Publications

@techreport{nokey,

title = {Racial Segregation in Pasadena: The Role of Freeway Development and Institutional Mechanisms},

author = {Paul M. Ong and Chhandara Pech and Casey Chung and Jacob L. Wasserman },

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/Racial-Segregation-in-Pasadena.pdf},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-05-01},

urldate = {2025-05-01},

abstract = {This study documents the historical and current patterns of racial/ethnic residential segregation in Pasadena,

examining the role of freeways and other mechanisms in shaping these outcomes. Using quantitative data, this

project compares racial segregation in Pasadena with that in the rest of Los Angeles County and analyzes

demographic changes in the neighborhoods containing Interstate 210 and State Route 710 before and after their

construction. Additionally, the study investigates other institutional policies, practices, and projects that

contributed to segregation. The findings offer insights to support Pasadena’s efforts to redress the historical

impacts of freeway development.



Pasadena and the wider Los Angeles County have become more racially diverse over time. Despite these

broader changes, neighborhoods along the built and unbuilt freeway corridor have grown increasingly segregated

and economically polarized. From 1960 to 1970, tracts affected by freeway construction lost almost 1,800 units of

housing (-28%), while the city overall and the South tract, not directly impacted by freeway construction,

experienced steady growth. Home values, rents, and income generally fell north of SR-710 but rose around it and

south of it. Pasadena mirrored national trends in housing discrimination, including redlining, racially restrictive

covenants, school integration resistance, and anti-integration ballot measures. In the face of these barriers,

residents of color successfully organized protests and pursued legal remedies. Urban renewal projects,

particularly around the SR-710 stub, disproportionately displaced communities of color under the guise of

eliminating urban blight. Freeway development in Pasadena left a lasting legacy of environmental and social

inequality},

keywords = {neighborhoods, transportation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{nokey,

title = {Further Implications of Freeway Siting in California: Freeway Development and Communities of Color in Colton, Fresno, and San Diego},

author = {Paul M. Ong and Chhandara Pech and Jacob L. Wasserman and Andres F. Ramirez and Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris and Leila Ullmann and Megan Riley},

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2025/06/eScholarship-UC-item-0b31t9sf-1-1.pdf},

year  = {2025},

date = {2025-02-01},

abstract = {This study examines the consequences of freeway construction on neighborhoods of color across California, with a focus on socioeconomic changes, route selection, community reactions and resistance, and the disruptions to residents, businesses, and other assets. Expanding on three prior case studies conducted by the research team, this study incorporates three additional case studies: South Colton, West Fresno, and City Heights in San Diego. The construction of freeways was a contributing mechanism to the perpetuation of racial inequality, weakening social institutions, disrupting local economies, and physically dividing neighborhoods. However, the outcomes varied across locations. In South Colton, a freeway was ultimately not built through its community of color, though largely for reasons of construction costs. City Heights, initially a predominantly non-Hispanic white neighborhood, underwent a demographic transformation driven by white flight during a decades-long pause in freeway construction. West Fresno did face consequences from freeway development but was also unique in its diversity of residents pre-freeway, including people of color and non-Hispanic white immigrant communities. Freeway development contributed to transforming West Fresno into an overwhelming community of color. Across these cases, freeways fragmented communities, displaced residents, and reinforced pre-existing racial divides. These racialized impacts stemmed from systemic socioeconomic marginalization and exclusion of people of color in the planning process. Today, public investments aimed at reconnecting communities offer an opportunity to address the enduring harms caused by freeways. However, achieving meaningful progress will require the integration of restorative justice principles into the planning and decision-making processes.},

keywords = {demographics, equity, neighborhoods, transportation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Loukaitou-Sideris2023,

title = {The Implications of Freeway Sitting in California: Four Case Studies on the Effects of Freeways on Neighborhoods of Color},

author = {Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris and Susan L. Handy and Paul M. Ong and Jesus M. Barajas and Jacob L. Wasserman and Chhandara Pech and Juan Carlos Garcia Sanchez and Andres F. Ramirez and Aakansha Jain and Emmanuel Proussaloglou and Andrea Nguyen and Katherine Turner and Abigail Fitzgibbon and Francois Kaeppelin and Felipe Ramirez and Marc Arenas},

