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"The Decorated Tenement: How Immigrant Builders and Architects Transformed the Slum in the Gilded Age" by Zachary J. Violette and "How the Working-Class Home Became Modern" by Thomas C. Hubka are two books that provide insight into the lives of ordinary people in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in the United States. These books challenge the dominant narrative that focuses on the wealthy and their lavish homes, instead exploring the housing conditions and changes experienced by the working class and poor. Violette's book specifically examines the tenements in New York City, highlighting how immigrant builders and architects adapted these structures to meet the needs and desires of the new American residents. The books also discuss the tensions between housing reformers and tenants, with reformers often imposing their values on lower-class immigrants who were satisfied with their homes. The text mentions that Violette criticizes reformer Jacob Riis for his views on tenements, while Hubka focuses on the middle 60% of the income distribution and their housing improvements. It notes that Hubka's book lacks a racial analysis, but praises Violette for addressing the anti-Semitism faced by Jewish immigrants. Both books demonstrate the improvement in living standards for working-class people during this time period, with Hubka's book specifically examining the modernization of homes and its impact on people's lives. [Extracted from the article]

Despite existing only blocks apart, neighborhoods in Buffalo, NY can have very different levels of food availability and access due to their local food environment. This study uses participatory geographic information systems (PGIS) mapping and qualitative interviewing to describe these food environments based on the lived experiences of Buffalo residents. PGIS mapping interviews were conducted with residents of the city who regularly used food pantries and focused on access to and availability of both free food resources (such as soup kitchens and food pantries) and purchased food resources (such as grocery stores). Participants were also asked about food access in their own neighborhood, their perceptions of food access in the city, and what develops they thought would contribute to greater food security for their neighborhoods. Results show cost of living and transportation were important barriers to food access for many participants. Findings suggest that residents of historically marginalized neighborhoods in Buffalo continue to have lower access to affordable healthy foods. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]