Latino Urbanism: The Politics of Planning, Policy and Redevelopment

by David R. Diaz (Editor), Rodolfo D. Torres (Editor)

Overview

The nation’s Latina/o population has now reached over 50 million, or 15% of the estimated total U.S. population of 300 million, and a growing portion of the world’s population now lives and works in cities that are increasingly diverse. Latino Urbanism provides the first national perspective on Latina/o urban policy, addressing a wide range of planning policy issues that impact both Latinas/os in the US, as well as the nation as a whole, tracing how cities develop, function, and are affected by socio-economic change.

The contributors are a diverse group of Latina/o scholars attempting to link their own unique theoretical interpretations and approaches to political and policy interventions in the spaces and cultures of everyday life. The three sections of the book address the politics of planning and its historic relationship with Latinas/os, the relationship between the Latina/o community and conventional urban planning issue sand challenges, and the future of urban policy and Latina/o barrios. Moving beyond a traditional analysis of Latinas/os in the Southwest, the volume expands the understanding of the important relationships between urbanization and Latinas/os including Mexican Americans of several generations within the context of the restructuring of cities, in view of the cultural and political transformation currently encompassing the nation.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9780814784051
Publisher:	New York University Press
Publication date:	11/05/2012
Edition description:	New Edition
Pages:	240
Product dimensions:	6.00(w) x 9.00(h) x 0.60(d)

About the Author

David R. Diaz is Professor of Chicano Studies at California State University, Los Angeles.

Rodolfo D. Torres is associate professor of Chicano-Latino studies, political science, and planning, policy, and design at the University of California, Irvine. Among his books are Latino Metropolis and Savage State: Welfare Capitalism & Inequality.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments vii

1 Introduction David R. Diaz Rodolfo D. Torres 1

2 Barrios and Planning Ideology: The Failure of Suburbia and the Dialectics of New Urbanism David R. Diaz 21

3 Aesthetic Belonging: The Latinization and Renewal of Union City, New Jersey Johana Londoño 47

4 Placing Barrios in Housing Policy Kee Warner 65

5 Urban Redevelopment and Mexican American Barrios in the Socio-Spatial Order Nestor Rodriguez 87

6 A Pair of Queens: La Reina de Los Angeles, the Queen City of Charlotte, and the New (Latin) American South José L S. Gámez 111

7 Fostering Diversity: Lessons from Integration in Public Housing Silvia Domínguez 135

8 Mexican Americans and Environmental Justice: Change and Continuity in Mexican American Politics Benjamin Marquez 163

9 After Latino Metropolis: Cultural Political Economy and Alternative Futures Victor Valle Rodolfo D. Torres 181

About the Contributors 203

Index 205

What People are Saying About This

From the Publisher

“By placing Latinos at the forefront of contemporary urban planning this groundbreaking collection confronts the historical marginalization of Latinos in urban planning making evidently clear that critical Latino studies has much to offer to current debates around sustainable development, planning and urban studies and that Latino studies’ theoretical and conceptual insights must be central to any consideration of the future of American cities.” -Arlene Dávila,author of Culture Works: Space, Value, and Mobility Across the Neoliberal Americas

“This vital collection of essays is a manifesto for the Latino/a ciudadano—or citizen—and should catalyze a much-needed conversation among elected officials, urban planners, activists and scholars. With subtle theoretical insights and practical research from leaders in ethnic studies, architecture, urban planning, environmental studies, sociology and political science, this sweet fruit of interdisciplinary Latino/a studies speaks to the most pressing policy dilemmas of our time, including migration, housing and environmental injustice. Torres and Diaz’s volume shows how a long history of Latino urbanism has made and will make the city—the dwelling place of the world’s majority—more liveable for all.” -Laura Lomas,author of Translating Empire: José Martí, Migrant Latino Subjects, and American Modernities

Editorial Reviews

"By placing Latinos at the forefront of contemporary urban planning this groundbreaking collection confronts the historical marginalization of Latinos in urban planning making evidently clear that critical Latino studies has much to offer to current debates around sustainable development, planning and urban studies and that Latino studies theoretical and conceptual insights must be central to any consideration of the future of American cities."

Arlene Davila

"This vital collection of essays is a manifesto for the Latino/a ciudadanoor citizenand should catalyze a much-needed conversation among elected officials, urban planners, activists and scholars. With subtle theoretical insights and practical research from leaders in ethnic studies, architecture, urban planning, environmental studies, sociology and political science, this sweet fruit of interdisciplinary Latino/a studies speaks to the most pressing policy dilemmas of our time, including migration, housing and environmental injustice. Torres and Diazs volume shows how a long history of Latino urbanism has made and will make the citythe dwelling place of the worlds majoritymore liveable for all."

Laura Lomas

By placing Latinos at the forefront of contemporary urban planning this groundbreaking collection confronts the historical marginalization of Latinos in urban planning making evidently clear that critical Latino studies has much to offer to current debates around sustainable development, planning and urban studies and that Latino studies’ theoretical and conceptual insights must be central to any consideration of the future of American cities.” -Arlene Davila,author of Culture Works: Space, Value, and Mobility Across the Neoliberal Americas

“This vital collection of essays is a manifesto for the Latino/a ciudadano—or citizen—and should catalyze a much-needed conversation among elected officials, urban planners, activists and scholars. With subtle theoretical insights and practical research from leaders in ethnic studies, architecture, urban planning, environmental studies, sociology and political science, this sweet fruit of interdisciplinary Latino/a studies speaks to the most pressing policy dilemmas of our time, including migration, housing and environmental injustice. Torres and Diaz’s volume shows how a long history of Latino urbanism has made and will make the city—the dwelling place of the world’s majority—more liveable for all.” -Laura Lomas,author of Translating Empire: Jose Marti, Migrant Latino Subjects, and American Modernities

From the Publisher