As some of my classmates have pointed out, city planners are not always that bright when planning urban renewal. They are only looking at the financial effects of their efforts and nothing else. But if we are to look at this through the lens of public health, it is very clear that urban renewal is far more sinister than it cheery name suggests.
Many might think this is not a public health issue. It has been proven, however, that the most effective public health endeavors are the socially- driven ones. On an even more basic level, the idea of removing people from their homes and leaving them with no place to go causes serious problems concerning mental health, which another public health issue that needs more attention in this country.
The failure of city planners and large corporations to see the social implications of gentrification is ridiculous and ironic, when we think that these are the same people who have the most to say when bad conditions cause civil unrest. You reap what you sow. This country should not be run with an “us vs them” mindset. When the poor are treated the same as anyone else in this country, we can say that we have finally made progress.
