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Consistent and accurate measurement of public perceptions of water quality is useful for understanding water use behaviors, policy development/support, and community engagement, all essential for sustainable water management. Toward consistent and accurate measurement, we refined and examined the initial psychometric properties of a Water Quality Perception Scale (WQPS). In this study, we report an exploratory factor analysis (EFA) with 18 items on a group of respondents (N = 154), which identified one primary factor, 'Individual Water Quality Perception,' consisting of 13 items and two additional factors represented by the remaining 5 items. Subsequently, a confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was performed with (n = 147 participants), including both original (n = 74 assessed at a separate time from their original assessment) and new participants (n = 73). The results of the CFA affirmed the initial loadings of the 13-item WQPS in a single factor. The scale demonstrated internal consistency, with coefficients of 0.93 and 0.90 (Cronbach's alpha) in the two samples, and the measure showed convergent validity with the Household Water Insecurity Experiences Scale (HWISE), (r = -0.41 and -0.49 in the respective samples). This scale holds promise toward consistent and accurate measurement instrument for researching public perceptions of water quality, guiding policy and public initiatives to improve water management strategies. Avenues for further development and use are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study delves into the difficulties in rural areas of building resilience to disasters and ensuring long-term sustainability. While cities typically receive attention during disaster recovery efforts, previous research shows that rural regions encounter obstacles such as geographic limitations, transportation issues, financial constraints, and a lack of media attention. This study aims to better understand rural disaster resilience and recovery by examining the impact of Hurricane Maria on Puerto Rico through interviews with 18 professionals involved in the recovery process from a variety of sectors including governmental organizations, emergency managers, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and community leaders from community-based organizations (CBOs). The key findings stress the importance of implementing initiatives in rural areas that bolster sustainability—addressing economic, social, and environmental aspects. This study highlights the importance of customizing disaster response and resilience strategies to meet the needs of rural communities as opposed to a one-size-fits-all approach. It also offers insights for policymakers and urban planners seeking to develop disaster response plans tailored to address the distinctive challenges faced by rural areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Gentrification in commercial districts of Latinx communities is raising debates among local stakeholders about how to best pursue revitalization. Through a comparative case study, we examine these debates in the context of the Right to the City and gentefication. How do stakeholders in two Latinx commercial districts envision revitalization projects amidst ongoing gentrification? We analyze the perspectives and policies of non-profit staff, business- and commercial property owners, in Puerto Rico Town Chicago and La Cuatro in Downtown Santa Ana. Our research highlights conflicting views on prioritizing community wellness versus profit motives and the relationship between economic success and cultural preservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given the housing issues that people who have been in prison face, this article examines the permitting process to operate a vocational and life skills training program for the formerly incarcerated in Salt Lake City, UT, called The Other Side Academy (TOSA). This article employs participant observation, personal and public meeting conversations, planning division staff reports, public comments, and newspaper articles to answer the following question: How was TOSA described in the public input process for a conditional use permit? The author examines how TOSA neighbors first opposed the project and then came to support it. But even with community support, planning staff struggled to find a zoning code that would allow TOSA operations. In the end, the final decision to approve the conditional use permit came to the hearing officer, who sided in favor of TOSA. In this case, planners can learn about the zoning obstacles that reentry housing faces and how those obstacles can be overcome. Finally, academia and planning divisions need to better educate planners involved in administrative process into understanding the intent of the code to achieve just outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of this research was to investigate what older adults think about the idea of living in micro-housing as an affordable housing option in Salt Lake City. By conducting interviews with 20 individuals over 65 years old, we discovered that they prefer Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) and micro apartments. Participants expressed concerns about tiny homes. The participants highlighted the importance of having a sense of community and access to amenities when choosing their housing. Additionally, they still preferred single-family homes because of space and financial factors. These findings offer insights for housing developers, architects, and policymakers who aim to create cities that are both sustainable and livable for people of all age groups. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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Although planners today generally agree that nonprofits should be involved in postdisaster recovery planning, they lack insight into the capacity of nonprofits to be engaged in recovery and whether this capacity differs by organization type. This could lead to the marginalization of small nonprofits in planning, affecting social capital formation and the sustainability of recovery plans. Using data from field research and a survey of registered nonprofits in Puerto Rico after the 2017 Hurricanes Maria and Irma, we compared the recovery capacity of small versus medium/large nonprofits. Our study shows that small nonprofits experienced lower levels of operational impact than medium/large ones but also reported lower levels of postdisaster grant funding and attended fewer postdisaster networking events and workshops. Our study also shows that small nonprofits desire additional training and technical