Urban and Environmental Issues

1
Urban and Environmental Issues

• May 6, 1999

2
The US is an Urban Nation

• By 1920 50 of America lived in cities
• By 2000 80 of Americans will live in cities
• Alabama is now an urban state

3
Cities have Many Special Problems

• Density has declined and urban sprawl increased
• Jobs are no longer in the urban core

4
Transportation is a problem

• Public Transportation is heavily subsidized and
  not readily available
• The automobile may have reached its capacity in
  quality of life

5
Growth brings problems

• Pollution
• Neglected Housing
• Fragmented Government
• Poor Infrastructure
• Inequitable tax structures
• Political conflict

6
Urban Growth and the Decline of Community

• Lack of civic culture
• Crime, lack of pride in the community

7
Americas Growth in the 19th Century was Wasteful

• Deforestation
• Soil Depletion
• Mining Regulations
• Water Pollution
• Livestock

8
Environmental Protection Helps Everyone but the
Individual Contributions are Difficult to See

• To achieve environmental protection, government
  gives externalities (e.g. tax benefits) and
  coercion (e.g. fines)

9
Our Attempt to Tame the Environment has Led to
Many Problems

• Flooding along the major river systems

10
Our Attempt to Tame the Environment has Led to
Many Problems

• Air Pollution

11
Our Attempt to Tame the Environment has Led to
Many Problems

• Long-term health problems

12
Our Attempt to Tame the Environment has Led to
Many Problems

• Land and Water Pollution