Roger Sanjek’s article begins with a summary of the overall demographics of the United States and projects the shift in demographics that would occur by 2080. He then delves into the specific neighborhood of Corona in Queens, New York and lays out the demographics in that area. Overall, there is a clear and consistent decrease in the white population while other ethnic group populations are increasing. The article presented the argument that the community board failed to meet the needs of the people in the neighborhood. However, organizations within the community, such as religious groups, succeeded where the community board had failed in providing for the residents of the neighborhood.  Tarry Hum’s article is much more specific in that it focuses on specifically two issues that arose in the neighborhoods Flushing in Queens, New York and Sunset Park in Brooklyn, New York. The article discusses the misperception of Asian immigrants as illegal immigrants and criminals in Flushing and zoning issues in Sunset Park. Hum presents an argument that is similar to Sanjek’s in that the community board fails to meet the needs of the residents in the neighborhood and organizations stepped in and was able to do what the community board could not.

The community board fails to meet the needs of the residents in the neighborhood because the demographics of the members on the board do not reflect the demographics of the overall neighborhood. As a result, the interests of the community board are not aligned with the interests of the neighborhood. This disparity in demographics prevents the community board from being able to fully understand the residents and their interests and needs may be misinterpreted or ignored. Organizations succeed in meeting the needs of the residents because they are a more accurate reflection of the demographics in the area. The members in the organization share similar values and problems as the people they serve. They know the interests the residents and also typically share similar interests. The effectiveness at which the community boards and neighborhood organizations meet the needs of the neighborhood residents depend on whether or not the interests of these groups are aligned with those of the residents.