Urban Politics

1. Urban Politics Governing the Sprawled Metropolis

2. Overview • The New Regionalism

3. The New Regionalism • Fragmentation and American Federalism National Government 1 State Governments 50 Local Governments 87,849 Counties 3,034 Municipalities 19,431 Townships 16,506 Special Districts 35,356 School Districts 13,522

4. The New Regionalism • Fragmentation and American Federalism National Government 1 State Governments 50 Local Governments 87,849 Counties 3,034 Municipalities 19,431* Townships 16,506 Special Districts 35,356 School Districts 13,522 New Jersey has 566 municipalities

5. The New Regionalism • Fragmentation and American Federalism National Government 1 State Governments 50 Local Governments 87,849 Counties 3,034 Municipalities 19,431 Townships 16,506 Special Districts 35,356* School Districts 13,522 *Fastest growing form of government

6. The New Regionalism • Fragmentation and American Federalism National Government 1 State Governments 50 Local Governments 87,849 Counties 3,034 Municipalities 19,431 Townships 16,506 Special Districts 35,356 School Districts 13,522 New Jersey has 615 school districts

7. The New Regionalism • Of those 615 school districts • 22 have no schools, no students • e.g., Teeterboro School District • 3 School Board members, $267,000 budget, and no schools • Statewide, these districts serve 2,172 students and cost taxpayers $800,000 in administrative expenses

8. The New Regionalism • Implications? • land use • taxation • transportation • spending All made independently of each other

9. The New Regionalism • By 1990s, critics of the system argued that • “flight creates blight” • due to fragmentation, wealthier cities/municipalities can provide better services • providing better services attracts more investment and people • wealthier cities/municipalities stay wealthy

10. The New Regionalism • But these wealthy enclaves need the surrounding community in order to survive • low quality education in one area lead to unqualified workforce • traffic problems in one area impact surrounding • environmental problems in one impact surrounding

11. The New Regionalism • Model for reform was the reform movements that swept the end of the machine era • current system too parochial, too inefficient • separate “political” from “administration” • fewer elected positions • consolidate county and municipal governments

12. The New Regionalism • Some success at city/county merging (Louisville, Indianopolis, Jacksonville), for the most part met with little enthusiasm from public • Reformers shift emphasis to “cooperative agreements” between county, suburb, and city and piecemeal reform

13. The New Regionalism • Leads to expansion of special districts • Cooperation on “mundane” administrative tasks tax collection, tax assessment, data processing

14. Smart Growth • Movement grows from wealthier suburban enclaves in response to declining quality of life within metropolitan areas • traffic congestion, pollution, sprawl

15. Smart Growth • Idea is to manage growth in a more “intelligent” manner so as to provide for “quality” development rather than “quantity” development • Local management of regional growth possible since US does not have a national land use policy or code

16. Smart Growth • Golden vs Ramapo (1972) • In 1969, the Ramapo town board amended its master plan and zoning ordinance to delay the development of land within its jurisdiction over an 18 year period by sequencing that growth with the provision of capital improvements. • The direct effect of these amendments was to postpone residential subdivision in some parts of town for up to 18 years. • These were challenged as being beyond the legal authority of the town

17. Smart Growth • Court of Appeals upholds the plan and thus provides the constitutional basis for local autonomy in deciding land use issues (Supreme Court declined to issue a writ of certiorari when the developers appealed the decision) • Smart Growth reforms usually advocated a metropolitan wide plan for managing growth • In effect, this means limiting the ability of wealthier enclaves to insulate and protect themselves

18. Smart Growth • Typical Smart Growth proposals delineate green corridors and areas for development • Enforce by denying public support for infrasctructure to development in areas not designated for development • To date, Portland, Oregon is the only city that has a metropolitan wide land use policy

19. New Urbanism • Apply some of the Smart Growth ideas to urban context • Coordinate development within urban areas to: • lessen reliance on automobile • attract visitors, limit flight, and attract new residents

20. New Urbanism • Basic policy prescription: • no new housing subdivisions • no more shopping centers • no more office parks • no more highways • neighborhood growth (mixed use, diverse design)