The Reform Movement

Complaints about the Machine 1) Legitimate but not very democratic 2) Material benefits were small, mostly symbolic (political acknowledgement, social standing, acceptance, belonging, solidarity). Can’t live on symbolic goods. 3) inefficient and expensive 4) coercive, particularly for municipal employees 5) excluded many ethnic groups (unable to lessen some social conflicts)

In response to the boss and the excesses of machine politics A.It should be noted that for some ~ the reform movement was an outright fear of the potentially powerful clout of the new non-WASP groups. B.But much of the reform movement was also couched in terms of various normative underpinnings.

1.Urban policies and issues were primarily technical matters, rather than matters properly solved by negotiation and partisan considerations 2.Fiscal efficiency was paramount, reflecting an essentially conservative government that was not in the business of expanding the scope of conflict. 3.Government would be run by the professionals and experts, who should he free from partisan and political pressure.

4. Government, particularly at the local level, ought not to be a major institution involved in managing important social problems and conflicts. 5.Affairs of state and government Local should be insulated from the masses. Instead, experts and professionals should be given wide discression.

II. The important thing about this set of values is not merely how it stands in contrast to the brokerage system of the machine, but the kinds of institutions, procedures, and rules it suggested and supported:

A.Nonpartisanship 1.On the ballot 2.The recruitment and candidates B.At-large elections (vs. Wards/Districts) C. Council-manager system D.Civil service

E. Off year elections F. Direct democracy G. Taxing/spending limitation H. Term limits I. POLITICAL VACUUM: Rise-of groups that play role of parties, businesses, labor unions, newspaper, etc. Importance of those able to generate community wide pressure

The Impact of the Reforms A. Has increased centralization of decisionmaking in local governments rather than decentralization. B. More insulated decision-making/less responsiveness C. Lower participation rate D. Greater irrationality of voting (personality vs. policy or party)

Why the Reform is problematic 1) Local government is not just about delivering technical services – its about creating stability, legitimacy, solidarity, public order.

Who do you trust to make the decisions regarding our community? Public Institutions Private Individuals, Private Organizations What does Andrew White Say?

City Affairs Are Not Political A city should be run like a corporation The city has nothing to do with general political interests (like national politics and political parties) Should be run by people that has a direct interest in it (like businessmen). At large elections – No districts or wards – districts made up of thieves will send thieves

The Machine reconsidered, Again A.More legitimacy (representing multiple ethnic, religious, and racial interests in government). Providing social mobility for those groups traditionally shut out. B.performed the role of controlling and easing social tensions in the community C.the idea of decentralized ward fits better with our tradition of federalism and the conservative devolution D. Increased Voter turnout

The Reform Movement, reconsidered again, and again Samuel Hays (1964): Reconsiders the assumption that the reform movement was initiated by the middle-class. His research suggests that it was the economic elite that pushed for the new reforms and that the working-class and middle-class fought against these reforms.

Samuel P. Hays Amy Bridges (1997) argues that the urban poor fared better in the political machines than in the reform cities in the sunbelt. The machine provided direct benefits to the poor, naturalized immigrants and taught them how to participate in the political process to get their voice heard, where as the sunbelt reform cities created numerous barriers to prevent the poor and new immigrants from participating.