Social and Behavioral Sciences Commons^™

Unlike Most Top 100 Cities, Providence Losing Population, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Given the recent history of population decline in Providence and other large cities throughout New England, one might think that major cities throughout the country are also losing population. Not so."

Blacks And Latinos In Boston: A Community Profile, James Jennings, A. Jean Burnette

William Monroe Trotter Institute Publications

The purpose of this Report is to provide a socio-economic and demographic overview of predominantly black and Latino geographic areas in the City of Boston. This Report is primarily in response to a request for assistance from several community-based groups and organizations, including Project FATE, the Center for Community Action, the Urban League, and the Bank of Commerce.

Based on specific requests and feedback from several individuals representing the organizations mentioned, it was decided that a "Community Profile" based on electoral districts in Boston would be useful. The request from the community organizations listed several possible items for inclusion in …

Eight Communities Meet To Find And Foot Housing, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When resources are provided to local cities and towns to address housing problems, the results can be both innovative and productive. This was aptly demonstrated at a recent workshop on affordable housing.

The 150 attendees who went to Newport, one of the eight cities and towns that received grants to study the problem, were there to share recommendations on how to best address the Providence metropolitan area's lack of affordable housing."

Color It Ethnically Diverse, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The recent Rhode Island Heritage Festival held on the State House lawn is a good reminder of our immigrant legacy in this country. The hundreds of people who came to sample the food from 24 countries and to see dances from around the world also experienced a small United Nations of language and attire."

Caur Focus, Vol. 01, No. 06, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This issue of Center for Applied Urban Research (CUAR) FOCUS features Omaha Personal Income Increased 1984-1986; Correctional Studies Using CUAR Study Recommendations; Day Care Homes Prevalent in Nebraska; Economic Development: Self-Help Is On Its Way; Spotlight on--Mary Ann Lamanna & Nancy Langworthy; and State of Black Omaha Update.

Columbia A Successful Forerunner Of New Towns, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"When center city developments such as Faneuil Hall in Boston, South Street Seaport in New York City, Harborplace in Baltimore and others are mentioned, the name of James W. Rouse is also noted in the same breath. In fact, the word "Rousification" is applied to such downtown developments. It is a tribute to his work in creating these lively retail centers in what were previously dying downtowns."

The Governor And The High Price Of Homes, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The recent well-publicized Cranston land sale that put the governor of Rhode Island in the spotlight, has raised questions about the ethics of a public figure being involved in a highly profitable real estate deal."

Housing Problems Grow More Acute For The Poor, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"One in seven people live below the poverty level in this rich country, and the result of this inexcusable condition is that housing is the principal problem for these more than 32 million people.

Nearly two of every three poor people rent their housing, and while home owners are experiencing increased equity because of increasing house values, low-income renters are having to pay higher rents with fewer dollars."

The Cities And Towns Look Ahead, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"What do you want your community to be? Over the next two and one-half years all communities in the state will be required to address this question, and to come up with a formal statement of what these goals and objectives are to be. And it's about time."

Caur Focus, Vol. 01, No. 02, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This issue of Center for Applied Urban Research (CUAR) FOCUS features the article "Nebraska 1986 Population Estimates" by Jerome A. Deichert and Tim K. Himberger.

State Health Care Legislation For The Uninsured, 1985-1987, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The percentage of persons in the United States without health insurance that do not qualify for Medicaid or Medicare has been increasing steadily since 1979. Growing numbers of single-parent households, full-time workers becoming part-time, jobs without benefits, and early retirement are a few of the factors contributing to the problem of the medically uninsured.

The Same Numbers Can Add Up To Various Sums, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It was Benjamin Disraeli, supposedly, who first used this truism: 'There are three kinds of lies: lies, damned lies and statistics.' At a time of great interest in house prices and the growing field of demographics, it is incumbent on the reader to be aware of this when reading stories in these areas that are substantiated by numbers."

As The Population Ages, Housing Needs Change, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The housing needs for all of us change over time, depending on one's position in the life cycle. The single person needs only a room, young marrieds settle for a rented apartment, and the family with children needs more space, both inside and out. Children grow up and still more space is needed, then the children leave the nest. Their parents become "empty nesters." A spouse dies and leaves a person single again and often dependent on others. And then, perhaps, a nursing home becomes a necessity before the person passes on."

Corporate Farming And Corporate Farming Restrictions In Nebraska, Bruce Johnson, David J. Aiken

Publications

Corporate activity in production agriculture has been an object of public debate in the United States and in Nebraska for a long time. During the 1960s, foreign nationals began buying agricultural land, particularly in the Midwest. At about the same time, corporations such as Gates Rubber Company and Blackwatch Farms acquired large tracts of land. Many people saw this as a threat to the family farm and, subsequently, sought restrictions on corporate ownership of agricultural land.

Is Owning A Home Still A Workable Expectation?, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"Part of the American Dream is to own and occupy one's own home, and, in this rich country, most people have attained that goal. But the concern today is that potential home owners, especially those taking this eventful step for the first time, are unable to make this dream a reality because of the high cost of housing in this part of the country. What will be the likelihood in the near future that the young potential home buyers reach this important life goal?"

Local Economic Development Strategic Planning: A Proposal To Develop Community Self-Help Training Materials, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Rural and small town economies suffer from a lack of economic diversification, and from small size and isolation. At the same time, small communities often need help in organizing regionally based and locally driven comprehensive programs for economic development. In response to the apparent need for training assistance, the Center for Applied Urban Research (CAUR) and the Department of Public Administration at the University of Nebraska at Omaha (UNO) developed during the past two years a strategic planning approach for use by small towns. Altogether, the process has been successfully used in projects involving twelve communities in Nebraska.

