In February of 1971, Edward C. Banfield trekked to Connecticut College, located in the state of his birth, to discuss his book, The Unheavenly City. He declared before the audience that he wanted to challenge the gloomy “conventional wisdom” about the condition of cities.

Contrary to the claims of much of the liberal intellgentsia and the media, cities were not in terrible shape, and many of the problems were actually annoyances. As for the real problems, Banfield explained he was dubious that federal government intevrentions would improve them, and might well make them worse. He pointed out that “that urban renewal has destroyed more housing for lower income people than it has created.”

The reports in the student newspaper note that students argued with Banfield for much of the two hours he was in the lecture hall, and some walked out.

Source: https://digitalcommons.conncoll.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1010&context=ccnews_1970_1971