A few blue-collar cities proximate to Boston offer case studies of the "opportunity bargains" identified in the 2018 Opportunity Atlas published by Harvard and Brown universities an the U.S. Census.
"Not long ago, a team of economists at Harvard University, Brown University, and the US Census Bureau published an extraordinary study of opportunity in America," writes David Scharfenberg. "And they were able to show with remarkable and often heartbreaking precision that where we grow up — down to the specific neighborhood — can have a profound influence on our prospects for moving up the economic ladder and grabbing a piece of the American Dream."
The study [pdf], "Opportunity Atlas: Mapping the Childhood Roots of Social Mobility," also revealed a surprising success story: the cities of Chelsea, Revere, Everett, and Malden, all just north of Boston on the other side of the Mystic River. Scharfenberg describes these "blue-collar cities" collectively, as "an unlikely engine of upward mobility in a land of greasy spoons and auto body shops and modest two-family homes with chain-link fences."
The study identifies these kinds of place, where relatively affordable neighborhoods can alter the course of low-income children's lives, as "opportunity bargains." Massachusetts does not claim sole possession of such opportunities bargains. There are similar opportunity bargains in Rhode Island, North Dakota, Nebraska, and California, for example. Scharfenberg says there are thousands of opportunity bargains in the country.
The article includes a discussion of the unproven theories about what makes opportunity bargains work, as well as interactive maps to illustrate the Opportunity Atlas's finding in New England.
FULL STORY: Miracle on the Mystic: Chelsea, Everett, and the New American Dream
Suburban Bike Share Reaches Across Town Borders
In smaller towns in the greater Boston area, communities are offering bike share that crosses town borders.
Low-Income Residents Less Likely to Move During the Pandemic, Freddie Mac Says
Does low-income residents staying put in large metro areas, relative to higher-income groups, mean that low-income households are missing out on affordable housing options? Freddie Mac researchers think so.
'Rapid Response Bus Lanes' Program Provides Equitable Mobility Relief During the Pandemic
A new Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority program has quickly deployed bus infrastructure around the Boston area, focusing on neighborhoods where people are relying on the bus during the pandemic.
Study: Maui’s Plan to Convert Vacation Rentals to Long-Term Housing Could Cause Nearly $1 Billion Economic Loss
The plan would reduce visitor accommodation by 25,% resulting in 1,900 jobs lost.
Alabama: Trump Terminates Settlements for Black Communities Harmed By Raw Sewage
Trump deemed the landmark civil rights agreement “illegal DEI and environmental justice policy.”
Why Should We Subsidize Public Transportation?
Many public transit agencies face financial stress due to rising costs, declining fare revenue, and declining subsidies. Transit advocates must provide a strong business case for increasing public transit funding.
Paris Bike Boom Leads to Steep Drop in Air Pollution
The French city’s air quality has improved dramatically in the past 20 years, coinciding with a growth in cycling.
Why Housing Costs More to Build in California Than in Texas
Hard costs like labor and materials combined with ‘soft’ costs such as permitting make building in the San Francisco Bay Area almost three times as costly as in Texas cities.
San Diego County Sees a Rise in Urban Coyotes
San Diego County experiences a rise in urban coyotes, as sightings become prevalent throughout its urban neighbourhoods and surrounding areas.
Urban Design for Planners 1: Software Tools
This six-course series explores essential urban design concepts using open source software and equips planners with the tools they need to participate fully in the urban design process.
Planning for Universal Design
Learn the tools for implementing Universal Design in planning regulations.
Smith Gee Studio
Alamo Area Metropolitan Planning Organization
City of Santa Clarita
Institute for Housing and Urban Development Studies (IHS)
City of Grandview
Harvard GSD Executive Education
Toledo-Lucas County Plan Commissions
Salt Lake City
NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service