anchorage on Monday night when it ran out of fuel, authorities said. No one was hurt, and the plane taxied to the airport.
Weiterlesen »
100 new units of permanent supportive housing open in SeattleThe building is named for local civil rights activist Bertha Pitts Campbell, who was an inaugural board member of the Seattle Urban League.
Weiterlesen »
LA County to consider new gun-control rules, including safe-storage law, raising age requirementThe Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted to explore new countywide gun control measures in response to rising cases of local gun violence as well as mass shootings across the country.
Weiterlesen »
LA County Board of Supervisors to explore possibility of local gun-control measuresThe unanimously approved motion directs county attorneys to investigate regulations like raising the age requirement to purchase a long gun from 18 to 21 and banning those on the federal no-fly list from purchasing firearms.
Weiterlesen »