Thread by @CityLab

There’s one subject that has become central to Trump’s re-election bid: the suburbs. Trump has repeatedly directed warnings to “suburban housewives” that Democrats intend to “abolish the suburbs.”

But is he really targeting suburbanites, or white voters? trib.al/hzjlYev

Trump is obsessed with the suburbs. But there’s one problem: No one’s quite clear what a “suburb” is.

It’s a question with real implications, as government programs, political campaigns and developers try to reach the vast body of "suburban Americans.” trib.al/0klF2rO

Dated conceptions about suburbia — and the white, socially homogenous people said to live there — don’t reflect current reality.

Suburban America is more diverse than ever, & poverty is rising in the suburbs at a faster pace than in urban or rural areas. trib.al/1Miwiu3

Instead of being a cultural wasteland, suburbia has been a powerful creative force, inspiring films, TV shows, and works of literature that challenge its stereotypes and examine its flaws.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

In pledging to “defend” the suburbs, Trump conflates the prospect of more housing with a threat of violence — pointing backward to the bloody history of racial integration in America.

bloomberg.com/news/articles/…

Significant barriers are still keeping America’s suburbs, like its cities, deeply segregated.

Structural racism is rampant in housing; it persists in lending, resources and amenities, especially in historically redlined areas.

trib.al/jTvkYpV

Stoking fears that Democrats might pursue policies to promote integration in neighborhoods may be part of Trump’s appeal for reelection. But it really isn’t about the suburbs.

This was clear when the RNC invited Mark & Patricia McCloskey to the stage.
trib.al/5G81YXP