By Edward J. Blakely, The Washington Post Op-Ed
Edward J. Blakely is a professor of urban policy at the United States Studies Center at the University of Sydney. He is a co-author of “Fortress America: Gated Communities in the United States.”
Gates convey to those living behind them that their “home” extends all the way to the walls surrounding the compound. Because streets and parks are accessible only to those living within the community, they begin to feel more like private living rooms and are defended fiercely against intruders. When gates blur public and private spaces in this way, these communities can become dangerous for the people inside and outside them — and dangerous for the nation’s ideal of equality among its people.
Camelot Gypsy 