Stephen Gasteyer Department of Sociology Michigan State University

Transcription

1 Right Sizing Infrastructure in Legacy (Shrinking) Cities: Using the Community Capitals Framework to Model Regional Solutions to Infrastructure Challenges in the Context of Deindustrialization Stephen Gasteyer Department of Sociology Michigan State University

2 Right Sizing Infrastructure An Outline A Brief Overview of Shrinking legacy Cities Some Observations Linking Race, Ethnicity, and Austerity in Legacy Places Environmental Justice and Legacy Converting the Trifecta of Dystopia (Soc/Env/Econ) to the opportunity for hope Water infrastructure/quality crisis and legacy cities Leveraging Assets in the Hope of Greening A case study for Flint, Michigan Case study Washington, DC Concluding thoughts 2

3 Neoliberal flows: Deindustrialization/ depopulation and discontented legacies Since 1960, 370 cities have shrunk by at least 10% (Hollander, et al. 2009) In US: A large number of cities have lost industry and population specifically in the Rust Belt Growing concern in addressing legacy cities : Detroit, Flint, Cleveland, Buffalo, etc. (EPA 2012) Dystopia 5 of top 10 top murder places are legacy cities Likewise arson 3

4 Shrinking Cities and Environmental justice Municipalities suffering chronic and consistent population loss, often as a result of industrial decay (Hollander, Pallagast, Swartz, and Popper 2009). Bullard (2000, 2008) urban transformation laid on top of race and class inequality with potential negative feedback loops if these aspects are not acknowledged and addressed LeFebvre s (1974) space is appropriated; but what do we make of abandoned space/place? 4

5 Minority Status and Shrinking Population Changes 1 in Michigan Cities with Emergency Management City and EM Implementation Population Total (Non-White Population %) 2010 Population Total (Non-White Population %) Total Population Change Flint (since 2002) 124,943 (58.6%) 102,434 (62.6%) -22,509 (-18.0%) Ecourse (since 2009) 11,229 (47.8%) 9,512 (55.9%) -1,717 (-15.3%) Pontiac (since 2009) 66,337 (60.9%) 59,515 (65.6%) -6,822 (-10.3%) Benton Harbor (since 2010) 11,182 (93.6%) 10,038 (93.0%) -1,144 (-10.2%) Allen Park (since 2012) 29,376 (4.4%) 28,210 (7.1%) -1,166 (-3.9%) Detroit (as of March 2013) 951,270 (87.7%) 713,777 (89.3%) -237,493 (-24.9%) 5

6 The Legacy of Segregated Industrial Development 6

7 State Response: Austerity Focus on Fiscal Insolvency Appointment of an Emergency Financial Management Cuts to basic services: Increase in taxes and cost of basic services 7

8 The Growing National Water and Wastewater Crisis 35% of the wastewater utilities deferred maintenance because of insufficient funding while >20% of their pipelines nearing the end of their useful life. (GAO 2004) AWWA estimates simply restoring existing water systems will cost over $1 trillion over the next 25 years (AWWA, 2012)

9 Contributing Factors Deteriorating Infrastructure Major investment in the late (water for cities) (wastewater and regional water supply (War on Poverty Rural water/wastewater) Water Quality Regulations Drinking water; Storm water (CSO/SSO) Proposed Solutions Big pipe solutions

10 Ecological Legacy Brownfields 2/3 of Brownfields in Michigan are in former industrial centers Limited walkability Water quality Legacy of impaired surface water bodies Depreciating Infrastructure for Basic Services 10

11 Legacies in Water Rates

12 Calls for a Better Approach Burkholder (2011) use of vacant land to address storm water Land conversion for creation of more sustainable urban downsizing Green (2012) calls for leveraging human, social, and cultural capital in developing stormwater management ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v4y2012i8p d19286.html Wycoff, El Gaffy, and Graebert (2012) call for a process that involves: Assess Infrastructure Assets by neighborhood Create integrated model with infrastructure alternatives Evaluate land use and infrastructure alternatives EPA is calling for use of smart growth strategies to address CSO/SSO EPA legacy city draft rept views abandoned land as opportunity

13 Going Beyond Design

14 A Capitals Analysis

15 Leveraging Capitals Capital Indicator Actors Built Financial Natural Assessment of Infrastructure Assets Assess potential new structures Cost for raw water -- alternatives Assessment of existing infrastructure assets Bond rating availability of assets Financial capacity Accounting for vacant land and abandoned areas Assessment of quality of land for different services Utility Commission Planning Commission Utility Commission Planning commission City Accounting Bond Ratings Agency % below poverty by area Planning and Zoning Area Utility Authorities Area Land Bank Consulting/Contracting Engineer Remaining residents

16 Leveraging Capitals Capital Indicator Actor(s) Human 1. Ability to assess infrastructure assets 2. Knowledge of Asset Replacement/purposing options 3. Knowledge of regulatory implications 4. Skills to repurpose Cultural 1. Willingness by government to repurpose land 2. Consulting engineer and Regulatory willingness/resistance to repurposing 3. Perceived meaning of repurposing by residents Political 1. Ability to leverage state government $; 2. Ability to leverage to feds for $ 3. Diversity in decision making? City P and Z, Water and Energy Utility, Land Bank, Consulting Engineer Local Residents Government P and Z; City Council Housing Authority; Land Bank; Consulting engineer; Regulatory officials; Community residents and institutions Local government; local institutions; state reps; Congressional reps; Engineering firms; Local NGOS

17 Leveraging Capitals Capital Indicator Actors Social Capital 1. Racial implications of repurposing 2. Social networks among institutions with responsibility for infrastructure and Land 3. Social networks to other communities working on innovative solutions to infrastructure 4. Social networks between govt, planners, engineers, and NGOs developing alternatives 5. Social networks among govt, city institutions and local residents 6. Social Networks among residents and NGOs around options for infrastructure P and Z; Local government leadership Water utilities; Regulators; Financing Authorities; Land Bank; Engineering firms; Resident Associations; Environmental/urban NGOs; University outreach and researchers.

18 Case Study: Flint, MI 40% abandoned land Emergency Financial Manager ; 2011-present #1/capita murder and arson rate; Major water issues Redistribute DWSD water Rates $100 +/mo Most water bodies impaired EPA Reg. V efforts to repurpose abandoned for CSO/SSO mitigation Resistance from: utilities with easements; Local residents Racialized Legacies of investment

19 Case Study II: Washington, DC CSO/SSO for Potomac/Anacostia River Authority Solution $3.5 billion holding pipe constructed by Tetra Tech Community coalition developed to lobby for alternative green solution Coalition involved local environmental orgs; local faith based orgs; neighborhood associations Looked for localizing resource distribution and widening opportunity for local skill development and job creation. INSERT Anacostia River Watershed here

20 Conclusion: The Great Opportunity? Growing political pressure to invest in the assets that Legacy Cities bring to the table The national infrastructure crisis and legacy cities converge municipal fiscal solvency passes costs to consumers Recognition of potential for repurposing Land to manage CSO/SSO problem Need to better recognize equity and legacies of inequity in negotiating land repurposing Recognition of the potential needs to be matched by a recognition that this may necessitate significant investment in community development to address local needs and combat traditional political growth/engineering interests. 20

21 Questions? Stephen Gasteyer Tel:

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