assistance to engage with broader recovery institutions. Planners can help by providing such training and promoting networking between small and larger organizations to encourage institutional learning. Community-based recovery planning benefits from engaging with small nonprofits because they typically have greater connection and interest in local matters. Our study shows that small nonprofits may not have the capacity to engage in recovery despite wanting to do so. Planners can help small nonprofits to be better engaged in recovery by helping to build their capacity through pre-event training in disaster recovery, facilitating pre- and postdisaster workshops on recovery financing, and facilitating pre- and postdisaster networking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Puerto Rico, after Hurricane María, about 60% of all applications received by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)'s Individuals and Households Program (IHP) were declared ineligible. Why would such a large number of households in Puerto Rico have been unable to obtain assistance from FEMA? To answer this question, interviews with 10 disaster survivors and 15 stakeholders were conducted. The author found that individuals were denied based on their inability to prove homeownership, no contact for inspection, and duplicate application, among other reasons. The article offers recommendations for how nonprofit groups can participate in postdisaster recovery efforts as well as how to advocate at the local and federal level for disaster victims effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In recent decades, cities have experienced dwindling state resources and growing socioeconomic inequalities—many scholars have identified this change as neoliberalism. Although these changes have generated much debate, not a lot of scholarship has tried to present alternatives. This article uses the Westside Leadership Institute (WLI) in Salt Lake City, Utah, as a case study to understand what can be done at low cost to address historically disadvantaged communities and improve their conditions. Through leadership development, participants develop cognitive, interpersonal, and strategic skills. They also form a symbiotic relationship with anchor institutions, a Community Development Corporation and the University of Utah. Using data from interviews, focus groups, and surveys, this article examines how residents have applied what they learned in the WLI to create social change at the local level. Although small-scale community development, the WLI has proven to be effective at building and sustaining indigenous leaders, who in turn push a progressive agenda forward. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars of migration have focused on economic conditions but mostly unemployment as the main driving force behind outmigration. However, the literature has rarely concerned itself with how declining economic conditions linked to national debt affects the perception of people and their decision-making related to migration. By employing a case study of Puerto Rico, this article attempts to examine how economic conditions driven by a growing debt might be related to outmigration. A regression analysis shows that there is a moderate relationship between migration flows and debt, while a weak relationship exists between outmigration and unemployment. To further understand the relationship between debt and outmigration, this article relies on personal interviews with 15 individuals who moved to Florida between 2013 and 2017. Interviews show that economic concerns related to the debt crisis in various shapes and forms have become a dominant narrative explaining why people leave. I employ a political economy framework discussing concepts such as neoliberalism, deindustrialization, financialization, austerity, and colonialism to understand the fiscal and migration crisis of the Island. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem, research strategy, and findings: African American/Black and Hispanic/Latin/o/a/x practitioners are underrepresented in the planning profession. In this study we examine these practitioners' experience with the climate for diversity in their workplaces. Drawing from a survey of 3,005 APA members, we show that African American/Black and Hispanic/Latin/o/a/x practitioners experience significantly higher rates of bias and discrimination than other groups. Interviews with 24 African American/Black and Hispanic/Latin/o/a/x planners across the United States reinforce the narrative that these racial and ethnic groups working in the planning field continue to face racism, discrimination, and microaggressions in the workplace, which affects the impact of their work in planning practice. Takeaway for practice: Given the potential negative consequences of the lack of diversity and inclusion at work along with the presence of discrimination/microaggressions, our study shows that it is necessary not only to increase diversity in the workplace but also to create inclusive work environments. Practicing planners concluded that cross-cultural communication and antiracist training can help planners to plan with ethnically and racially diverse communities and practice inclusivity, both in the workplace among their colleagues and in communities of difference. But trainings will not be enough; for substantial change to occur, major shifts are needed in the profession as a whole, including in APA and the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study is concerned with homeless families that returned to the shelter and qualified to participate in the Rapid Rehousing Program (RRHP) again. Because RRH is a short-term voucher where families rent in the private market, one of the main barriers to finding housing is having an eviction record. Focus groups with tenants and case managers/service providers, as well as interviews with landlords participating in The Road Home's RRHP in Salt Lake County, found that families tend to find housing in buildings where other homeless families with multiple evictions and criminal records are concentrated. Tenants often encounter lenient landlords, only to be evicted at a later time. Families returned to the shelter for various reasons, but mainly because after their RRH voucher ends, households end up violating their leases due to nonpayment. The article offers recommendations to those administering RRHP about how evictions and becoming homeless again can be prevented. