The Commission on San Diego Regional Infrastructure and Equity, a group of “national and local foundations [which] is comprised of 14 members from the three cities and from local organizations,” including the local progressive think tank Center on Policy Initiatives, appeared before the city council budget committee last week to share data on disparities in infrastructure spending throughout the city.

The group’s findings indicate that older communities, particularly low-income areas with a predominance of minority residents, face a much larger funding gap than newer areas in the city. Specifically, they charge that newer neighborhoods receive funding to meet an average of 89% of the area’s identified infrastructure needs, while other communities receive only 26% of needed funding.

Neighborhoods in Council Districts 2, 3 and 4 were hardest hit, say the Commission. Neighborhoods covered by these districts run from the beach communities immediately north of Downtown to the city core itself and areas to the east and southeast.

Commission members say they’ll review case studies from around the country from other cities that have faced similar disparities, and will return to the budget committee by August with recommendations.