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.