Urban Politics Exam 2

What were eight accomplishments of the 44th Ward?

1 . Developed anti-redlining law in Chicago 2. Helped build 4 play lots and parks. 3. Coordinated street sweeping and garbage pick-up. 4. Annual festival that celebrated the diversity of the community with children's artwork, ethnic foods, photographs, and more. 5. Suing the city in the discrimination of hiring Latinos. 6. Undertook special drives such as fund drives for local private food pantries. 7. Offered amendments to a variety of city legislation on issues such as unit pricing and condominium conversions. 8. The zoning branch prevented high-rise construction.

What are the differences between the weak mayor form of gov't and the strong mayor form of gov't?

1. Appointment in the weak mayor gov't must be approved by council; strong mayors are solely elected by the people. 2. Weak mayors need approval to remove whereas strong mayors do not. 3. Budget power: often a committee that puts together a budget in weak form. Strong mayor form calls all of the shots. 4. Weak mayor is called chief in name only; strong mayor calls all of the shots. 5. In strong mayor form, all authority is given to mayor. In weak form, authority is dispersed. 6. Veto power: weak mayor, it is rarely used. Sometimes not even in the city charter. Strong mayor has veto power and can use it very effectively.

Three industrial changes that reduced the size of Detroit's workforce...

1. Automation 2. Decentralization 3. Overtime

How were local gov'ts effected by the Depression?

1. Bankrupt businesses. 2. Unemployed citizens/less paid taxes. 3. Coffers of the City Treasury and charity drives. 4. Tax revenue fell from 25% to 50%. 5. Real property assessments plummeted. 6. City payrolls slashed by 50% or more.

Why did factories/businesses leave the downtown area?

1. Congested downtown with very expensive land. 2. Reliance on technology rather than people. 3. Growth of motor-truck-freight transport industry. 4. Workers isolated from outside influences ESPECIALLY labor unions. 5. Some locations were close to natural resources. 6. Introduction of high voltage electrical systems which reduced the cost of power transmission to outlying areas. 7. Followed families out in the suburbs. 8. More airports located on urban periphery.

City Manager Responsibilities...

1. Enforcement of municipal ordainances 2. Manager appoints, evaluates, and fires municipal dept. heads. 3. Must prepare municipal budget. 4. Manager must keep city council advised on money. 5. Must keep council and the public informed about the city's operation. 6. Manager must submit reports and memorandum to city council. (Many managers do not take a vacation in years!)

Three periods in politics in Southwestern cities?

1. First reform charter/ commission charter; adoption of city-manager gov't. 2. The adoption of city-manager charters which initiates the period of big city reform. 3. Adoption of district elections for city council members.

What were the three metropolitan visions?

1. In 1922, Louis Mumford, a progressive reformer who led the Regional Planning Association of America, had the idea that the city should be dispersed with lots of greenery between cities. 2. The Regional Planning of New York had put out another idea in 1929, which involved the continued dominance of the Central City. Much road building envisioned, Robert Moses was one of the largest supporters of this. 3. The broad-acre city; Frank Lloyd Wright talked a lot about this approach. This idea is a city without a city at all (in a traditional snese). Suburbs would often the an extension of the city.

Motivation to vote?

1. Making sure politicians remain honest. 2. Can change the outcome on a law.

List of uncertainties for City Managers:

1. Training does not meet the demands of the people. 2. Ready availability of blame in policy failures: the city manager is asked for advice by council for policies. Council will take credit if it turns out good. 3. Conflict among different sides of debates. This forces manager to take a side. When the council is divided, the smart manager will side with the majority or face losing their job. 4. Philosophical difference in orientation between city manager and city council: there is a huge difference in how they look at doing the job. City managers are viewed as administration, ironically enough... Although they work for policy-making.

