In 1776, as the United States of America was formed, our founding fathers promised the natural rights of life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness for all Americans. For centuries, this notion excluded anyone who was not a white, property-owning man. Despite written amendments and enacted changes, these exclusions remain present for millions of Americans every single day.

Since the start of the 21st century, on average, cities across the United States have seen an increase of 1-7 degrees Fahrenheit within metropolitan areas. Sprawling cities, on average, saw 5.6 more days of extreme heat than compact urban centers.

The heat and the isolation of essential communities are very much issues in our cities, with generational disadvantages and burdens being unaddressed. The consistent decline in public space throughout our cities is redefining who the city is for.

It’s no secret that American cities have not been very welcoming in the past and present. Social networks have been created, destroyed and redirected under the guise of creating a sustainable city for all, except any minority.

The pressures of climate change and increasing competition for shrinking and declining cities of the United States on the global stage have furthered inequalities and cranked up the heat in our cities — literally. 

As the Industrial Revolution took control of American landscapes and rapid development occurred throughout, our country redesigned the skylines we see from east to west.

What is so important in understanding the historical development patterns of the United States is not simply the economy, standards of living or social movements that came from it, but also the physical structures of our cities. 

The infrastructure that has continuously evolved throughout our cities acts as a barrier to both ecosystem and social balance. When natural landscapes and elements are paved over and bulldozed by concrete slabs and massive architectural feats, the region retains more solar heat, creating thick layers of heat that gradually cool down over time.

What this ultimately creates are urban heat islands — environments that are unattractive for outdoor activities, civil demonstrations and congregation which are essential and important aspects of any healthy democracy. When a space or entire social network becomes overheated, simply put, no one wants to go outside for prolonged periods of time.

Luxuries such as air conditioning and large open parks with shade and cool water become increasingly more desirable for anyone looking to inhabit the economic machines of the city. When environmental concerns become class issues and indicators of socioeconomic status, the city fails. 

What is pressing when people either avoid or can’t go outside is the lack of social interactions in public spaces, demonstrations and actions in our cities. Democratic discussions or not, public space has remained critical in the advocacy and advancement of marginalized communities.

As cities grow and begin to address the barriers that are urban heat islands, sustainable development and green infrastructure are built. These solutions are implemented in a way that further isolates marginalized neighborhoods in the city.

Yet public space access and creation have emphasized green infrastructure to attract profits and investment, not social connection or action. America has already seen a decline in public space amid rapid urbanization. However, efforts to regain America’s parks and leisure spaces have occurred to the benefit and consumption of affluent Americans. 

Despite being one of the most critical pillars of city life, public space has been converted into attractive features of local neighborhoods to bring in wealthy young professionals and ostracize existing communities.

The creation of heat islands has posed new dilemmas for the legislators and councils of American cities — dilemmas that have not included the voices of marginalized neighborhoods. This has effectively ousted vulnerable and politically silenced communities to isolated edges and continues to exacerbate inequalities and health crises.

The heat of our cities creates problems for vulnerable populations through means of fixing the issue and generating revenue. As heat becomes a bigger problem for middle and upper-class neighborhoods and prominent tourist destinations, the city loses its luster and, most importantly, its tax base. 

The appeal of the quiet, cool and up-and-coming suburban neighborhoods attracts the demographics it did 70 years ago. When the city government loses prominent taxpayers, it takes all means necessary to move them back into city limits. 

What this creates is the process known as gentrification — critical for the city and horrible for anyone who is not in the highest tax brackets. One of the most detrimental effects of gentrification is the control by private developers and upper-class communities over our city parks and public spaces.

Once an essential and equally accessible landmark of urban regions, it has now become a center for profit-driven developments. Hostile architecture has lined sidewalks, and new surveillance measures are deterring the class deemed less than by local developers and encouraged by local governments. 

The right to the city, a place once glorified for equality and economic opportunity, has become a deterrent to the people who need it the most. They are isolated to the edge and the least desirable locations, plagued by extreme heat and health effects within degrading infrastructure.

Urban heat islands have silenced the political voices of marginalized populations, first through the inaccessibility of public spaces and now through the commodification of public land and gathering sites through social isolation and unwelcoming developments. 

As climate change and anthropogenic impacts come into the everyday life and air of our cities, the solution is far more complex than simply fixing the status quo.

As communities have been systematically forced to operate under obstacles and work around barriers, while the affluent and larger tax base face the same issues, the response has shifted and immediate solutions are underway. 

The city as an entity is complex, and lower-income neighborhoods are constantly alienated and brushed aside. Those without a voice have no place to speak. As a society, the heat and tensions in our cities need to be properly and sustainably redefined for all communities.

Samantha is a freshman in LAS.

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