My Favorite City Essay

About Fairfax County The beautiful and affluent Fairfax County is located just across the Potomac River from Washingington DC. With more than a million residents, the growing county is the proud home to more than 142,000 jobs in the technology sector, the largest concentration to be found in the United States. The county's dynamic and ever-growing economy boasts many corporate and regional headquarters, over 400 foreign-owned companies representing the economic interests of 45 countries, and…

Gentrification, Groupthink, and the Right to Housing Introduction What does the right to housing mean? Many perceive the right to housing as a right to refuge from the world, shelter from the elements, a place where a person wants to be, or a place worth fighting for. One can say that the right to housing means less to the majority of housed people, who take this right for granted, than those whose very existence may hinge on this right. The United Nations states that everyone shall have “a…

In the Chicago Tribune article, “As Other Cities Dig Up Pipes Made Of Toxic Lead, Chicago Resists,” the author discusses Mayor Rahm Emmanuel’s efforts to modernize Chicago’s aging and deteriorating water system; however, as other cities prefer to tackle the root problem and replace the toxic lead pipes altogether, Rahm prefers to resist this approach and, instead, continue with his original project that will only help to increase lead exposure to Chicagoans. While, at first glance, this dilemma…

In the 1950s, life was fairly great for those who lived in the suburbs. The first suburb was developed by Abraham Levitt and his two sons, William and Alfred, he named it Levittown, after himself, of course. It was just pure farming land before he got to it, but after he was done it had become a suburban community that housed thousands of men with their families. A basic Levitt four-room house on a 6,000-square-foot lot sold for $6,900, about 2-1/2 years’ wages. It was criticized as stifling…

Come and take a walk with me down 21ST Northeast DC. Ward 5 in the District of Columbia. Here, you will see plenty of trash cans on the street, but plenty more trash on the ground. Also, you will see ripped couches, old dirty mattresses, abandoned bicycles that are disassembled, and drug paraphernalia. What you won’t see are white picket fences, flower gardens, or a suitable playground for kids to frequent. When I say unsuitable I mean the equipment is in deplorable condition, or completely…

Relationship to place is intertwined to notions of job opportunity, shaping patterns of movement for individuals as mobility becomes a necessity to employment. The demands and expansion of the job market has forced educated individuals like UC Davis graduates out of their hometowns and instead into a flight of movement, seeking a new place to call home. However, within Northern California, soaring costs of living imposes expenses upon any standard of living. Affordability is drawn to mind,…

By investing in play areas for children, families will most likely want to buy a house and settle in that area. For example, I would rather live in a neighborhood that had lots of places for my child to play and make friends than live in a neighborhood that had nothing to offer for my child. In addition, having these areas could open up opportunities for community service. Neighborhood leaders could host groups to help clean up the parks and playgrounds. Investing in pools, parks and…

It is the American dream to one day live in the suburbs and buy a beautiful home with a white picket fence. Most people are just looking for a place you can call home where you can safely raise a family away from the hassle of the city. At least, that has always been the predominant mindset of generations past. What about the current generation and the ones to follow? Current studies show that the American dream is fading away with more and more people moving into urban communities. Many…

community. Rural communities are significantly less likely to receive any type of treatment compared to suburban or urban communities (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011). Buffalo has experienced considerable growth over the last 15 years (City Data, 2015). “In 2013, 10 percent of adolescents lacked insurance and, when they are covered, the amount of mental health services they can receive is often limited” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, 2011, para.…

The role of city planning should be targeted and revolved around the city’s residents and not based around the business aspect. The residents of the city are a huge factor on the cities stability and protraction. Without the specific individuals playing their part in the city, the whole system will fall apart. The well being and mood of the resident have a huge impact on the city’s productivity. The factors that need to go into the city planning would have to be limiting gentrification and…