Majority of US Mayors Worried about the Racial Wealth Gap in Their Cities
A strong majority of US mayors (67 percent) say they are worried about the racial wealth gap in their communities, with elected leaders in cities with larger populations and higher costs of living significantly more concerned about the issue.
Those mayors who identify the racial wealth gap as a problem for their cities are close to unanimous in their support for programs designed to benefit small business ownership and homeownership for people of color. But when asked about specific programs targeting these problems, most said they would not back them in their own communities.
Survey: Housing crisis widespread
Bay Area cities grappling with the soaring cost of housing are not alone. In a new survey of 117 American mayors, “housing costs” – not public safety or schools or jobs – was the top reason they gave for why residents move away, with just over half of the cities’ leaders citing it as the reason.