A "blue-ribbon" citizens group has been chosen by the mayor of Libertyville to decide on the location of a new federally-funded, low-income housing project. The citizens group will consist of seven people, each living in one of the seven neighborhoods listed below. (See the map for their location.) The new low-income housing project must be situated in one of the seven neighborhoods. You are to try to reach consensus on the location of that project.
As the simulation progresses, you may mutually decide upon rules for running the simulation. There is a federally appointed director who must approve all rules or rule changes, and who will act as arbiter when decisions must be made.
The following are descriptions of the roles you will be assuming. It is important to remember that to a certain degree, each of these roles is a stereotype.
Center City: married male laborer, four children; sympathetic to militant welfare rights group; based on past experience, thinks public housing is not an answer.
Woodlawn: married university professor, one child; long history of civil rights work; committed to nonviolent change through using the system.
Bellevue: married white-collar worker, two children; worried about property values; wants to keep community stable. "When I moved here I picked this neighborhood and I don't want it changed."
Grosse Pointe: married city councilman-at-large, one child; in city government for 10 years, with elective position dependent on white voters; old wealthy family; owns extensive rental units in ghetto.
Georgetown: married male laborer, four children, worried about neighborhood and increase in crime rate. "My people made it in America, why should 'they' get any help?"
Mid-America: married housewife, three children; husband worried about neighborhood and about wife's militancy, which could cost him his job; she has been involved in the women's liberation movement, perceives contradictions in American society, and believes the same reasons account for sexism and racism in America.
Broadmore West: married banker, no children; worried about safety of neighborhood. "Housing patterns are a matter of congregation not segregation. It just happens that way."
Federal Arbiter: appointed by federal government to view arguments and act as arbiter when decisions are made.
Name |
Population Density |
Home Ownership |
Average Age of Structure |
Type of Neighborhood |
| 1 Center City | high | rent, some own | most 20+ years | low income 90%African Am |
| 2 Woodlawn | moderate | own, rent | 10-15 years | university area 70% white |
| 3 Bellevue | low-moderate | own | 10 years | high income 99% white |
| 4 Grosse Pointe | low | own | most 20+ years | large estates 100% white |
| 5 Georgetown | moderate-high | rent, some own | 15-20 years | low income 90% white |
| 6 Mid-American | moderate | rent, own | 10-15 years | middle income 100%white |
| 7 Broadmore West | high | rent | 1-5 years | high income 99%white |
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