Research Paper Due Tuesday, 12/18

As you know, your final research papers are due in class on Tuesday. If for some reason you can't make it to class, you MUST contact me BEFOREHAND to make arrangements to drop off the paper. I will not be able to accept late papers.

We'll have a short wrap-up discussion on Tuesday as well. See you all then.

Guest Speakers for Tues & Thurs, 12/11 & 13

This week we turn our attention to the final of our three case studies: Mayor Bloomberg's Congestion Pricing Plan (part of his broader environmental plan, which you are also free to write about in your research paper). I've lined up two guest speakers for us, each of which will advocate for or against the plan.

On Tuesday, Jonathan Judge will join us to argue against the plan. Judge is the creator of the website, Stop NYC Congestion Tax.org, and spoke against the tax recently at the NYC Metropolitan Republican Club.

On Thursday, we'll be joined by Wiley Norvell, Communications Director for Transportation Alternatives, a non-profit group that promotes public transport and a reduction in cars on NYC roadways. Norvell will present the case for the congestion pricing plan.

Please be ON TIME for both speakers. Also, please review their websites and get a sense of where they stand on the issue (as well as your own stance on the issue).

Guest Speaker on Thursday, 12/6

On Thursday we'll have a visit from David Gillcrist, Acting Executive Director of Project Find, an organization that attempts to find affordable housing for Manhattan seniors. Please review the Project Find website and bring your questions. (And please be on time for class!)

Assignment for Tuesday, 12/4

For Tuesday, read Housing First!'s platform for New York State, available here. You should pay particular attention to their ideas for New York City. Feel free to summarize. (This could be your last chance for a summary.)

Assignment for Thursday, 11/29

Read the description of New York City's Citywide Incident Management System (CIMS), posted on the website of NYC's Office of Emergency Management. Read the overview, as well as the four links at the bottom of the overview page:

• Primary Agency Matrix
• General ICS Organization Structure
• Core Competencies
• OEM's CIMS Responsibilities

Feel free to write a single summary about the entire CIMS program, based on these five webpages. We'll discuss this, and other aspects of NYC's terror policies, on Thursday.

Assignment for Tuesday, 11/27

For the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, we will start looking at our first case study: NYC policing and anti-terror policies. As we've discussed, we will take a field trip into our local neighborhood, guided by Bill Brown of the Surveillance Camera Players. You have two choices for meeting up with the class:

• Meet us in the classroom (Main 606) at 5:50pm SHARP - do NOT be late, please.
• Meet us on the SE corner of 72nd St. and 3rd Avenue at 6pm SHARP - do NOT be late, as we may take off without you.

(If you're unexpectedly delayed and you want to try to catch up with us, you can reach me on my cell phone at 917-415-8284.)

Final Exam - Tuesday, November 20

Your final exam will be given in class on Tuesday, November 20. The exam will consist of two essay questions. You will be randomly assigned two of the following four questions:

1. Why are cities prone to periodic fiscal crises? How can cities avoid them?
2. Did Rudy Giuliani govern New York City using the principles of the New Public Management (NPM)? What can Guiliani’s tenure tell us about the overall success of NPM?
3. How has federal policymaking affected American cities? Are cities hurt or helped by these policies?
4. Are regional governing bodies the answer to the problems of urban governance?

(Check my posting on the mid-term exam for reminders about what I look for in exams.)

You'll have the full class period--80 minutes--to complete your exam. Please note that as with the mid-term, you are allowed to bring ONE 3x5" index card to the exam. You can write whatever you would like on this card, on either side, using however small a font as you'd like - WITHIN REASON. Do NOT try to use 5-pt font to squeeze in every possible word you can; do NOT simply try to write out your essay, and then copy it into your exam book. You will have to submit your card with your exam, and I will not give credit for answers that are chiefly copied off of your card.

Good luck!

Research Paper Assignment

During the semester, we have discussed a number of concepts and theories about the way cities and urban areas are governed. You will now be asked to utilize this knowledge to develop a thesis-driven research paper on a particular policy area within New York City. The paper should explore one of the three topic areas upon which we settled earlier in the semester.

