NYCEZ: An equitable zoning of NYC

Introduction

NYC Equitable Zoning (NYCEZ) is a zoning system of NYC derived from census tracts and ACS data with 574 zones.

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The zoning system considers data reliability of 3 minority population groups: population below poverty level, seniors above 67, and long commuters (>1 hour). Underserved groups of interest include the population above 67 years old (seniors), the population under the poverty level, the population with a commute time above one hour, and the population with one or more disabilities. Only the former three groups are considered in zoning, since populations disabilities are already highly correlated with the others.

The 2168 census tracts in NYC are aggregated to improve the data reliability of the 3 minority groups. Average margin of error (MOE) percentages at census tract level of population above 67, population below poverty level, and population with a commute time above 1 hour are 15.22%, 50.07%, and 18.23%, respectively. After aggregation to the NYC Equitable Zones, MOE percentages become 8.02%, 12.33%, and 9.88%, respectively. Equitable Zones shown in Figure 5 simultaneously reduces the average MOE percentage of demographic data by 48% for seniors, 75% for low-income population, and 46% for long commuters.

If you have any questions or comments, please contact: Bingqing (Chloe) Liu (bingqing.liu@nyu.edu) or  Joseph Chow (joseph.chow@nyu.edu).

Files

  • NYC census tracts shapefile with mapping to NYCEZ (“zoning” column)
    • equitable_zoning_new.cpg
    • equitable_zoning_new.dbf
    • equitable_zoning_new.prj
    • equitable_zoning_new.shp
    • equitable_zoning_new.shx
  • NYCEZ shapefile
    • equitable_zoning_new_dissol.cpg
    • equitable_zoning_new_dissol.dbf
    • equitable_zoning_new_dissol.prj
    • equitable_zoning_new_dissol.sbn
    • equitable_zoning_new_dissol.sbx
    • equitable_zoning_new_dissol.shp
    • equitable_zoning_new_dissol.shx
  • Data used for NYCEZ generation (from American Community Survey (ACS))
    • Number of seniors in each census tract (with 80 variance replicate estimates)
      • data_elderly.csv
    • Number of disabled in each census tract (with 80 variance replicate estimates)
      • data_disabled.csv
    • Number of long commuters in each census tract (with 80 variance replicate estimates)
      • data_commute>1h.csv
    • Number of low incomers in each census tract (with 80 variance replicate estimates)
      • data_below_poverty.csv

Variance replicate estimates from ACS are used to MOE aggregation. Information can be found here: https://www.census.gov/programs-surveys/acs/data/variance-tables.html

Applications

NYCEZ can be used by a public agency in several ways, such as:

  1. Land use planning: NYCEZ provides a framework for land use planning that takes into account the needs and concerns of underserved populations. By using this zoning system, public agencies can identify areas where the underserved populations live and work and plan land uses accordingly. For example, public agencies can use NYCEZ to prioritize the development of affordable housing, public transportation, and other services in areas where the population below poverty level or the long commuters are concentrated.
  2. Resource allocation: Public agencies can use NYCEZ to allocate resources such as funding, personnel, and services to the areas with the highest concentration of underserved populations. This can help ensure that resources are distributed in a way that addresses the needs and concerns of these populations.
  3. Performance measurement: NYCEZ can be used to measure the performance of public agencies in addressing the needs and concerns of underserved populations. By comparing the demographic data at the NYCEZ level before and after the implementation of a public policy or program, public agencies can assess whether their efforts have been successful in reducing the disparities among different population groups.

Overall, NYCEZ provides a data-driven approach to address equity issues in land use planning and resource allocation, and can help public agencies make more informed decisions to promote equitable outcomes.

NYCEZ can be used by private sectors, such as mobility providers like Uber, in several ways, such as:

  1. Service provision: Private mobility providers can use NYCEZ to identify areas where the population below poverty level or the long commuters are concentrated and provide services accordingly. For example, Uber can use NYCEZ to prioritize the deployment of its services, such as ride-sharing or delivery, in these areas to better serve the needs of underserved populations.
  2. Marketing: Private mobility providers can use NYCEZ to tailor their marketing efforts to the needs and concerns of different population groups. By understanding the demographic characteristics of different NYCEZ zones, they can create targeted advertising campaigns to attract customers in those areas.
  3. Corporate social responsibility: Private mobility providers can use NYCEZ to demonstrate their commitment to promoting equity and social justice. By publicly supporting the use of NYCEZ and implementing policies that prioritize service provision to underserved populations, they can enhance their reputation and brand image.

Overall, NYCEZ can provide private mobility providers like Uber with a data-driven approach to understand the needs and concerns of different population groups and tailor their services and policies accordingly. This can help them promote equity and social justice and enhance their competitive advantage in the marketplace.