Final answer:
Poor and dense urban areas face both environmental and social issues like pollution, higher rates of health problems, and increased crime rates due to factors like poverty and residential mobility. These challenges are compounded by historical practices such as environmental racism, and economic shifts like suburbanization, which have isolated these communities and stripped them of resources.
Step-by-step explanation:
Stark mentioned that poor, dense, and mixed areas have a variety of characteristics that impact the people who live there. These regions often bear the brunt of environmental burdens, such as proximity to industrial zones that produce significant noise and pollution, leading to conditions like poor air quality and increased incidence of health issues such as asthma. Areas characterized by high density and lower economic status are more likely to be locations where marginalized communities live, experiencing environmental racism or classism, with fewer resources and options for moving to healthier neighborhoods.
In addition to environmental challenges, these areas also face social and economic hurdles, including higher crime rates, which can be attributed to factors like poverty, ethnic heterogeneity, and residential mobility. The decline in community cohesion due to frequent resident turnover and a lack of a collective sense of belonging or ownership can weaken social controls necessary to deter crime. Furthermore, these neighborhoods are often left out of broader urban planning and disaster preparedness efforts, further exacerbating their vulnerability.
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