Assignment: Using research from outside sources, as well as your knowledge of the theories of urban politics, write a short research paper that addresses a problem or question from one of the following three New York City policy areas (broadly understood):

• Affordable Housing (generally, making sure that homes and apartments are available to all, regardless of economic status)
• Anti-Terror Policies/Policing (Any aspect of law enforcement in the city, but especially focusing on anti-terror efforts)
• The Bloomberg Environmental Plan (w/ specific focus on the congestion pricing plan)

Your paper should be specific to New York City, but should also incorporate some of the concepts and theories we have discussed in class this year. For example, you might discuss how structural economic constraints limit the choices of the City Council and/or Mayor’s Office in building and locating affordable housing. Or, you could examine how different levels of government in the U.S. affect the anti-terror policies pursued by the MTA Police. Feel free to be creative in identifying a research question, but make sure it remains within these three areas of NYC politics.

Your paper should have a strong thesis: it should adopt a strong point of view (or “take a stand”); be specific and limited in scope (it can’t too big to cover in a short research paper); and should be arguably true (it shouldn’t be patently obvious, like “cities are complicated”).

Your paper should be 7-8 pages, double-spaced, and typed with 1” margins. You should state your thesis clearly in your first paragraph. Also, use the first paragraph to lay out the structure of the essay (“Below, I will do X, and then Y, and then Z”).

Research and Sources: Research papers require you to support your argument with outside sources; however, this is not an excuse to simply string together a series of quotes and pass it off as your own work. You must organize others’ ideas and arguments yourself, using your own words, while taking care to give credit to others. You should limit the number of direct quotes you use in your paper; in general, if you quote more than 20-25 lines, you’re relying too much on your sources’ writing (and you will be penalized). Please remember that all information derived from your sources must be cited, even when you restate others’ ideas in your own words.

All citations should be properly formatted. I prefer Chicago/Turabian citation style, but you may use whichever format you would like as long as you use it consistently. Internet research sources are suitable for this assignment, but be aware that many sites are sponsored by advocacy groups and their objectivity and accuracy cannot be assumed. Wikipedia can provide useful background information and links, but is often poorly sourced and should NOT be cited as an authority. Citations to the Internet should be sufficiently specific so as to allow a reader to arrive at the same web page where you found the information.

Deadlines: The essay is due in class on Tuesday, December 18. Late papers are subject to penalties as described below (see section on “Grading”). You also have the option of submitting a draft of the paper on Tuesday, December 4. This deadline is optional, but I strongly suggest you submit a draft. I will provide extensive feedback on these drafts, and can correct many minor problems with formatting that can lead to grade reductions. If you do take advantage of the draft deadline, however, you must attach the draft, with my comments, to your final submission in December.

Just to be clear, these again are the deadlines:

Thursday, December 4 First Draft Due (optional)
(I will return drafts with comments in class 12/11, or earlier if you arrange it with me)

Thursday, December 18 Final Draft Due (w/ sources attached)
(first draft attached if applicable)

Grading: I’ve included below my standard criteria for grading paper assignments (these are the same as the last paper). Your paper will be assigned a letter grade largely based on these criteria. Please note that if you hand in your essay late, without a valid and documented excuse, I will immediately deduct a full letter grade from your grade for the assignment. However, you should also note that if you do not leave me enough time to grade the paper before the semester ends, you will receive an “F” for the assignment.

Grading Criteria

A Expresses complex, independent thought with grace, clarity and force. Its purpose is clear from the start: it contains a thesis that is imaginatively, logically, and precisely developed. Not only is the paper organized, the organization does not seem mechanical or imposed. Any source material included is balanced and smoothly integrated into the essay. Each topical paragraph has a controlling idea, solid detail, and smooth transitions. The sentences are varied in length and structure. The writer chooses concrete, specific words and uses them correctly, employing diction that is distinctive and mature, with effective metaphors and analogies for clarity and emphasis. The essay contains no colloquialisms, clichés, or trite expressions. It is virtually free of grammatical and mechanical errors.

