A combination of two things. From its beginnings about fifty years ago, the Urban Institute has prided itself on being non-partisan. I'm not aware that the quality of their research has ever been criticized for serving one position, ideology or another.

In the mid-1960s, President Johnson saw the need for independent nonpartisan analysis of the problems facing America's cities and their residents. The President created a blue-ribbon commission of civic leaders who recommended chartering a center to do that work. In 1968, the Urban Institute became that center. Since then, their research subjects have broadened considerably, taking on a far broader and more international flavor.

When I was working, I actually had the opportunity to participate on a nationwide study of urban renewal. The participants reflected a broad group of elected officials, public officials as well as architects, developers, investors and bankers serving the real estate industry. (I was invited to participate as a banker.) So I know first hand of both the quality and independence of their research.

The other reason for my conclusion regarding their independence was simply reading the article. There is no suggestion of a partisan position in either the author's choice of research sources or the conclusions they reached.