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Problem, research strategy, and findings: Many planning practitioners, faculty, and students have worked to address diversity and inclusion. However, only a few studies have examined specifically the ways in which African American and Latinx students perceive and experience instruction related to racial/ethnic diversity and the overall diversity climate as part of their urban planning education. This study, conducted by the Association of Collegiate Schools of Planning (ACSP) Planners of Color Interest Group (POCIG), is based on 451 surveys with urban planning students of all racial/ethnic identities and 14 in-depth interviews with African American and Latinx students. Survey results show that most students report an overall supportive and positive climate for diversity within their programs. Nonetheless, survey data also show differences between African American, Latinx, and White students' experiences of bias and discrimination. Furthermore, interviews revealed that African American and Latinx students continue to face challenges in urban planning programs. Takeaway for practice: The educational training of planners, in general, does not attempt to undo discriminatory practices; instead, these racialized tensions move from the classroom to the workplace. Ultimately, strategies to diversify the planning profession fail because of exclusionary interpersonal and institutional practices. Findings provide insight into how to better support African American and Latinx students in academia and as future practitioners. Results also suggest that greater representation of African American and Latinx students, coupled with mentorship, the creation of counter-spaces, and faculty/staff training on racial microaggressions, could foster more inclusive learning environments in urban planning institutions. Fostering inclusive environments will, in turn, help students learn how to develop healthy relationships with diverse communities. These interpersonal skills likely will translate into a more welcoming workplace and expand opportunities for effectively engaging Latinx and African American communities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This book offers a distinctive contribution to housing studies by combining the Great Recession with the COVID-19 housing crisis and situating them within a larger historical framework. American Dreams, American Nightmares: Culture & Crisis in Residential Real Estate From the Great Recession to the COVID-19 Pandemic: Daniel Horowitz (2022). Horowitz provides an insightful analysis of the complex dynamics of the housing market, demonstrating the power of culture and regulation. [Extracted from the article]

Non-profit organizations can play a critical role in disaster recovery owing to their ability to motivate volunteerism, assess local needs, distribute goods, and aid. But few such organizations can successfully navigate the dynamism and uncertainty of disaster recovery. This is particularly true of locally embedded, non-profit organizations that typically have a smaller staff, fewer resources, fewer extra-local connections, and much less experience in disaster recovery. In this study, we first created a profile of non-profits in Puerto Rico. Then, we capture the activities that relate to responding and improving their capacity to engage in recovery actions after Hurricane María. Data were collected through phone surveys of 235 responses of non-profit organizations as well as in-depth interviews with 21 executive directors of agencies, residents, and community leaders. We discuss four relevant themes in this article: (1) disaster impact on organization, (2) changes in interaction with other organizations, (3) knowledge and use of traditional recovery funding mechanisms, and (4) need for education, capacity building, and collaboration. We conclude with observations on the impact that Hurricane María had on the operations of these nonprofit organizations, their knowledge-seeking behavior, new opportunities for collaboration, and access to resources in the post-disaster context. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Planners use various terms—Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx—to refer to people of Latin American descent and from Spanish-speaking countries. Understanding the differences among these terms is relevant to planning given that Hispanics/Latin/o/a/x are a fast-growing group in the United States and terms have evolved over time and differ between users. I ask three questions: Why do planners need to better understand the ethnonyms Hispanic/Latin/o/a/x? How can planners understand the evolution of Hispanic, Latino, and Latinx terminology? Which strategies can help planners to decide which terms to use? Recommendations for practicing planners include hiring more diverse planners; developing a context-specific manual of style; organizing conversations with local organizations, their state APA chapter, or planning school about ethno-racial identity; mapping identities; and creating equity plans at the department or city level. By becoming more culturally competent, planners can plan for and with the Hispanic/Latin/o/a/x community more effectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The redevelopment of urban school buildings of historical value has the potential to contribute to the needs of current residents. Using a case study from Chicago, IL—where more than 50 schools in primarily minority and low- and moderate-income neighborhoods were closed in 2013—this article shows how a community group "Community As A Campus" (CAAC) sought to repurpose a former school site for community purposes in an already mixed-used, amenity-rich, and walkable area. CAAC advocated for housing for educators in the gentrifying neighborhood of West Town. The project, however, created tensions within residents from density related to market-rate units. This paper argues that the future of historic buildings to be preserved sustainably would depend on the ability of local leaders to find a balance between economic and community goals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using U.S. Census of Population data, we offer a demographic profile of Puerto Rican women in the new millennium. Through a range of socio-economic indicators- such as employment, education, income and poverty-we seek to examine the socio-economic issues that fracture women's lives. The profile that emerges here is complex in that Puerto Rican women have made some advances, but they still find themselves vulnerable with respect to poverty. In bringing together multiple levels of analysis-comparing Puerto Ricans across urban centers, comparing Puerto Rican women to men, and to White, Black, and Mexican women-we seek to reveal the socio-structural processes that reproduce inequality. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Overall, the book presents Rojas and Kamp's research on community engagement for placemaking. Dream Play Build: Hands-On Community Engagement for Enduring Spaces and Places: James Rojas and John Kamp (2022). The authors urge planners to please "forget what they know about engagement", because planners often transfer what they learned as experts in the community engagement process and expect community members to understand their ways and jargon. [Extracted from the article]