B Contains a clear thesis statement supported with good examples. The writer controls the essay’s development by arranging the examples supporting the thesis in an orderly and logical fashion. The essay is well-organized, but transitions are sometimes strained. Any source material included is smoothly integrated, and some independent conclusions are drawn. Each topical paragraph has a controlling idea and good supporting detail. The sentences are usually varied. The word choice is generally correct. The writer often goes beyond the automatic word choice to find one more precise and effective. The paper is generally correct mechanically, though there are some problems with complex grammar and punctuation traps.

C Contains a recognizable thesis and adequate development. Though the paper has some interesting parts, the interest is not uniformly maintained and the purpose is not always clear. There are very few errors in sentence structure by the sentences are not varied. The word choice is generally correct, but the range of words is limited, and in some cases the wording is abstract and imprecise. Source material included is relevant but not carefully integrated. This essay also has errors in syntax, spelling and punctuation. More importantly, it lacks an original, significant purpose or point of view.

D Meets only the minimum requirements of college writing. The writer approaches the topic in a conventional and predictable manner. The essay lacks imagination and insight. Though it still contains a thesis, it is poorly or mechanically developed. It also lacks adequate support of generalizations. Source materials are cited improperly, are not directly relevant, and/or overwhelm the essay. Some principle of organization is apparent but it is not successful followed. The diction is often imprecise and monotonous. The writer uses vague, ordinary words and relies on clichés and jargon. The essay contains sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and numerous basic errors in syntax, agreement, reference, spelling, and punctuation.

No Assignment for Thursday, 11/13

There is no reading due for Thursday. Instead, we will spend some time reviewing the questions for the final exam (which, I might remind you, is next Tuesday, 11/20).

Assignment for Tuesday, 11/13

For next Tuesday, read Peter Eisenger, "The American City in the Age of Terror," in the UP Reader. Most of you will want to summarize this, as you haven't hit your required number yet.

This is the last regularly assigned reading for the semester. We will probably have one or two opportunities for additional summaries when we get into our case studies, but I'm making no promises.

Assignment for Thursday, 11/8

Read Peter Dreier, John Mollenkopf, and Todd Swanstrom, "Regionalisms Old and New," in the UP Reader.

Assignment for Tuesday, 11/6

Read "Urban Sacrifice," by Buzz Bissinger, in the UP Reader. Many of you NEED to summarize it in order to meet your requirement for the semester, so summarize away.

IMPORTANT REMINDER: Please note that your short papers are also due on Tuesday.

Assignment for Thursday, 11/1

REMINDER: There is no class on Tuesday, 10/30.

For Thursday, read (and, if you'd like, summarize) Lynne Weikart's article, "The Guiliani Administration and the New Public Management in New York City," which I handed out in class on 10/25. If you missed class, e-mail me to arrange a time to pick up the reading.

Short Paper Assignment

Assignment: Read Rebecca Solnit’s article, “Detroit Arcadia” (handed out in class). In this article, published earlier this year in Harper’s Magazine, Solnit explores the dramatic decline of what once was one of America’s largest cities.

Once you’ve read the article, write a short essay that evaluates Solnit’s argument. Is her cautious optimism about Detroit’s future justified, or are there other problems that may derail her vision of a post-industrial city? There is no need to conduct additional research, but I expect you to provide well-reasoned arguments for or against Solnit, using whatever evidence is available to you. (Note: your opinion is NOT evidence.) You are welcome to refer to the readings from previous classes.

Your essay should be 3-5 pages, double-spaced, and typed with 1” margins. There is no need to include a bibliography unless you use sources outside the article or the Urban Politics Reader. However, if you quote from the article or any other source, please format the quotation properly. Also, if you use an idea from another source, make sure you credit that source.

Deadlines: The paper is due in class on Tuesday, November 6. Late papers without a valid, documented excuse, will be penalized a full letter grade.

Grading: I’ve included below my standard criteria for grading paper assignments. Please read these thoroughly and let me know if you have any questions about them; your paper will be assigned a letter grade based on these criteria.

