Government skepticism is not always unwarranted. For communities in Grand Rapids, Ypsilanti, and Flint, proximity to and familiarity with government actions negatively affect their trust in it. Communities that have experienced systemic injustice—often tied to racial and socioeconomic factors—are more likely to be distrustful of local and federal government, according to a Michigan Metro Area Communities Study survey. Mara Cecilia Ostfeld, research director at the Center for Racial Justice, discusses the survey findings in this research spotlight from Michigan News.