(the gifts of groups of individuals aka resident associations); (3) What assets do the government, non-profits, universities, and other organizations in my local area have that can make my community better? Indigo Bishop and Ron Dwyer-Voss in "Let's Get Explicit: Social Justice in Asset-Based Community Development" present the following argument: Social justice frameworks and asset-based approaches to community development and community organizing overlap considerably. Asset-based community development (ABCD) recognizes the value of six local assets: (1) individuals or community residents, (2) neighborhood resident associations (3) local institutions (e.g., government, non-profits, and universities) (4), physical space (e.g., parks, vacant lots, etc.), (5) economy and exchange (e.g., business development, barter, etc.), and (6) culture, history, and stories. [Extracted from the article]

In Ireland, negative stereotypes of the Traveller population have long been a part of society. The beliefs that surround this minority group may not be based in fact, yet negative views persist such that Travellers find themselves excluded from mainstream society. The language used in discourse plays a critical role in the way Travellers are represented. This study analyses the discourse in the public policy regarding Travellers in the National Traveller and Roma Inclusion Strategy (NTRIS) 2017–2021. This study performs a critical discourse analysis (CDA) of the policy with the overall aims of showing signs of the power imbalance through the use of language and revealing the discourses used by elite actors to retain power and sustain existing social relations. The key findings show that Travellers are represented as a homogenous group that exists outside of society. They have no control over how their social identity is constructed. The results show that the constructions of negative stereotypes are intertextually linked to previous policies, and the current policy portrays them in the role of passive patients, not powerful actors. The discursive practice creates polarity between the "settled" population and the "Travellers", who are implicitly blamed by the state for their disadvantages. Through the policy, the government disseminates expert knowledge, which legitimises the inequality and supports this objective "truth". This dominant discourse, which manifests in wider social practice, can facilitate racism and social exclusion. This study highlights the need for Irish society to change the narrative to support an equitable representation of Travellers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study aims to measure Latinx share of economic activities and highlight and its increasing role in the economic future of their state. As a methodology we use input-output model-based IMPLAN to calculate the economic footprint of Latinx in Illinois. We demonstrate how this labor force has allowed the state to expand production and purchasing power. In the conclusion we discuss how this line of investigation allows us to explore what decision makers can do to facilitate a Latinx action agenda from the asset-based perspective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article takes a long view of the U.S. housing market; from its inception as locally owned and operated Building Societies, through one of the first major U.S. housing crises in the early 1930s, as well as through the prosperous and surprisingly stable post-WWII era the so-called "Long Boom" during Keynesianism. As labor shortages became more severe, accompanied by stagflation and the simultaneous urban, fiscal, and oil crises of the late 60s and early 70s, key sectors of the U.S. economy rallied to dismantle established Keynesian policies. While the new policies associated with laissez–faire economic liberalism certainly aided in the mobility of capital, the overall economy as a result of this neoliberal turn became increasingly unstable and inequitable. This article seeks to add knowledge to the neoliberalism theory. The author concludes, based on a historical case study of the Savings and Loans industry, that neoliberalism was not a deterministic overthrow of neoliberal ideologues but a haphazard response to the contradictions of Keynesian logic. It is only from a historical approach that we may be able to understand the current housing crisis, foster policy innovation, and allow for institutional change within the U.S. mortgage market sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The treatment of chronic hepatitis C with interferon alpha (IFN-α) is widely used. However, the relapse rate is high, and sustained response is only in 10-20%. A combined treatment based on the synergic antiviral effects described for IFN-α and ribavirin was used as a National Program in Cuba. The study enrolled 357 patients treated during 48 weeks with an injection of IFN-α, 3 times weekly, combined with oral ribavirin in daily doses, the doses adjusted to body weight. Sustained virological response was the efficacy end point, supported by biochemical and histological changes. Normalization in transaminase levels occurs in 60.5% of patients after the first 4 weeks, 71.4% at 26 weeks and 60.2% at the end of treatment. In similar moments, the viral load was undetectable in 42.9%, 42.6% and 37.0% respectively. The implementation of this National Program led to 49.0% and 29.7% of biochemical and virological sustained response respectively. A histological improvement was observed in 53.5% of evaluated patients. The treatment was well tolerated and almost all adverse reactions were attributable to IFN-α. The main adverse reports were: anemia, leucopenia, asthenia, fever, headache, arthralgias, anorexia and myalgia. Anti-interferon antibodies were developed in 38 patients, in 3 of them as neutralizing of antiviral activity. These results confirm the efficacy and security profile of both drugs as combined therapy for the chronic hepatitis C and represent the first clinical data generated from its extensive use in the Cuban general population. The virological response was in agreement with international reports for populations with similar characteristics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]