A Expresses complex, independent thought with grace, clarity and force. Its purpose is clear from the start: it contains a thesis that is imaginatively, logically, and precisely developed. Not only is the paper organized, the organization does not seem mechanical or imposed. Any source material included is balanced and smoothly integrated into the essay. Each topical paragraph has a controlling idea, solid detail, and smooth transitions. The sentences are varied in length and structure. The writer chooses concrete, specific words and uses them correctly, employing diction that is distinctive and mature, with effective metaphors and analogies for clarity and emphasis. The essay contains no colloquialisms, clichés, or trite expressions. It is virtually free of grammatical and mechanical errors.

B Contains a clear thesis statement supported with good examples. The writer controls the essay’s development by arranging the examples supporting the thesis in an orderly and logical fashion. The essay is well-organized, but transitions are sometimes strained. Any source material included is smoothly integrated, and some independent conclusions are drawn. Each topical paragraph has a controlling idea and good supporting detail. The sentences are usually varied. The word choice is generally correct. The writer often goes beyond the automatic word choice to find one more precise and effective. The paper is generally correct mechanically, though there are some problems with complex grammar and punctuation traps.

C Contains a recognizable thesis and adequate development. Though the paper has some interesting parts, the interest is not uniformly maintained and the purpose is not always clear. There are very few errors in sentence structure by the sentences are not varied. The word choice is generally correct, but the range of words is limited, and in some cases the wording is abstract and imprecise. Source material included is relevant but not carefully integrated. This essay also has errors in syntax, spelling and punctuation. More importantly, it lacks an original, significant purpose or point of view.

D Meets only the minimum requirements of college writing. The writer approaches the topic in a conventional and predictable manner. The essay lacks imagination and insight. Though it still contains a thesis, it is poorly or mechanically developed. It also lacks adequate support of generalizations. Source materials are cited improperly, are not directly relevant, and/or overwhelm the essay. Some principle of organization is apparent but it is not successful followed. The diction is often imprecise and monotonous. The writer uses vague, ordinary words and relies on clichés and jargon. The essay contains sentence fragments, run-on sentences, and numerous basic errors in syntax, agreement, reference, spelling, and punctuation.

Assignment for Thursday, 10/25

For Thursday, read (and summarize) selections from Saskia Sassen, "Overview" and "Economic Restructuring as Class and Spatial Polarization," in the UP Reader.

Assignment for Tuesday, 10/23

For Tuesday, read Shefter's article on the "Political Economy of Fiscal Crises" in the UP reader. Don't forget that you will soon run out of opportunities for summaries, so I STRONGLY encourage you to submit one for this reading.

Mid-Term Exam - Thursday, 10/18

[REMINDER: There is no class on Tuesday, October 16.]

Your mid-term exam will be given in-class on Thursday, October 18. The exam will consist of two essay questions. You will be randomly assigned two of the following four questions:

1. Defend the structuralist critique of a pluralist view of urban politics.
2. “Blacks have not benefited from political incorporation.” Agree or disagree with this statement.
3. What factors motivated Progressive-Era reformers to challenge political machines? What factors contributed to their success?
4. Identify the competing sides in the battles over urban renewal in the 1960s and 70s. Were those who challenged renewal correct to do so?

You only have 80 minutes to complete both questions (although we can try to steal a few minutes from the break). So make sure you arrive to class ON TIME, and then make sure you manage your time carefully.

I look for two things in your answers. First is coherence; make sure you answer the question, and present a coherent, organized answer to it. It helps if you include an introductory paragraph that lays out your thesis and explains what will follow. A concluding paragraph that restates the thesis is also helpful. The second thing I look for is completeness. This does not mean to spit out everything you know about a subject; instead, include everything you can that is relevant to the question asked. Examples are helpful, but not required (unless the question specifically mentions it, like Q4 above). Finally, remember, there is no single right answer to these questions; your solution can be different from mine, as long as you provide evidence and argumentation.

