Racial inequality and the implementation of emergency management laws in economically distressed urban areas. (November 2016)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lee, Shawna J.; Krings, Amy; Rose, Sara; Dover, Krista; Ayoub, Jessica; Salman, Fatima
• Is Part Of: Children and youth services review. Volume 70(2016:Nov.)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 7
• Publication Date: 2016-11
• Subjects: ACS American Community Survey -- CBA Community Benefits Agreement -- EM emergency management -- US United States; Environmental justice -- Racism -- Social policy -- Social services -- Public policy -- Detroit -- Public health -- Child welfare -- Flint water crisis; Social work with children -- Periodicals; Social work with youth -- Periodicals; Adolescent -- Periodicals; Child Welfare -- Periodicals; Social Work -- Periodicals; Service social aux enfants -- Périodiques; Service social à la jeunesse -- Périodiques; Electronic journals; 362.705
• DOI: 10.1016/j.childyouth.2016.08.016
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0190-7409

Abstract

Abstract: This study examines the use of emergency management laws as a policy response to fiscal emergencies in urban areas. Focusing on one Midwestern Rust Belt state, we use a mixed methods approach – integrating chronology of legislative history, analysis of Census data, and an ethnographic case study – to examine the dynamics of emergency management laws from a social justice perspective. Analysis of Census data showed that emergency management policies disproportionately affected African Americans and poor families. Analysis indicated that in one state, 51% of African American residents and 16.6% of Hispanic or Latinos residents had lived in cities that were under the governance of an emergency manager at some time during 2008–2013, whereas only 2.4% of the White population similarly had lived in cities under emergency management. An ethnographic case study highlights the mechanisms by which an emergency manager hindered the ability of residents in one urban neighborhood, expected to host a large public works project, to obtain a Community Benefits Agreement intended to provide assistance to residents, most of whom were poor families with young children. We conclude with a discussion of how emergency management laws may impact social service practice and policy practice in urban communities, framed from a social justice perspective. We argue that these are not race neutral policies, given clear evidence of race and ethnic disparities in their implementation. Highlights: The Flint water crisis raised concerns about the use of emergency managers as a policy response. Race and ethnic minority populations are significantly overrepresented in cities that experience emergency managers. Socioeconomically disadvantaged populations are also overrepresented in cities that experience emergency managers. Emergency manager policies are not "race neutral" approaches to solving urban financial crises.