It's very true. Look at the way "urban" is used as a dog whistle for certain groups of people.
A bit of local history from where I live: Boston rapid transit was intended to extend to the northwest a considerable distance, putting more communities on the system and allowing easy, car-free commutes. It saw vociferous neighborhood opposition from groups who "didn't like the idea of increased traffic and certain urban elements entering their quiet suburban town." Sound familiar? https://boston.curbed.com/2014/2/13/10144086/the-red-line-st...
> vociferous neighborhood opposition from groups who "didn't like the idea of increased traffic and certain urban elements entering their quiet suburban town."
Urban areas generally do have higher rates of crime than suburban or rural areas (and this is certainly true of the Boston area[0]), and prima facie I don't see anything wrong with letting the residents of Arlington determine for themselves the benefits and disadvantages of having the Red Line extend into their town. Not everything has to be a dog-whistle; unless you're suggesting that the residents of suburban Boston are less virtuous than the number of "In this house we believe..." lawn signs might suggest?
A bit of local history from where I live: Boston rapid transit was intended to extend to the northwest a considerable distance, putting more communities on the system and allowing easy, car-free commutes. It saw vociferous neighborhood opposition from groups who "didn't like the idea of increased traffic and certain urban elements entering their quiet suburban town." Sound familiar? https://boston.curbed.com/2014/2/13/10144086/the-red-line-st...