Please note that you are allowed to bring ONE 3x5" index card to the exam. You can write whatever you would like on this card, on either side, using however small a font as you'd like - WITHIN REASON. Do NOT try to use 5-pt font to squeeze in every possible word you can; do NOT simply try to write out your essay, and then copy it into your exam book. You will have to submit your card with your exam, and I will not give credit for answers that are chiefly copied off of your card. I'm trying to give you the tools to succeed in this exam; please do not abuse my generosity.

One final note that is already in the syllabus: if you fail to show up for the exam, and are unable to produce a valid excuse WITH DOCUMENTATION, you will fail the exam.

Good luck! I'll see you Thursday.

Assignment for Tuesday, 10/11

For Thursday, read Dreier's article on "Empowerment Strategies" in the UP Reader. We will only discuss this breifly; the rest of the class will be spent on reviewing for next week's mid-term exam.

Please note that this is your LAST CHANCE for a second summary (due before the mid-term). You will not be allowed to make this one up later.

Assignment for Tuesday, 10/9

Read Mollenkopf's article in the UP reader, "Postwar Politics of Urban Development."

As a reminder, please note that this is your next-to-last chance to submit a summary before the midterm. (Don't run out of time!)

Assignment for Thursday, 10/4

For Thursday, read (and, if you'd like, summarize) Bridges and Kronick, "Writing the Rules to Win the Game," in the UP reader.

Assignment for Tuesday, 10/2

There are two readings for next time. First, read Richard Croker's "Tammany Hall and the Democracy" in the UP Reader. Then, read the following sections from Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (available here):

• Preface
• A Tribute by Murphy (one paragraph)
• Chapter 1: Honest Graft and Dishonest Graft
• Chapter 3: The Curse of Civil Service Reform

(If you end up printing this out, it's about the first 12 pages, minus chapter 2.) We'll discuss on Tuesday.

Assignment for Thursday, 9/27

Read Adolph Reed's article on "Demobilization in the New Black Political Regime." We'll discuss that in conjunction with the film we saw on Tuesday.

A reminder: for a few of you, this is your LAST CHANCE to submit the required summary for September. If you do not submit a summary in September, you will not be allowed to submit a seventh summary (and your participation grade will reflect this).

Assignment for Tuesday, 9/25

Read Gurwitt's short article in the UP Reader, "Black, White and Blurred," about a Cleveland mayoral campaign. This should help frame the film, Street Smart, which we will watch on Tuesday. MAKE SURE YOU ARRIVE ON TIME, as we'll need to start the show promptly at 5:50.

Assignment for Thursday, 9/20

For next time, read "Can People of Color Achieve Equality in City Government? The Setting and the Issues," by Browning, Marshall and Tabb in your UP Reader.

(As a reminder: I'm going to re-shuffle the syllabus over the next week or so, so let me know if you're going to read ahead.)

Also, take a look at the handout of possible case studies/paper topics; feel free to come up with additional topics. We will vote on these on Thursday.

Assignment for Tuesday, 9/18

Please read Clarence Stone's "Looking Back to Look Forward" in the UP Reader. We will discuss his theory of urban regimes on Tuesday.

Assignment for Thursday, 9/13

In the Urban Politics Reader, please read Paul Peterson's "The Interests of the Limited City." We will discuss this reading -- and the "structuralist" approach to urban politics in general -- on Thursday.

Assignment for Tuesday, 9/11

Read (and, if you'd like, summarize) "Who Governs?," by Robert Dahl, from Part 3 of the Urban Politics Reader. That is all.

Assignment for Thursday, 9/6

Read "A Top 10 List of Things to Know About American Cities," by Wyly, Glickman and Lahr. This is the first reading in the Strom and Mollenkopf reader. We will discuss this in class on Thursday (the 6th of September). You are also encouraged, although not required, to read the editors' Part One introduction (pages 7-8), which you may find helpful.

If you are having trouble getting the textbook, you can also download a PDF of the full article (it is slightly abridged in the reader) here.