7 Factors helped dissolve political machines. What were they?

1. Use of merit system: used to hire, fire, and promote gov't workers, which was based on ability. In 1883, the Pendleton Civil Service Act passed, which disintegrated the spoil system and implemented the merit system. Political machines had a harder time satisfying voters. 2. Reformers (Morning Glorys, as Plunkitt called them) 3. The President: Much machine support went to Roosevelt; President Franklin Roosevelt became welfare-oriented. The gov't began playing a bigger role in job training; the economic situation in the country; urban housing; and social security issues. FDR wanted more and more gov't agencies to carry out these tasks. The machine could not fulfill as many needs. It eventually became easier for the federla gov't to fulfill needs than for machines to do so. 4. Loss of natural supply of voters: this natural supply were mainly immigrants and the poor. In the 1920's, the federal gov't passed immigration restrictions on how many people came into the country; this cut the lifeblood of the machine. 5. Advent of WWII: Men going abroad, plentiful number of jobs in the U.S., and pay was better than in political machines. Thus, less people relying on money from machine because they have enough. 6. When WWII was over, the situation for the machine worsened because the peacetime production created many new, good paying jobs. 7. Change in Media Habits: Less people were turning to the machine for social functions. Most people would watch television than chat with block captain. Plus, people were becoming more educated.

Four different types of local government?

1. Weak Mayor- this is what America began with... Due to early Americans dislike for strong executives (such as the colonial rule that they experienced), they came up with a weak mayor and strong council system. 2. Strong Mayor- comes into effect as we begin to need clean water, firefighters, trash removal, law enforcement, etc. From 1800's to early 1900's, this system was very popular. 3. Commission form- started in 1900 and took place in Galveston, Texas. there was a tidal wave that caused damage to homes and took lives. The weak-mayor system was in place, but everything was in chaos. So they improvised. The appointed people to specific tasks (i.e. contact with the outside world, burial of the dead, police and fire department chiefs) for the clean up. People liked this system and wanted it replicated. Problem was, the people in charge of certain departments got out of responsibility by blaming lack of budget funds to their program. Very popular form during 1900-1910, grew a little more between 1910-1920. Now only used in small towns. 4. Council-manager form: Between 1860-1910, management was needed to deal with problems of urbanization.

What powers do the Strong Mayors have that the Weak Mayors do not have?

1.) A strong mayor may appoint whomever he wants to positions that he needs filled whereas a weak mayor cannot without approval from council. 2.)

Why was there a race riot in Cincinnati in April, 2001?

A White police officer shot and killed 19 year old Timothy Thomas, an unarmed Black man. This was just the tip of the iceberg, 14 other African-Americans were killed in a similar manner, which was the reason for such a riot.

What role did Peter Medoff play in the DSNI?

A community organizer who facilitated the politically driven neighbors to do the D.S.N.I

What is a gated community?

A gated community are the most common forms of housing developments in cities or suburbs. They provide a private world for the privileged and a withdrawal from the outside world.

Define Institutional Ghetto.

A segregated ghetto area whose structure and activities duplicate the texture of a larger society.

What were advantages and disadvantages of the reform movement?

Advantages: Go to the large non-partisan elections . Disadvantages: Different for working people to run for office due to higher expenses.

What Progress has been made since the riot?

An agreement about how law enforcement will use their force onto citizens.

Who was Samuel M. Jones? What time period was this?

An exemplar of progressive reform politics of the time. 1890-1920.

Discuss the effects of automation.

Automation replaced some of the most dangerous factory jobs (such as removing hot coil springs from a coiling machine, which caused many deaths). Employment in the auto-industry decreased significantly. Automation hurt engine production the most. Remedies were given for automobile layoffs but no cure. Automation also affected virtually every sector of the city's economy.

What were "runaway" shops?

Automobile plants that left the inner-city and built in suburban communities, most more than 15 miles from the center city. These shops took with them tax revenue essential to the provision of city services.

Why did the Board of Directors of Hull House sell out?

Because they didn't understand the importance of Hull House when they decided to have the university built in the neighborhood. Many were rich and young, not understanding things like the older generations did.

Did blacks do well in getting jobs in Detroit? What about sales, brewing, grocery stores?

Blacks had to work twice as hard to obtain employment than whites. They were very underrepresented in sales jobs compared to whites. They also were not able to find much employment in chain grocery stores and breweries. The four main tracks of employment for blacks included: 1) Janitors, building attendants, cleaners, and boiler operators. 2) City transportation (Detroit Street Railway) as conductors or motorists. 3) Clerical jobs (mostly held by highly educated black women) such as in areas of Public Health, Housing and Welfare. 4) Primary Education.

