This was originally posted to the Adams Morgan Listserv on January 31, 2019, as message #50473, groups.yahoo.com/neo/groups/AdamsMorgan/conversations/messages/50473
The article and effort below is a good example of how, what we would assume to be unintended, institutional bias (generally racial) permeates DC development policies. Free Circulator rides seems great but:
1. The Circulator is biased in its design favoring connecting projects and amenity areas that tend to server residents who are Whiter and higher income.
2. The Circulator were it does better serve Black and non-White residents of more moderate incomes, it under cuts Metro which is more equitable in its serves delivery. This is more glaring with sales tax to support dedicated Metro funding which is paid across the board.
3. Woodley Park – Adams Morgan – McPherson Square is a great example of this.
4. And of course the rides are not free as they are paid for via tax payer subsidy to the program via DDOT.
5. Now put this in the context of using 11th and Park a Metro site as a dog park temporary and/or permanent.
6. Then DC Bikeshare another layer from DDOT in the vain of the Circulator. Ironically, DDOT squealed out the bike and scooter programs which had a more diverse ridership.
Maybe if Council’s small efforts at measuring racial equity pass and we do a little game theory, this layered bias in development policy would at least be explored. And maybe determined to be not so unintended. But then again DC’s effort at building a “privileged economy” will trickle down like Reagan said.
William