This proposal …

A Practical Guide To Municipal Budgeting In Nebraska, John W. Swain

Publications

The meaning of budgeting is simple and complex. It is simple because budgeting involves making decisions about revenues and expenditures. It is complex because it has many meanings for various people.

Canada Teaches Some Simple Lessons, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"It's an odd person who doesn't marvel at the cities of Canada on his or her return from a visit to our neighbor to the north. Whether this be a trip to Canada's largest city of Montreal or to a Providence-sized Quebec City, people speak of the cleanliness, the safety, the beauty, the good public transport and the relaxed way of living. What accounts for the livability of these urban centers? And is there something that we can learn from the Canadians that we can use in our own cities?"

Countrywide Leadership Needed To Cure City Ills, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"The urban riots of the mid- and late-1960s in this nation were devastating: In the three years from 1964 through 1967, it is estimated that 142 persons were killed and 4700 wounded with property damage running into hundreds of millions of dollars. This sad part of our history brought to a focus the magnitude of our urban problems and the need to attack them at the national level."

Beating The System By Joining In Buying Homes, Chester Smolski

Smolski Texts

"A recent national survey revealed that 84 percent of Americans would choose a single-family detached house over any other form of housing. Not surprisingly, in this country where we value individual rights, individual ownership of property is a goal to which most aspire and one that most have achieved.

But suppose that goal was not attainable and the only choice was a multifamily structure. And suppose that limited resources meant the only form of ownership was sharing with others. Given this choice, would Americans choose this form of housing?"

An Analysis Of The General Well-Being Of Blacks And Whites: Results Of A National Study, Sonjia Parker Redmond

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The importance of race as a factor in mental health status has been a topic of controversy. This study examines racial variances in the relationship between selected socio-demographic variables and general well-being. The study also examines the appropriateness of an additive versus an interactive statistical model for this investigation.

Unlike other recent community based mental health studies, this study revealed significant differences between the general well-being of Blacks and Whites. Blacks continued to exhibit significantly lower levels of well-being even after adjustments were made for income, education, marital status, sex, age and place of residence. Statistical interaction was found between …

Caur Focus, Vol. 01, No. 01, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This first issue of Center for Applied Urban Research (CUAR) FOCUS features the article "Economic Development Targeting Data Base" by Jerome A. Deichert.

Implications Of The One-Child Family Policy On The Development Of The Welfare State In The People's Republic Of China, Fernando Chiu-Hung Cheung

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

The one-child family policy in China, if successfully implemented, will drastically alter the population age structure in the coming years which will in turn affect the demand and supply of the welfare state. Using several population indices projected on the basis of different total fertility rates, it is found that the aged population will increase significantly and hence their needs for social services including social security and health care will increase accordingly. Because the responsibility for caring for the old in China still largely falls on the family, it is important to establish an universal social security system supported by …

A Commentary On The Social Class And Mental Illness Correlation: Implications Of The Research For Policy And Practice, Julius A. Roth

The Journal of Sociology & Social Welfare

This paper represents an extraordinary review of literature on the association between SES and mental illness. I think most social scientists would find it impressive. It also conveys some cogent reasoning about the relevance of these findings for social policy. I think most social workers would find it impressive.

Municipal Revenue Sources: Analysis Of Omaha's Options -- 1987 Update, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This report updates a study conducted by the Center for Applied Urban Research in 1983. The first section of this report compares the revenue structure of Omaha with the revenue structure of other U.S. municipalities. The comparisons are based on data contained in the U.S. Bureau of the Census publications, City Government Finances in 1980-81 and 1984-85. The categories of comparison cities are all U.S. cities, cities with populations between 300,000 and 500,000, and ten cities that are comparable to Omaha in size and central/ core city percentage of total metropolitan area population.

Nebraska Department Of Labor Es-202 Estimates Quality Study, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

The Employment and Wages (ES-202) Report is the only source of employment and total wages data available in complete industry detail, and forms the basis for several important federal, state, and local economic indicators. The quality of the data, therefore, is of major importance.

Minority And Female Employment In The Omaha Msa Construction Industry: Status, Trends And Outlook, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

This profile of minority and female employment in the construction industry in the Omaha Metropolitan Statistical Area (MSA) was developed to provide information to assist the Work Force Analysis Subcommittee of the Construction Industry Liaison Committee (CILC). The CILC represents a public-private effort to increase minority and female employment in the construction industry in the Omaha MSA. The profile briefly examines:

• Construction industry employment trends in the Omaha MSA,
• Minority and female employment in the construction industry, • Labor availability, and
• Future prospects for construction industry employment.

Nebraska Policy Choices: 1988, Russell L. Smith

Publications

The six chapters in Nebraska Policy Choices: 1988 contain the work of eight faculty from the University of Nebraska's Omaha and Lincoln campuses. These faculty, like the twenty-five faculty who wrote chapters for the previous two annual volumes, are some of the leading experts in Nebraska in their respective areas of interest.

Symposium Proceedings 1987 Nebraska Legislative Issues Symposium, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

In December 13-15, 1987, the Nebraska Unicameral conducted a symposium for its members to address these and other questions. The 1987 Nebraska Legislative Issues Symposium was a first for Nebraska and was developed by the legislative Research Division and the University of Nebraska at Omaha's Center for Applied Urban Research under the direction of the Unicameral's Executive Board.

State Of Black Omaha, 1988: Employment And Economic Development, Center For Public Affairs Research (Cpar)

Publications

Income, employment and growth are vital to the economic development of any community, and Omaha's Black community is no exception. Without jobs - particularly quality ones - and without the creation of wealth, a community cannot progress. Residents will eventually leave the area or experience a lessening of quality of life.