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/The-Implications-of-Freeway-Siting-in-California.pdf},

year  = {2023},

date = {2023-03-01},

urldate = {2023-03-01},

keywords = {built environment, california, environment, ethnic enclaves, ethnicity, minority, neighborhoods, transportation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2021bb,

title = {Potential Differential Undercount in 2020 Census Redistricting Data: Los Angeles County, California},

author = {Paul M Ong and Jonathan Ong},

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Potential-Differential-Undercount-in-LA-2020-Census.pdf},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-08-18},

keywords = {census, census2020, inequality, los angeles, neighborhoods},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{ong2020ccbcb,

title = {Saving Black Home Ownership: Just and Fair Pandemic Relief and Recovery },

author = {Paul M. Ong and Chhandara Pech and Tracey Beltran and Lori R. Gay},

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/Saving_Black_Homeownership_CNK_3_4_2021.pdf},

year  = {2021},

date = {2021-03-04},

keywords = {COVID Publication, covid19, economic, inequality, minority, neighborhoods},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2020id,

title = {California Neighborhoods and COVID-19 Vulnerabilities },

author = {Paul M. Ong and Chhandara Pech and Megan Potter},

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/12/CA_Covid_Vulnerabilities_UCOP_v03.pdf},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-10-01},

keywords = {COVID Publication, covid19, los angeles, neighborhoods, vulnerability index},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2020jb,

title = {Persistent Shortfalls and Racial/Class Disparities},

author = {Paul M. Ong and Jonathan Ong},

url = {http://www.aasc.ucla.edu/resources/policyreports/COVID19_CensusUpdate_CNK_AASC.pdf},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-08-18},

keywords = {census, census2020, COVID Publication, covid19, neighborhoods},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2020ib,

title = {Economic Impact of the COVID-19, Pandemic in Riverside County, Unemployment Insurance Coverage and Regional Inequality},

author = {James McKeever and Paul M. Ong and Jonathan Ong},

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/UCR-Economy-White-Paper_COVID_UI.pdf},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-06-25},

keywords = {COVID Publication, covid19, neighborhoods, riverside county, unemployment, vulnerable communities},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2020h,

title = {Struggling to Stay Home: How COVID19 Shelter in Place Policies Affect Los Angeles County's Black and Latino Neighborhoods},

author = {Paul M. Ong and Silvia R. Gonzalez and Chhandara Pech and Sonja Diaz and Jonathan Ong and Elena Ong and Julie Aguilar},

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/LPPI-CNK-3-Shelter-in-Place.pdf},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-05-20},

keywords = {COVID Publication, covid19, inequality, los angeles, neighborhoods, shelter in place},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Mar2020,

title = {At-Risk Workers of Covid-19 by Neighborhood in the San Francisco Bay Area},

author = {Don Mar and Jonathan Ong},

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/Covid-19SFBayArea.pdf},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-05-14},

keywords = {bay area, COVID Publication, covid19, inequality, neighborhoods},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2020d,

title = {Economic Impacts of the COVID-19 Crisis in Los Angeles: Identifying Renter-Vulnerable Neighborhoods},

author = {Paul M. Ong and Chhandara Pech and Elena Ong and Silvia R. Gonzalez and Jonathan Ong},

url = {https://www.anderson.ucla.edu/documents/areas/ctr/ziman/UCLA-CNK_OngAssoc._LA_Renter_Vulnerability_4-30-20.pdf},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-05-05},

institution = {UCLA Ziman Center},

keywords = {COVID Publication, covid19, los angeles, neighborhoods, renters, vulnerable communities},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2020f,

title = {Neighborhood Inequality in Shelter-in-Place Burden: Impacts of COVID-19 in Los Angeles},

author = {Paul M. Ong and Jonathan Ong and Elena Ong and Andrés Carrasquillo},

url = {https://ucla.app.box.com/s/ihyb5sfqbgjrkp8jvmwiwv7bsb0u83c4},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-22},

keywords = {COVID Publication, covid19, inequality, los angeles, neighborhoods, shelter in place},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2020a,

title = {Left Behind During a Global Pandemic: An Analysis of Los Angeles County Neighborhoods at Risk of Not Receiving Individual Stimulus Rebates Under the CARES Act},

author = {Paul M. Ong and Chhandara Pech and Silvia R. Gonzalez and Sonja Diaz and Jonathan Ong and Elena Ong},

url = {http://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LPPI-CNK-Brief-2.pdf},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-14},

institution = {UCLA Latino Policy & Politics Initiative},

keywords = {careact, COVID Publication, covid19, neighborhoods},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2020,

title = {Implications of COVID-19 on at risk workers by neighborhood in Los Angeles},

author = {Paul M. Ong and Chhandara Pech and Silvia R. Gonzalez and Carla Vasquez-Noriega},

url = {http://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/LPPI-Implications-from-COVID-19-res2-1.pdf},

year  = {2020},

date = {2020-04-01},

institution = {UCLA Latino Policy and Politics Initiative},

keywords = {COVID Publication, covid19, inequality, labor, neighborhoods},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}

@techreport{Ong2023,

title = {Stockton's Crosstown Freeway, Urban Renewal, and Asian Americans: Systemic Causes and Impacts},

author = {Paul M Ong and Chhandara Pech and Christopher Hung-Do and Anne Yoon and Jacob L. Wasserman },

url = {https://knowledge.luskin.ucla.edu/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/Stocktons-Crosstown-Freeway-Urban-Renewal-and-Asian-Americans.pdf},

keywords = {aapi, Asian Americans, built environment, environment, ethnic enclaves, neighborhoods, stockton, transportation},

pubstate = {published},

tppubtype = {techreport}

}