Those contributions must continue. But they are seriously affected by years of unbalanced investment. Public policies and subsidies have aggravated urban problems by facilitating and encouraging the development of new, more distant suburbs. Many factors have fueled the complex phenomenon of outmigration. No doubt deep societal issues of color, class and culture have been and continue to be powerful influences.
Surveys note the importance of fear of crime and concern about educational quality.
For much of our national history moving up the socioeconomic ladder has meant moving out. Nevertheless, careful study indicates that over the past few decades unbalanced public and private investment decisions have accelerated out migration. Not too long ago some 900,000 people lived in Cleveland while approximately 450,000 lived in the suburban parts of the diocese. Now the numbers are virtually reversed. As population has changed, so too have the tax bases of our cities.