1920-197o: The Urban Period

By 1920, 51% of Americans lived in urban areas (of 2,500 or more people). By 1970, 75% of Americans lived in urban areas. Although, many of these people lived in suburbs rather than in central cities. This period is called the "Urban Fringe", because this is the period that America became surburbanized.

How does Chicago compare to other Rust Belt cities (to Question 3)?

Chicago, like other Rust Belt cities, is experiencing a growth in poverty due to loss of industrial jobs.

What entities did the Dudley Street Neighborhood Initiative (DSNI) partner with?

Churches, area social services agencies, and businesses.

What is the reality of voting?

Citizens may have insufficient knowledge to vote in their favor. Voters may not have enough knowledge on how each candidate differs. Thus, they may not be able to make a rational vote. Nonpartisan makes it hard to know how candidates are affiliated. Ballot propositions: to vote "no" could open Pandora's Box. To call for a Constitutional Convention takes a lot of work and change.

Who outlasted reformers and bosses?

Civil engineers, who were specialized to work on roads and harbors. These civil engineers had the expertise in electric and gas utilities; water and sewer facilities; and road and school building. They were apart of the movement towards expert and the efficient.

Why did high-growth cities like Dallas, Phoenix and Las Vegas have such high levels of integration for some minority groups over the decade of the 1990s?

Demographers believe that new residents of these regions were less influenced by preconceived notions of where minorities should live.

What was the cost of economic reform?

Economic reform was good but its cost was social reform. Many ethnic groups were not represented at all.

City Council 1920-1970.

Elected City Council: pay is low but lots of prestige; more males than females. Well educated. 71% of people who ran for city council in San Fran said that they had no further political aspirations. A book in 1977 said one of the biggest adjustments for elected officials was the criticism. Most city commissioners spend 10 or more hours a eek on city business.

Why has the Midwest made such slow movement toward diversity?

Entrenched attitudes about where people should live, economic disparities between Whites and minorities, and a housing industry rife with institutionalized racism.

"It's thievery in the night [what had happened at the Ford River Rouge Plant]", what did this mean?

Ford hauled machines in the darkness because they feared "action by Ford workers to protect their jobs". This worker felt that his job being taken away like this was unjust and theft.

What happened to Hull House is known as Urban Renewal. What is an example of an upside and a downside of this example of Urban Renewal?

Four Upsides: 1. New university and shops built. 2. Stimulus to the economy. 3. Improvement on educational facilities. 4. Improvement on education. Four Downsides: 1. People being forced out of their homes. 2. Elderly unhappy with their new move to "nicer" homes. 3. Destroyed businesses. 4. Erased a historical part of the city.

Cars during the 1920s.

In 1920, less than 1 out of 6 families owned a car. By 1927, 1 out of 2 owned a car. In 1914, Henry Ford brought us the $5 work day, which was revolutionary. Henry Ford opened the River Rouge Plant in 1919. Model T Ford price dropped from $950 in 1910 to $290 in 1924. Federal government gave grants to states to build highways, which helped people move farther away from the city in 1916. This grant was a 50/50 match; half from federal, half from state. In 1929, states came up with gasoline tax, for road construction and maintenance.

What societal changes had taken place in LA?

In 1925, LA was predominantly white protestants. Now, it is the most ethnically diverse city in the world. Many non-Western cultures, and very communitarian; many immigrants. There is no incorporating mechanism for them now.

What did the following president do?

In 1932, Franklin Roosevelt helped push for jobs.

How can the walls of gated communities be "broken down?" In the article, at least five factors are discussed-state each of these.

In order to break down gated communities, we must: strengthen public institutions, making public places safe for everybody to use; building honest, efficient, and humane police departments,a competent court system with laws based on wisdom; and an enlightened city government.

In what time periods were local citizen participation commission/entities strong; in what periods was it weaker? Why was each the case?

In the 1960's, citizen participation was strong because local gov't encouraged such behavior. They had advisory councils , public hearings on city programs, budgets, legislation, and more. In the 1980's citizen participation became weaker because funds were cut to community organizations.

What is formal participation?

It includes elected officials and those elected by officials (i.e. city managers, citizen advisory board).