Syllabus

Power and Politics in the City
Fall 2007
Political Science Course # PS 263 01

Course Description

This course will examine the policy issues and politics that face urban areas, with particular attention paid to the specific city that surrounds us: New York. We will begin by evaluating different theoretical perspectives on who holds power in cities and why. We also examine the crucial role of race and ethnicity within urban power structures. Next, we will survey some important episodes from the historical development of cities, including the rise of urban machines and the progressive reform movements that attempted to defeat them. Then we will turn to an examination of urban political economy, including fiscal crises and globalization. Finally, we will situate urban politics within broader political contexts of regional and national politics, including a look at how cities like New York confront terrorism.

You have chosen to study city politics while you are located in what is often described as the quintessential city. Therefore, in the last few weeks of the course we will attempt to take advantage of our proximity and examine three policy issues taken from contemporary New York City politics. These issues will be selected early in the semester based on student input; in effect, you will be able to decide what we study.

Required Texts

Students are encouraged to purchase the following book:

The Urban Politics Reader
Elizabeth A Strom, John H Mollenkopf (eds)
Routledge Urban Reader Series (2006)
ISBN: 9780415319966

This book is available from Shakespeare and Company (939 Lexington Avenue, at 69th Street). You may be able to find a less expensive used copy online. If you purchase online or elsewhere, however, make sure that you can get the book in a timely fashion.

Additional readings will be assigned throughout the semester through the use of handouts, library access, and online links at the course website.

Course Requirements

• Come to class prepared. Complete all required readings beforehand, and bring your textbooks to class.
  

• Participate. Attend class regularly and on time—you cannot participate if you are not present—and join your colleagues in critical analysis of the assigned readings. In order to encourage participation, you will be asked to complete the following assignment:
  

• Summaries. Write seven (7) one-page summaries of assigned readings throughout the course of the semester. Guidelines for summary writing will be distributed during class. In general, you can submit summaries whenever you would like, with the following restriction: one summary must be completed in September, with an additional one (two in total) due by the mid-term exam. Still, I encourage you to WRITE YOUR SUMMARIES EARLY – do not wait until the end of the semester, or you may run out of time to complete your required seven.
  

• Complete all other written assignments:
  

• Exams. You will be given two examinations throughout the course, a mid-term and a final. The final exam focuses primarily on material covered in the second half of the course, but may build upon and refer to material discussed earlier. Exams will consist of brief essay questions, with the questions distributed in advance. Exams will be based on the required readings and on classroom discussions.
  

• Papers. Two papers will be due during the semester: a short, 3-5 page response paper assigned early in the semester; and a 7-8 page research paper, with final draft due on the last day of class. Details for each assignment, including deadlines and instructions, will be distributed in class during the semester.

Grading

Your grade will be based on your written work and your class participation. Course requirements will be weighted as follows when calculating your grade:

Papers: 40%
The short paper will be worth 15% of your overall course grade, and the longer research paper worth 25% (15+25=40%). Grading criteria will be included when the paper assignments are distributed. A one letter grade penalty will be imposed upon late papers without valid documentation (e.g., medical emergency).

Exams: 40%
Of the two exams, your lowest grade will be worth 15%, while your highest will be worth 25%. Make-up exams will be given only when proper documentation for the absence is provided.

Participation: 20%
Submission of all required summaries establishes a base participation grade of B. Failure to submit a summary will lower this grade by one-third of a letter grade (e.g., B to B-). Excessive lateness or absences may lead to further reductions, while frequent and thoughtful contributions to class discussion will have the opposite effect.

Incomplete grades will be assigned only for a valid and documented cause, for a length of time specified by the instructor when the documentation is accepted.

Academic Integrity

Students should be aware of the college’s policies regarding cheating, plagiarism and any other kind of academic misconduct as outlined in the MMC Academic Honesty Policy. These policies will be discussed briefly during the first class. Students who have questions or concerns about their written work should discuss these with the instructor before submitting any assignments.

Special Needs

Any student who is learning disabled, whose primary language is other than English, or who has other special needs and may thus require special accommodations should notify me immediately.

