Module 1: Discussion

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MODULE

Seminar in Urban Problems

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University of Memphis Department of Public &

Nonprofit Administration

Euchner & McGovern (2003)

Chapters 1 and 7

1

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CHAPTER 1: CITIES AND THE LIFE OF THE NATION

Euchner & McGovern (2003) Urban Policy Reconsidered

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The Rise and Decline of Cities

 18th Century America  90% lived in rural areas  Cities were commercial hubs  Cities were communication hubs

 19th Century America  Industrialization led to huge migration from

rural areas and other countries  Quadrupled population in cities

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The Rise and Decline of Cities

 20th Century America  Transportation changed the game – trolleys,

streetcars, automobiles and highways  Affluent resident moved out and could

commute back to city  Accelerated after WWII  Government policy supported this flight

which devastated the tax base (~1960s)  Poverty is the paramount problem

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The Rise and Decline of Cities

 People vs. place – should policy focus on changing individuals or communities?

 Great Society (1964) – mix of people and place federal policies

 Reagan era (1980s) – retreat from federal involvement in urban issues (except for the “War on Drugs”)

 Urban issues continue to be neglected on the national political stage – the suburbs have the political power

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The Rise and Decline of Cities

 1990s – city population declines slowed (or reversed) due to increase economic development (e.g., downtown business districts), reduced crime, gentrification; did not happen for every city

 Two different reforms to save cities  Decentralists – move control to neighborhoods  Regionalists – move control to the metropolis

 Any reform requires political support

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The Rise and Decline of Cities

 Two visions of society:  Individualist  Individual autonomy; respect liberty of others  Private over public  “Rugged individualism” in the US

 Communitarian  Engage all people in public process (“civic spirit”)  Public over private  Faith in power of government

 Loss of bonds/ties to one’s larger community when too individualist focused – widens the inequality gap

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The Rise and Decline of Cities

 Constraints on urban policy-making  Actual authority to act: Dillon’s Rule vs. Home

Rule  Wide range of constituents – business

community to community advocates  City bureaucracy – “reinventing government”

and technology advances  Change happens – small moves in urban

revitalization can inspire civic engagement and grow a civic spirit

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CHAPTER 7: RE-PLACING THE CITY Euchner & McGovern (2003) Urban Policy Reconsidered

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Re-Placing the City

 Recent renaissance of growth and prosperity in certain cities is confined to certain populations or neighborhoods

 Communities are limited in their ability to address wide-scale urban problems (e.g., poverty) without “higher level” intervention (e.g., federal or state government)

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Re-Placing the City

 What does a healthy city look like? (p. 294)  Everyone can afford a home  Diverse economies that benefit from scale and

clusters of knowledge  Students learn and teachers teach  Vibrant public spaces (e.g., parks, museums,

schools, waterfronts, etc.)  Police and neighborhoods work together  Political involvement is widespread  Government is transparent and data on policy is

publicly available

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Re-Placing the City

 Constraints on urban revitalization  Political authority – limits of city power  Financial – limits on money to support

policy  Policy options – businesses and affluent

individuals can leave the city if options are perceived to be too negative

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Re-Placing the City

 Need for a national urban policy?  Debated topic  Lacks political support – suburbanites need to see

how they are connected to cities  Regionalism has worked in some metropolitan

areas  Efficient, effective, responsive – continual challenge

to reform and energize existing bureaucracy to meet these goals

 Regardless of national involvement, federal government needs to enforce basic civil rights  Extent of “rights” is often debated – “rugged

individualism” vs. communitarianism

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Re-Placing the City

 Vibrant public realm  “Give people access to the tools they need

to live productive lives”  Equality of opportunity is a two-way street –

provide good services and expect people to govern themselves

 Empower a connection to one’s community – local government can (and has) effectively promote civic engagement as it’s “close” to the people

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Re-Placing the City

 Political change  Requires active citizen involvement  Policy can improve involvement (e.g.,

community policing)  Requires civic organizations (nonprofits) to

ensure government listens to interests and addresses issues

 Requires communitarian-minded leaders

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Re-Placing the City

 Responsibility and Commitment  Show people their individual interests are

connected to the interests of the community

 Constructing a civic culture where citizens are politically involved is key

 “Having democracy requires doing democracy”

 Need to address citizen’s feelings of alienation and loss of sense of attachment to place