Much More Ado about the Suburbs

“White Flight: Suburbs Lose Young Whites to Cities,” proclaims the headlines. While whites are moving to the cities, the suburbs are supposedly turning into slums. Horrors! Sounds like a job for Superbiggovernmentman!

A few decades ago, urban planners knew suburbs were evil because they were enclaves of wealthy whites, while downtrodden poor and minorities were left behind in the cities. But a new report (part one and part two — 8 and 16 MB respectively) from the Brookings Institution’s Metropolitan Policy Program reveals that suburbs today include people of all incomes and all races. Instead of viewing this as a cause for celebration, the report’s writers argue that “National policy makers have the unique obligation” to “manage this change.”

One of the report’s co-authors, William Frey, was quoted by the media saying, “What used to be white flight to the suburbs is turning into ‘bright flight’ to cities that have become magnets for aspiring young adults who see access to knowledge-based jobs, public transportation and a new city ambiance as an attraction.” In fact, there are no data in the report to support the claim that suburbs are “losing” young whites or high-income whites to the cities.

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