Course Schedule (subject to change)

Below are scheduled readings assigned for the semester. Please note that these assignments may need to be changed as the semester progresses; any changes will be posted on the course website. All readings can be found in the Urban Politics Reader unless otherwise noted.

Tuesday, September 4
Introduction

Thursday, September 6
Urban Politics: An Overview
• Wyly et al., A Top 10 List of Things to Know About American Cities

POWER AND POLITICS

Tuesday, September 11
The Community Power Debate
• Dahl, Who Governs?

Thursday, September 13
Urban Interests
• Peterson, The Interests of the Limited City

Tuesday, September 18
Urban Regimes
• Stone, Looking Back to Look Forward: Reflections on Urban Regime Analysis
• Strom, In Search of the Growth Coalition: American Urban Theories and the Redevelopment of Berlin

Thursday, September 20
Race, Ethnicity and Gender
• Browning, et al, Has Political Incorporation Been Achieved? Is It Enough?
• Reed, Demobilization in the New Black Political Regime: Ideological Capitulation and Radical Failure in the Post-Segregation Era

Tuesday, September 25
Race, Ethnicity and Gender (cont.)
• Gurwitt, Black, White and Blurred
• Jones-Correa, Wanting In: Latin American Immigrant Women and the Turn to Electoral Politics

Thursday, September 27
Urban Planning and Ethnic Division
• Bollens, Ethnic Stability and Urban Reconstruction: Policy Dilemmas in Polarized Cities

CITY HISTORY

Tuesday, October 2
Urban Machines
• Plunkitt of Tammany Hall (available on course website)
• Groker, Tammany Hall and the Democracy
• Rakove, The Ward Organizations

Thursday, October 4
Progressive Urban Reform
• Hays, The Politics of Reform in Municipal Government in the Progressive Era (handout)
• Bridges and Kronick, Writing the Rules to Win the Game: The Middle-Class Regimes of Municipal Reformers

Tuesday, October 9
Postwar Economic Development
• Mollenkopf, The Postwar Politics of Urban Development

Thursday, October 11
Community Empowerment
• Dreier, Community Empowerment Strategies: The Limits and Potential of Organizing in Low Income Neighborhoods
• O’Connor, Swimming against the Tide: A Brief History of Federal Policy in Poor Communities
Exam Review

Tuesday, October 16
NO CLASS – FACULTY WORKSHOP

Thursday, October 18
Mid-term Examination

URBAN POLITICAL ECONOMY

Tuesday, October 23
Fiscal Crises
• Shefter, The Political Economy of Urban Fiscal Crises

Thursday, October 25
The Global City
• Sassen, Overview and Economic Restructuring as Class and Spatial Polarization
• Solnit, Detroit Arcadia (available on the course website)

Tuesday, October 30
NO CLASS – ADVISEMENT DAY

Thursday, November 1
New Public Management
• Weikart, The Giuliani Administration and the New Public Management in New York City (handout)

CITIES, STATES, NATIONS

Tuesday, November 6
National Urban Policy
• Sauerkopf and Swanstrom, The Urban Electorate in Presidential Elections
• Bissinger, Urban Sacrifice

Thursday, November 8
Regionalism
• Dreier, et al, Regionalisms Old and New

Tuesday, November 13
Cities and Terrorism
• Eisinger, The American City in the Age of Terror
• Davis, Fortress LA (handout)

Thursday, November 15
Exam Review

Tuesday, November 20
Final Examination

Thursday, November 22
NO CLASS – THANKSGIVING BREAK

Tuesday, November 27
Policy Issue 1

Thursday, November 29
Policy Issue 1 (cont.)

Tuesday, December 4
Policy Issue 2

Thursday, December 6
Policy Issue 2 (cont.)

Tuesday, December 11
Policy Issue 3

Thursday, December 13
Policy Issue 3 (cont.)

Tuesday, December 18
Wrap-Up/Conclusions

Summary Guidelines and Sample

Summary Guidelines for the course are available here. (This link will lead you to a website for another course, but do not be alarmed: the guidelines also apply to this course.) Similarly, a Sample Summary is available here.