Urban Planning - Article Example

Major urban problems in the cities are characterized by indecent housing, lack of adequate and quality education, and increased crime rates. Additionally, teachers do not record the required level of performance (Macionis & Parrillo 8). On the other hand, the problem of crime is created by the rising cost of living and poverty levels which make people seek alternative ways of survival (Macionis & Parrillo 13).             In tackling the issue of housing, the government devised acts that governed the manner in which buildings were being constructed in urban cities, for instance, the Housing Act of 1939 (Macionis & Parrillo 4).

In tackling the issue of education, President Obama generated a reward system for teachers based on performance (Macionis & Parrillo 8). Additionally, the government issued charters to private schools after scrutiny of their curriculums. This also enabled parents to have a wide range of schools to choose from depending on their children's talents and abilities (Macionis & Parrillo 9). The government also categorized the cases on crime depending on causing factors and most affected areas in cities (Macionis & Parrillo 13).

This has enabled them to counter the problem and increase security in the most affected areas.             The successes of these attempts by the government have been significant in major cities across the United States. The quality of buildings in urban cities has increased significantly as many cities have been transformed into future cities (Macionis & Parrillo 7). Many schools have been chartered which has increased their level of provision of quality education and a variety of disciplines (Macionis & Parrillo 11).

The crime rates in the United in the year 2010 have reduced compared to the rates in 2009 by an average of about 5% (Macionis & Parrillo 12).             Alternative solutions in curbing these issues mostly revolve around the quality of the cost of living. If city dwellers have improved the cost of living, it is an obvious assumption that crime rates would reduce, up to standard buildings would be developed and the dwellers would seek quality education for their children.