We are concerned about sprawl, concentrated poverty, inefficient state and municipal investment strategies, differential access to critical services and an inadequate appreciation for the competitive advantages offered by cities.

It is our belief that urban and suburban New Jersey are all part of an interdependent economy and that long-term investment in the state's cities is fundamental to New Jersey's overall social and economic health. The Institute's Regional Equity Initiative focuses upon the distribution of resources and the interrelationships between urban and suburban areas in New Jersey.

Our efforts in this area include:

This work involves a number of activities to combat the destructive impact of targeted abusive lending practices in low-income urban communities that often have differential access to financial services. The Institute has (1) published research; (2) provided testimony to inform the legislative process on best national practices to eliminate predatory lending; and (3) participated in the establishment of the Community Equity Protection Partnership to preserve homeownership and wealth in low-income communities.

The Institute's efforts to promote equitable access to housing include legal advocacy with and on behalf of affordable housing and environmental groups to enforce the mandate of the New Jersey Supreme Court's Mt. Laurel decisions, which require all New Jersey municipalities to provide a reasonable opportunity for the construction of their fair share of low and moderate income housing. We continue to work in coalition with groups in Essex County and around the state to develop and implement strategies to increase the supply of affordable housing in urban and suburban areas and address barriers to housing choice.

In coalition with other organizations concerned about the interdependency of the state's cities and suburbs, the Institute co-sponsored research that uses detailed maps generated by geographic information systems to illustrate evolving development patterns and the interrelated economic and social stresses experienced by New Jersey's inner cities, older suburbs and newer developments. Amerigis, a national research organization, has been commissioned to undertake this research and offer recommendations based on opportunities in New Jersey and on good practices from other locations around the nation.

To read the report, visit www.regionalequity.org.

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