Routine/Complain Inspections and Urban Growth
In Los Angeles
Introduction
This is analysis of urban growth housing inequality, analyzed by utilizing Los Angeles routine and complaint inspections from 2018-2019. By using cross layering geospatial data provided by ARCGIS, data suggests that there’s high levels of disparity between routine and complaint inspections in predominately low-income minority neighborhoods.
Literature Review
In order to understand our current housing crisis, we must take a look at the chronology of housing discrimination and how it facilitated inequality today. Discriminatory load lending, redlining and racial covenants, have all historically limited the amount of equity low-income minorities are afforded.
- Cities like Los Angeles began to dis-invest in city centers and focus new capital toward the suburbs and coastline, disenfranchising minority neighborhoods. These neighborhoods were then considered "blighted" and susceptible for cheap land grabs.Urban revitalization and regained interest in real estate, places renters vulnerable towards predatory landlords and displacement.
Analysis
Los Angeles routine and complaint inspections 2018-2019
By analyzing Los Angeles routine and complaint inspections 2018-2019 with Los Angeles Population Demographics and Poverty Index , data suggests that high levels of disparity between routine and complaint inspections in segregated minority neighborhoods. Lets break down each layer
Complaint Inspections Hotspot 2018
This and the following map display individual complaint inspections from 2018-2019. Both rates stayed consisted between both years and seem to encompass most of LA county.
Complaint Inspections 2019
Routine Inspections 2018
Annual routine inspections do not cover nearly as much of LA County than individual complaints. Routine inspections conducted by the city are focused on more affluent area, West of the Central Business District.
Routine Inspections 2019
A high concentration of routine inspections in the west side of LA provides an assumption of where exactly Los Angeles housing priorities are at in protecting with protecting or appeasing a certain class demographic.
Los Angeles Demographics and Poverty Index
Now that we know where routine inspections are concentrated,let’s look at who actually lives in these neighborhoods but specifically South Central. Using Los Angeles Population Demographics and Diversity index layer, gives us a good look where each demographic and income class reside. The attributes or indicators used to analyze to analyze this layer being, are ACS Poverty Index, Hispanic, Black, and white demographics.
ACS Poverty Index
ACS Poverty index scores measure neighborhoods poverty rates by census track or blocks, the higher the score given on a census block the higher the disparity. The darker the shade of purple identifies those more at risk for being in poverty.Our data shows a concentration of poverty largely only in minority neighborhoods and only shrinking when there’s in increase in a white population
Routine Inspections 2018 with Black Population
Routine Inspection from 2018 are not concentrated any where near the Black population or communities. Highly concentrated in a white demographic, the HUD seems to enforce more of its jurisdiction where ever there's more capital.
Routine Inspections 2018 with White Population
In addressing housing discrimination, the HUD has a responsibility to provide with more humane ways to create diversity in our neighborhoods. When analyzing the surrounding areas every purple labeled census tract were predominately minority communities but as you head toward Culver City and the coast, the white population increases more and more until whites are the majority again in the affluent tan colored neighborhoods
Discussion
As wages continue to fall and rent burden increases, neglected areas such as South Central will see an increase in inequality. Slumlords see potential in underdeveloped neighborhoods for taking advantage of vulnerable demographics like South Central and its large immigrant and minority population.
It is then up to the city to enforce a more equal distribution of inspections using data like this to see where complaints are more prevalent and why. A policy change that could help our most historically disfranchise groups in terms of investment capital should provide minority groups but specifically, African Americans acquire home ownership
Conclusion
Lack of housing regulation in low-income neighborhoods is damaging toward their upward mobility on every level. Rising rents while not proving a safety net for tenants who are affected by their living conditions by things like toxins, mold, rodents, and failing infrastructure all limit progression.
A policy change aimed at desegregating our cities and allowing low income minorities the opportunity or the exposure to more potential capital, while diversifying our neighborhoods is a good way tackle generational poverty. This could be achieved either by reforming affordable housing vouchers with incentives of vouchers s and increasing rent cap on said vouchers
