What is local politics? What is unique as a form of politics? How is it different from national, international politics? What do cities / counties do?

Local Politics Themes (Judd & Swanstrom) –Politics of growth –Politics of governance –Politics of metropolitan fragmentation

Local politics Politics of growth –From colonies until today Jamestown, 1607 Kelo v New London CT, 2005

Local Politics Politics of governance –Managing things at the ground level Immigration, housing, crime, roads –Managing group conflict Ferguson, MO

Local Politics Politics of metropolitan fragmentation –Cities compete against cities ‘globalization before globalization’ –89,000 local governments –Seattle Sonics, Wal-Mart, etc.

Two ‘theories’ of local politics Political economy of place Public choice logic

Theory of Local Politics I Political Economy of Place –Exchange Value Coalition increase value of land held for sale actors who have incentives to be organized in local politics booster-ism In Judd: buy land, promote canals, attract railroads, etc.

Theory of Local Politics I Political Economy of Place –Exchange Value Coalition increase value of land held for sale –How can someone use public tools to increase value of land? –Incentives for these people to be well organized politically

Theory of Local Politics I Political Economy of Place –Use Value Coalition protect “lifestyle” values of land neighborhood groups NIMBY respond to ‘threats’ organize episodically

Theory of Local Politics I Local politics = conflict over rival visions of land use Conflict of values –exchange value coalition vs. use value coalition Dominant Group is pro-development –most places, most of the time

Theory of Local Politics I Result: City as a ‘growth machine’ –pro growth ‘ideology’ –privilege position of business –structural political power –collective action problem –challenges are rare successful challenged even more rare

Theory of Local Politics II Public Choice Logic City as a business firm –supplies services, sets price, offers unique bundle of goods Residents as consumer of services –unique preferences and willingness to pay

Theory of Local Politics II Public Choice Logic A market model –citizens (or businesses) ‘vote with their feet’ –shop around for best mix of public services schools, fire, libraries, parks

Theory of Local Politics II Assumptions of market model –people have information –people are mobile –have lots of choices (36,000 cities & towns) –more choices = more efficency –cities respond to threat of mobility –competition = efficiency gains

Theory of Local Politics II Cities in competition with each other: –to provide services –to retain businesses and residents Examples: –Stadium politics –Manufacturing plants –Big retail –Universities

Theory of Local Politics II Evidence –information about tax levels? –homeowners mention taxes –Firms cite taxes as location criteria –Metro areas with more places have lower service / tax levels –if public officials think that taxing/spending will cause flight...

Theory of Local Politics II Implications –more places is better –get rid of school districts, metro governments –Efficiency vs. equity Example: –School voucher debate

What does this say about cities? City Limits –Political Economy of Place growth machine usually wins, cities pursue pro- development policies –Public Choice competition constrains what cities can spend money on only spend on development, on infrastructure, on public safety.... What cities do not do: unemployment comp., welfare, social services...

Political Development of US Cities Theme - commercial enterprises Colonial Town ( s) – ,000 Europeans – million –a nation of towns –towns (forts) used to settle ‘west’

Political Development Colonial towns –Charters granted by Crown to est. business enterprises –leadership in hands of those who chartered –corporate, self-rule –these are the roots of our towns/cities still, largely agrarian society

Political Development The Early Republic ( ) –Age of Jefferson –Jeffersonian critique of city “mobs of cities are to pure democracy what sores are to the strength of the human body” crowds, pursuit of commerce, recipe for corruption of public virtue virtue in agriculture Louisiana Purchase, 1803

Political Development The Early Republic ( ) –Age of Jackson by 1820, 20% of population in cities expansion of franchise (2x) new organizations evolving to structure politics of cities.... Volunteer Fire Departments Mass based political parties

Political Development of US Cities Age of Jackson –Volunteer Fire Departments mass based egalitarian offered fellowship, social recognition built by efforts of working class hierarchical leadership

Political Development Early Republic ( ) Jacksonian Democracy + urbanization = –frequent elections –more local offices elected –universal (white male) suffrage –to the victor go the spoils –political parties as machines