Urban sprawl and the expansion of the suburbs gobbles up valuable farm land, intrudes upon already diminishing natural habitats, and costs a bundle as it duplicates infrastructures like sewage lines and other city services. Powell, the opening speaker at the June 2 conference on urban sprawl, said that the suburbs evolved because of government subsidies to whites. But by taking away the tax base, central city residents, especially poor and minority populations, have fewer amenities and fewer opportunities.
White flight leaves a high concentration of poverty in urban schools, depressing student outcomes.
It draws industry and jobs away. It leaves the needy behind, putting a strain on social services. You need a middle-class tax base. That's hard for a politician to say. And states are doing just that.