What did the Michigan Fair Employment Protection Act cover?

It outlawed discrimination on the basis of race, creed, and color, it also prohibited work ads that specified race. This did not work in the majority favor; it served more so as a symbolic act.

When did the progressive reform movement take place? What did progressives contribute to cities?

It took place at the end of the 19th century. Progressives offered: 1. Systematic: they systematically evaluated urban problems with argumentation and experimentation as well as with statistics and photographs. They propose solutions that might be helpful elsewhere. 2. They came up with: hot lunches, zoning, civil service procedures, and employment centers. 3. They put out journals, to pass the word (e.g. Plumber and Sanitary Engineer, 1877; Municipal Review, 1911 (still available today); The Forum, 1886). 4. Many were members of the middle class. 5. They were big on waster water treatment on facilities, bridges, hard surfaced streets. 6. Legitimization of the city as a service with organized reform.

One worker is quoted, "I felt like someone had hit me with a sledge hammer." What did this comment mean?

It was the reactions that many factory workers had when factories shut down and moved business elsewhere, along with their new automation skills that reduced the number of workers that they needed. Many people were out of jobs and did not have the skills for much else.

Select any three of the above (question 3) and discuss how realistic or possible are the chances that a breaking down of the walls will be accomplished?

It will near impossible to make public places safe for everybody, I honestly don't see it happening without strong community support of such an idea. However, there isn't always that willingness to be involved in such a plan among those within communities. And competent court systems with laws based on wisdom would be nice to implement but those carrying out judgement are not always wise nor competent. Many may be biased. The same can be said for city government, although they may be enlightened, doesn't mean that they will do the right thing. More incentives would need to be made to facilitate a just mindset.

How do you go from an Institutional Ghetto to a Physical Ghetto.

Jobs move and people become unemployed, the area in which they live in is not making money so the resources, services, and opportunities also become unavailable.

How had civil culture changed since 1925?

Less communication, hesitation to express ideas. Less people uniting to voice ideas to gov't. There are not many public places or institutions. There is also an inflexible civil service.

What was thought of as the REFORM IDEAL?

Local gov't must provide them with excellent community services, business-like efficiency, and perfect honesty.

What are the criticisms?

Misplaced faith in elected officials. Length between voter and policy is weak although length between citizen and official normally isn't. Why? Maybe revenue shortage that keeps something from being done. Urban Planning: things being built outside of tax base.

Strong Mayor Characteristics...

Most are full-time with a substantial salary. This type of mayor is likely to seek subsequent terms in office. Competition is fierce for this position of greater power. Greater access to info. This type of mayor must have: financial and staff resources; jurisdiction over various social programs, such as housing; access to a friendly local print media; mobilization of political parties (so policies can get pushed through). The mayor must be at the center of the political network to mobilize support and success. Political parties are important to these networks; mayors who are also party leaders are most successful

Citizen Initiated Contact: what does it entail? How does city hall respond?

Most usually self-interested... City hall normally will not respond unless similar complaints are made over the same issue. Few people participate individually due to how neutral people react in positions of power.

The role of business (the committee of 25) was huge in the 60's and 70's. What is the business role now?

Non-partisanship kept committee of 25 together but now they have chosen sides. Top corporations have organized as "LA Business Advisors".

How did Southwestern cities differ from northeast and Midwest cities in governing structures?

Northeast and Midwest= political machines South= Bourbon coalitions Southwest= Municipal Reformers that replaced parties with non-partisanship.

Why decline in the egine of the middle class incorporation? Can a consensus be reached for a new charter for LA?

People may lead to consensus if they come together to agree on issues, such as a new charter document.

What are some positives and negatives of the Political Machine?

Positives: 1. The hierarchy made the machine very organized to receive feedback from citizens in order to determine their needs. Many of the citizens were newly coming from other countries, not knowing English. The machine helped orient and integrate those people. 2. Helped immigrants when others were unwilling or incapable of doing so. 3. Machine was able to pull together the splintered and diverse elements of gov't in order to provide services and favors for residents. Negatives: 1. Anti-democratic in some ways (i.e. closed-door meetings) 2. Corruption (whether it is called honest graft or dishonest graft).

What are lessons for black and Latino elected officials who seek to effectively govern these cities?

