Suburban Slums

Interesting article from the Atlantic Monthly which speculates that the issues (mainly crime) that caused families to flee cities and urban areas in the 60’s and 70’s (also known as white flight) is now afflicting the suburbs which are no longer immune to vandalism, drug use, and theft.

The author also states that as more homes foreclose due to the sub-prime crisis, empty homes linger, fall into disrepair, attract vagrants, and become plights on neighborhoods which at one point were vibrant and safe.

In turn this has prompted a re-vitalization of inner-cities, otherwise known as gentrification, and the renovation of older buildings and recovery of neighborhoods which had long been neglected but the signs of physical and social disorder in the suburbs should be recognized and dealt with by community groups and local government.