From PRI, Public Radio International and KCRW Santa Monica, this is To the Point.

America's capital city and urban problems nationwide.

Hello again, I'm Mormon Olney, and this is To the Point from Public Radio International.

A daily look at the issues Americans care about most.

Washington, D.C. is a divided city.

High officials, government workers, and diplomats live and work in prosperous neighborhoods.

The majority black population lives in a different place.

Barack Obama says he wants to bring the two together.

In the aftermath of this week's focus on Washington, we'll hear about de facto segregation

and most important the lack of home ruled. What will the new administration do about poverty

and destitution in other urban centers all over the country? Also today, two diplomatic

envoys for troubled parts of the world. What's in store for the Middle East and South Asia.

First, here's the news.

Support for To the Point comes from subscribers of KCRW Santa Monica and from the Public Radio

International Program Fund, whose contributors include the Ford Foundation, the John

D. and Catherine T. McArthur

Foundation, and the Skoll Foundation, supporting social entrepreneurs around the world, uncommon heroes

dedicated to the common good. Learn more at Skoll.org. Hello again. I'm Armin Alney. We're back with

To the Point. During this week's inaugural celebration, the world was focused on just

one part of Washington, D.C. President Obama wants to bring the city together. What will that

mean for the capital's majority black population and for inner cities elsewhere in America?

Also today, George Mitchell for the Middle East, Richard Holbrook for South Asia, can diplomatic

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