Reluctant Cities, Colonias and Municipal Underbounding in the US Can Cities Be Convinced to Annex Poor Enclaves?

Scholars typically study affluent neighbourhoods resisting annexation by poorer adjacent cities. This paper focuses on the mirror image of this problem: municipal underbounding—the unwillingness of cities to annex poor neighbouring areas. In the paper, such local governments are called reluctant cit...

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Bibliographic Details
Published inUrban studies (Edinburgh, Scotland) Vol. 50; no. 14; pp. 2959 - 2975
Main Authors Mukhija, Vinit, Mason, David R.
Format Journal Article
LanguageEnglish
Published London, England Sage Publications, Ltd 01.11.2013
SAGE Publications
Longman Group
Sage Publications Ltd
Subjects
America
Annexation
Annexation and separation
Bgi / Prodig
California
Censuses
Cities
Decision Making
Federalism
Funding
Hispanics
Housing
Infrastructure
Institutions
Local Government
Low income groups
Metropolitan areas
Neighborhoods
Neighbourhoods
Pacific
Race
Reform
Retirement communities
U.S.A
United States
United States of America
Urban Areas
Urban planning
United States of America
California
United States > US
Role of the State
Public service
Urban policy
Financing
Neighbourhood
Infrastructure
Social geography
Community
Decision
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Summary:Scholars typically study affluent neighbourhoods resisting annexation by poorer adjacent cities. This paper focuses on the mirror image of this problem: municipal underbounding—the unwillingness of cities to annex poor neighbouring areas. In the paper, such local governments are called reluctant cities and it is suggested that urban studies scholars need to reach a better understanding of the practice. Here, a seemingly counter-intuitive case from California is documented where adjacent cities were convinced to annex poor neighbourhoods, designated as colonias. It is suggested that there may be opportunities for local co-operation leading to annexation. The important role of federal infrastructure funding is noted and the need for deeper involvement of residents of annexed neighbourhoods in decision-making is emphasised. Although race was not an issue in this case study, it is likely to be an important concern in annexations and the literature's call for regional approaches and institutional reforms is supported.
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ISSN:0042-0980
1360-063X
DOI:10.1177/0042098013482503