Urban Poverty and Cities of Aspiration

“Not only our future economic soundness but the very soundness of our democratic institutions depends on the determination of our government to give employment to idle men” — Franklin D. Roosevelt

In poverty assessment of Trinidad and Tobago by The World Bank, it is stated that the severity of poverty is worse in urban than in rural areas. In urban areas the economic pressures of the poor coupled with high youth unemployment, has contributed to growing problems of crime and drug use. As crime and violence continue to increase, they will have detrimental effects on the economy and society as a whole.

The urban profile of San Fernando by United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat), reports, "The existing infrastructure is outdated and inefficient for the type and extent of modernization in San Fernando, as well as its capacity demands. Power lines and cables are strung on utility poles above the streets, water leaks from existing pipes, and distribution is a challenge. Coupled with the increase in the intensity of use of buildings and the increased consumption of the population, there is strain on the available resources."

The urban poor are constricted in pockets throughout the city, mainly in marginal areas and in some areas adjacent to government housing schemes. In such pockets, the housing stock does not reflect well on the city in terms of aesthetics as in the images of San Fernando pictured above and below.

With no published crime prevention strategy for San Fernando, nor any specially established water rates for the urban poor in the city it is evident that the political will to address the wide number of problems facing the urban poor is also in desperate need of improvement.

"It seems to me that not having some type of aspirational component to your city’s attractiveness ultimately puts a ceiling on what it can achieve." - Aaron M. Renn.

Despite the fact that San Fernando enjoys a high level of literacy and is home to some of the most prestigious schools in the country, it is certainly not a city of 'aspirational attraction' for the majority of Trinidad's population. No, that is definitely Port-of-Spain. With a skyline that induces a feeling of empowerment and superiority it is no wonder that anyone who can dream of it (blissfully ignorant of the traffic conditions of course and of the actual hardship of life within the capital), aim for a life in the big city. Whether it be for lifestyle reasons, or simply because of the reputation of the capital.

Image taken from http://www.flickr.com/photos/socatrinidad/2708707259/

But the city is, and needs to have, so much more than simply an "aspirational component" despite what some governing bodies seem to think. New and unnecessary skyscrapers are too often springing up on the Port-of-Spain waterfront, and what is being done about Beetham or Sea Lots? Well they may just get more walls. Silly politicians. Covering something up doesn't mean it will go away.

Cities provide opportunities for many, particularly the poor who are attracted by greater job prospects, the availability of services, and for some simply an escape from constraints in rural villages. Yet city life can also present conditions of overcrowded living, congestion, unemployment, lack of social and community networks, stark inequalities, and crippling social problems such as crime and violence.

Image taken from www.scribd.com/doc/19552480/Port-of-Spain-Case-Study

Some of those who migrate will benefit from the opportunities in urban areas, while those with low skill levels, may be left behind and struggle to cope with the day to day challenges of city life. Many of the problems of urban poverty are rooted in resource and capacity constraints, inadequate Government policies, and a lack of planning for urban growth and management.

“Want of money and the distress of a thief can never be alleged as the cause of his thieving, for many honest people endure greater hardships with fortitude. We must therefore seek the cause elsewhere than in want of money, for that is the miser’s passion, not the thief’s” — William Blake

We need to be asking the question of what exactly we are doing to benefit the people without college degrees beyond assuring them that if we attract more people with college degrees everything will be looking up for them. 

Class-based resentments threaten civic cohesion and such bitterness must be prevented as each social class is interwoven into a single urban environment. Growth projections are high for cities in developing countries and the challenges of urban poverty and of city management will only worsen if it is not addressed more aggressively.