> Urban renewal wasn’t as top-down as people say. The routing of freeways and public project placements were often determined by municipalities and states, not federal officials, and they chose targets like minority neighborhoods.
One of the big problems was that the federal government was handing out free money (as much as 90% for people to do highways). So of course all the states jump on that.
But of course city officials also want to be part of the gravy train and demand projects in their area to. And of course that doesn't make sense in a city. But politically you can't just tell a city no.
And if you are going to have a project, of course they have to build it where it is politically possible.
One of the big problems was that the federal government was handing out free money (as much as 90% for people to do highways). So of course all the states jump on that.
But of course city officials also want to be part of the gravy train and demand projects in their area to. And of course that doesn't make sense in a city. But politically you can't just tell a city no.
And if you are going to have a project, of course they have to build it where it is politically possible.
So its basically dumb politics all around.