Promote minority mobilization and incorporation, this is achieved best when Blacks and Latinos worked with liberal whites.

Facts about the Council-Manager Form.

Richard Childs was the designer, theorist, and public opinion molder for this system. Lewis Brownlow was the practitioner as a city manager. Childs took the idea of a small commission and included the idea of a general manager (as they did in Stauton, VA). First place to use this system was a small city called Sumter in South Carolina in 1912. In 1914, the first large city to have used this system was Dayton, OH (they hired an engineer as the GM). By 1970, the plan by Richard Childs had been implemented by over 100 Canadian municipalities and 1,800 European cities. Over 50% of American cities with over 10,000 in population had this plan. Post WWI, urbanization continued to rise. Post WWII, move to suburbs rised.

What is meant by the social dislocation of Chicago's Inner City?

Social dislocation occurred due to loss of resources, services, and opportunities.

Urban Sprawl Documentary Facts.4

Sprawl: growth of city space but no new people In Detroit, for every 100 homes built, 67 are abandoned and boarded up. Brooklyn was the first suburb. In 1942, Detroit Housing Commission proposed Sojourner Truth homes in a Polish and Italian area. Detroit population shrunk by 30% in the 1960's. Half of Detroit population do not own cars. Sprawl makes it hard to travel; it increases crime, poverty, and other sociological problems. Portland, Oregon has stopped urban decay by adopting limited growth boundaries as to where development could go. Instead of highway, Portland built a rail-line. In 1980's, Detroit's suburbs and city stratified by race. New Urbanism Movement (i.e. Grand Rapids).

What was the "slave market?"

The "slave market" was an informal outdoor labor market of black day laborer, which thrived between the 1940's through the 1960's on Eight Mile Road. This market helped to crystallize an image of black male shiftlessness that came to represent the African American urban "underclass".

Minorities in Municipal Positions from Civil Right period to right before new millennium...

The 1965 voting act helped facilitate a better ground for voting for minorities. In 1970, there were 623 blacks who held elective municipal office. By 1992, 4,408 blacks held elective municipal office. In 1970, there were 48 black mayors. By 1995, this number reached 367. Most black mayors found in smaller cities BUT there have been some in 27 bigger cities with a population over 50,000 (including five of America's biggest cities).

What has the DSNI accomplished since 1985?

The DSNI gained the right to buy any land in the neighborhood. They also managed to develop Winthrop Estates, which gives families with incomes as low as 18,000 the opportunity to own their own homes. They also were able to push out crack-dealers, speeding drivers, and reduce noise from a 24-hour gas station.

How did Samuel M. Jones apply the Golden Rule to Toledo, and what is the Golden Rule?

The Golden Rule was that one should do unto others as one would have them do unto him. Jones applied this rule to many things, such as giving prisoners second chances.

What were three issues that Samuel M. Jones injected into Toledo Politics that dominated public discussion for a generation after his death?

The Independent Movement; Home Rule; and the campaign to bring the streetcar company under strict public control.

What was the OEO? What did it do?

The OEO, also known as the Office of Economic Opportunity helped mandate for "maximum feasible participation" of the poor in programs such as community action programs.

How did Cobo and River Rouge workers react to jobs leaving Detroit?

The Rouge workers tried for a six-hour work day to save jobs through the UAW, although it didn't happen. Then the workers asked Cobo to prevent the movement of jobs. Cobo ignored this request.

What was the second program that FDR created? What did critics say about it?

The WPA, the Works Progress Administration, which immediately put people to work This program was strictly urban, paying workers $50 a month to do labor. In the WPA program 25,000 parks were built, as well as a number of athletic fields and playgrounds. Critics called the WPA, "We Poke Along" because the program served as a short-term employment project.

Select any two of the three case studies and assess the state of citizen participation in each.

The Washington Advisory Neighborhood Commissions: Citizens were deeply involved in decision making. They were successful in removing bank-redlining, preventing "urban renewal" in existing poor neighborhoods. This organization had only a nine member vote, and only bimonthly citizen meetings. The 44th Ward Assembly: One set of voting members consisting of two elected reps from each of the 61 precincts within the ward. The second set of voting members consisted of one representative chosen from each organization with more than 25 members residing in the ward. Any citizen of the 44th ward was automatically a non-voting member.

