Suchergebnisse

Financial support for affordable housing competes with many other municipal priorities. This work seeks to explain the variation in support for affordable housing among U.S. cities with populations of 100,000 or more. Using multivariate statistical analysis, this research investigates political explanations for the level of city expenditures on housing and community with a particular interest in the influence of housing advocacy organizations (AOs). Data for the model were gathered from secondary sources, including the U.S. Census and the National Center for Charitable Statistics. Among other results, the analysis indicates that, on average, the political maturity of AOs has a statistically significant, positive effect on local housing and community development expenditures.

Affordable housing competes with many other municipal priorities. This work seeks to explain the variation in support for affordable housing among U.S. cities with populations of 100,000 or more. This research employs mixed-methods to address two complementary research questions: 1) using multivariate statistical analysis, this research investigates political explanations for the level of city expenditures on housing and community development with a particular interest in the influence of housing advocacy organizations (AOs); 2) through a follow-up case study, this research explores how AOs exert influence on planning for affordable housing in four cities in Los Angeles County. Data for the model were gathered from secondary sources, including the U.S. Census and the National Center for Charitable Statistics. Data for the case study were collected from interviews with AO leaders and city officials, AO documents and websites, and each case city's housing element. Among other results, the analysis indicates that, on average, the age of local AOs has a statistically significant, positive association with housing and community development expenditures in a given city. The financial strength of local organizations also has a statistically significant, positive association with housing and community expenditures in a given city. Finally, the age of the AOs in a given city's surrounding county has a statistically significant, negative association with local housing and community development expenditures. Furthermore, the findings of the case study suggest that the political opportunity AOs perceive plays a role in their approach toward the affordable housing policy issue. The strategies AOs employ, on the other hand, are chosen based on the resources of the given group. That is, this qualitative analysis found that AOs in the case study cities with more resources (Long Beach and Los Angeles) engage in both insider and outsider strategic actions (tactics) to achieve influence. Conversely, AOs in the case study cities with less resources (Pasadena and Pomona) favored using insider strategic actions to achieve influence.

Engaging residents in local affairs continues to be a challenge for cities around the world. Under a call for more open government, many cities have adopted web-based strategies, including social media, to inform, serve, and engage residents. Understanding the performance of social media to support transparent and participatory government through communication and engagement with citizens, especially by relatively early adopters in urbanized areas of developing countries, can inform theory, as well as practice. This article contains an analysis of social media communication for one government agency. The data are posts from the first 18 months of activity on a Facebook profile created and maintained by the municipal water agency of La Paz, Mexico. Consistent with previous work, the Facebook profile reflected relatively low usage, a propensity toward one-way provision of information by government, and limited interaction. However, by analyzing the content of each post and all interactions, the authors found the Facebook profile spurred citizen engagement in a collaborative effort mitigate a community problem.

COVID-19 is an invisible threat that has hugely impacted cities and their inhabitants. Yet its impact is very visible, perhaps most so in urban public spaces and spaces of mobility. This international volume explores the transformations of public space and public transport in response to COVID-19 across the world, both those resulting from official governmental regulations and from everyday practices of urban citizens. The contributors discuss how the virus made urban inequalities sharper and clearer, and redefined public spaces in the 'new normal'. Offering crucial insights for reforming cities to be more resilient to future crises, this is an invaluable resource for scholars and policy makers alike