PLACE MATTERS -- new book on urban politics and policy

[colist-admin at comm-org.utoledo.edu]

From:  	Peter Dreier <dreier at oxy.edu>

Friends,

	John Mollenkopf, Todd Swanstrom and I are excited about the publication
in a few weeks of our new book, PLACE MATTERS: METROPOLITICS FOR
THE TWENTY-FIRST CENTURY. More information about the book, plus an order
form, is available at http://www.kansaspress.ku.edu/drepla.html. 
	The book, which is available in paperback as well as hardback, argues 
that the urban crisis is both a moral challenge to our nation's conscience 
and an economic challenge to America's prosperity and our families'
pocketbooks. It analyzes the causes of the urban crisis and offers both a
political roadmap for change and a progressive policy agenda for addressing
the urban crisis. It is written with policymakers, activists, nd
journalists as well as academics and students in mind. While the book
"soundsthe alarm" about the urban crisis, it is also hopeful that we can
build a metroolitian coalition to put urban issues back on the nation
agenda. The book focuses on three things: 
	o First, spatial inequalities. We examine the twin problems of economic
and racial segregation, on the one hand, and suburban sprawl, on the other
hand -- and their economic, social and political consequences and costs.
PLACE MATTERS looks at how where we live affects our access to jobs and
public services (including education), our access to shopping and culture,
our level of personal security, the availability of medical services, and
even the air we breathe. Spatial inequalities have devastating effects on
those who live in areas of concentrated poverty, but it also imposes costs
(often unrecognizeed) on middle class families who, in their effort to
escape the problems of cities, often undermine the quality of their own
lives by suffering the effects of unrestricted sprawl.
	o Second, policy choices. We emphasize that urban problems do not
result primarily from individual choices in free markets, but have been
shaped by government policies at the federal, state and local levels,
reinforced by media reporting on urban issues and by the political influence
of powerful business interests.  We compare the efforts of conservative,
liberal and progressive urban regimes to cope with this dilemma, drawing on
case studies of different cities.  We examine the good work that community
groups, unions and progressive elected officials are doing, such as the
movement for "living wage" laws and the efforts of CDCs. We find that while
these efforts make a difference, they are often frustrated by what we call
the "iron cage of municipal finance" -- the fiscal constraints that reflect
a huge imbalance between available resources and social needs. We need new
federal policies that can level the playing field and address cities'
fundamental problems, but that are also politically feasible. We outline a
progressive federal policy agenda that improves the condition of the poor
and near-poor, addresses unrestricted sprawl, and promotes more cooperation
between central cities and older suburbs.
	o Third, political strategy. Any progressive agenda must build a political
majority for reform. It must engage community organizations, labor unions,
environmental groups, faith-based groups, civil rights groups, and sectors
of business who have a stake in both central cities and older suburbs. We
look closely at demographic changes, congressional politics, voting
patterns, and other factors in promoting a political strategy that can help
build this coalition. We make specific recommendations for forging this
coalition, across racial lines, including a look at such issues as
congressional redistricting, voter mobilization, and labor-community
coalitions.
	We are pleased that colleagues such as William Julius Wilson, Margaret
Weir, Neal Peirce, and Richard DeLeone have praised the book and we hope
you'll take a look at it -- and, if so moved, give us your feedback,
friendly and critical. For those of you who will be at the American
Political Science Association meetings in San Francisco at the end of
August, the University Press of Kansas will have copies available at its
booth.
	Thank you.

Peter Dreier
*****************************************************

Peter Dreier
Dr. E.P. Clapp Distinguished Professor of Politics
Director, Urban & Environmental Policy Program
Urban & Environmental Policy Institute
Occidental College
1600 Campus Road
Los Angeles, CA 90041
Phone: (323) 259-2913
FAX: (323) 259-2734
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