The Failure of White Flight

"Traditionally, cities have been viewed as home to poor populations, surrounded by middle- and upper-income suburbs," the report said. "This 'tipping' of poor populations to the suburbs represents a signal development that upends historical notions about who lives in cities and suburbs." 

. . . .

"I hope this says to people that the way to confront poverty is not to wall it off and concentrate it," Morial said. "You really need policies to eliminate it."

-- http://www.commondreams.org/headlines06/1207-02.htm

This has been obvious on Long Island for a while now, although most suburbanites still cling to their fantastical utopia and blame poor people for trying to recreate the city in their unsustainable experiment in homogeneity. 

Like dandelions in chemically-treated lawns, so economic disparity has a way of making itself felt. No matter how much effort and expense those with means may invest in trying to ward off economic "weeds" and social "vermin", society reproduces nature and diversity reigns.

The sooner we recognize and accept the economic heterogenity and demographic diversity that will exist in any sustainable community, the sooner we can all stop fleeing from one another, and start finding solutions that respect the inherent worth and dignity of all human beings.