Gentrification and Racial Distrust in Communities: Evidence from 911 Calls.

This article examines how demographic changes, particularly the in-migration of non-Black residents into historically Black neighborhoods undergoing gentrification, are associated with increased racial bias manifested through "unfounded suspicion-related" 911 calls in 14 U.S. cities from 2011 to 2020. Using a novel dataset of over 39 million 911 calls linked to census tract-level demographic, political, and green space data, the study finds that such unfounded calls rise significantly in gentrifiable neighborhoods with greater interracial contact, especially where public green spaces facilitate interaction. The presence of non-White elected officials and explicit public support for Black communities by political leaders, measured via social media activity, mitigates this biased use of police. These findings highlight a community-driven mechanism contributing to racial bias in policing and suggest policy interventions including leadership representation and public awareness to reduce unwarranted police involvement based on racial suspicion.