Heat Vulnerability Linked To Historic Redlining In Minority Neighborhoods
The Latin Times
By: Sana Khan
Residents of minority neighborhoods that have been labeled risky for many years are reportedly suffering more from the heat due to fewer parks and trees in those areas.
Comparing New York City's health department's recent heat vulnerability maps and the 1930s redlining maps show a strong link between how areas were classified back then and where people were most likely to die from heat now, AP News reported.
Several environmental justice advocates believe redlining is the source of this environmental effect, as the government in the 1930s rated neighborhoods on the basis of their investment worthiness, which included discriminating against minority buyers.
This, in turn, led to a lack of resources in several minority neighborhoods, such as fewer parks and trees.
