It is worth itemizing the many constituencies affected by sprawl and explaining why they have a keen self-interest in joining a smart growth coalition.
Business is an often-overlooked constituency with a serious stake in smart growth.
Many companies are starting to recognize how sprawl can hurt the long-term vitality of a region, artificially raise taxes to pay for excessive infrastructure and intensify traffic congestion, which affects employees and company productivity. Urban Minorities are suffering from higher property taxes, reduced public services and declining neighborhoods as sprawl drains urban areas of residents and businesses. These suburbs have swelling needs, but not the tax base, government infrastructure or social services to deal with them. Regionalism would go a long way toward helping these groups achieve greater results over the long-term. Faith Communities are acutely aware of how sprawl affects the poor and divides people along racial and income lines, and how many once-flourishing houses of worship in the city are now empty shells.