Discuss the Discretion of company officials in auto hiring.

The auto industry was the largest employer of blacks, but each shop total racial makeup varied from shop to shop. Managers preferred racial homogeneity and only hired blacks when it was "direly needed".

What still needs to be done since the riot?

The discipline of the police officers who killed 15 African Americans in the last seven years.

What role does violence play in establishing gated communities?

The fear of violence gives incentives for the privileged to create gated communities to "protect" themselves.

What is the key question that is raised near the end of the article?

The key question raised near the end of the article is "will younger immigrants hold onto their culture and prefer to live in their own neighborhoods, or will they assimilate into American culture by integrating into racially diverse neighborhoods?".

What was the local 600 v. Ford Motor Co. all about?

The local 600 challenged a basic assumption of labor law the mobility of capital was an inalienable property right, not subject to worker input or negotiation and also challenged the idea that companies owed nothing to the town.

What was the mission of Hull House as discussed by Jane Addams?

The mission was doing the most humblest tasks: feeding babies, taking care of the sick, tending to children, as well as fulfill the educational void.

How is the language written in proposed bills?

The voter may not know what they are voting for or against. The language is at about the 18th grade level... Meaning that there is an upper-class bias. This is mostly done in Oregon and California.

What was the status of labor law and and Ford's right to move?

There was little precedent in labor law that challenged Ford's right to move at will, regardless of its effects on workers or surrounding community.

At the one year anniversary of the riot, how did things look in Cincinnati?

There were people peacefully assembling in the streets, singing gospel music in the streets.

How did Southwestern "Reformers" keep public participation in gov't LOW with little public dissent?

They and their supporters owned mass media and in the absence of well organized opposition that could force public debate, the media excluded opposition that could force public debate, the media excluded opposition voices. They used the middle class as targeted audiences because they had a small list of complaint thus, easy to please.

What did city gov'ts do during the Depression?

They turned to state aid, but governors held to rural interest. Banks also were unhelpful due to their self-interest. So local officials turned to the federal gov't (President Hoover). Hoover and other representatives did not help due to their fears that such handouts would lead to lethargy and that money would be spent unwisely by recipients. Hoover ultimately gave money to local gov'ts and banks but not to citizens.

Is the DSNI "pie in the sky" or can other neighborhoods emulate this as well? To succeed what is needed?

This model can be achieved by other neighborhoods. In order to succeed, these neighborhoods would need a strong team dedicated to their community, as well as leveraging money from municipal, state, and federal authorities along with foundations.

Goals of Detroit Urban League?

To find jobs for middle class blacks; direct resources to unskilled and poor.

City Manager Characteristics

Typically undergraduate degree in social science. Later on gets masters in public or business admin. Tenure is short; 32% held position 3 yrs or less. 50% held less than 7 yrs. The avg tenure for a manager is somewhere between 5-6 yrs. People in these positions are often fired and then rehired. The ICMA (Int'l City Manager Assoc) offers support for managers, particularly ones that have been fired.

What were the "Meanest District Jobs" in Detroit?

Unskilled, low-paid, insecure jobs that were most susceptible to layoffs (such as janitorial and assembly work).

The 1870-1920 period was able to keep city and suburb separate. Why was there a breakdown?

Urban economy decentralized. Cars made it easier to live farther away.

Know about SENIORITY- who came out ahead, what about women?

Whites primarily benefited from seniority by having the ability to obtain higher positions, blacks did not have this benefit. Blacks hired in the 1940's did not get laid off due to seniority (this was their only benefit), blacks hired in the 1950s or later were not given this luxury. Women were seen as temporary workers by companies and unions so they were refused seniority.

Group Mode.

Why do most people do this? Because it shows more concern for a group rather than just self-interest.

Did Jones on the whole succeed as a Progressive Reformer?

Yes, he got the eight hour work day established for those in local gov't; raised municipal wages; made firefighting and law enforcement a friendly civil service; and worked hard to give jobs to them unemployed.

What is informal participation?

You and I taking on city hall or by group, also by voting.

Define Physical Ghetto.

incapable of offering even the most basic of resources, services, and opportunities.