1. Urban Politics Summer 2015 Professor: Martin Saiz
Office: Sierra Tower 220
Phone:
Moodle:
Office Hours: Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays 5:00 – 6:00 pm.

2. A Few Rules 1. Please be on time 2. No leaving once class begins.
3. Turn off or silence cell phone
4. No text messaging
5. No laptops

3. Student Learning Goals and Objectives
Critical Thinking
Students should demonstrate sophisticated skills in reading primary sources.
Students should be able to evaluate the theories and analyses, critically integrating alternative points of view.
Political Decision Making
Students should demonstrate an in-depth understanding and knowledge of the political institutions.
Students should be able to identify policy formation and implementation models

4. Why Study Urban Politics?
3 reasons
1. All politics is local politics
2. America is an urban society
3. Urban political studies have often shaped our understanding of American politics

5. “All Politics Is Local Politics” -Thomas P
“All Politics Is Local Politics” -Thomas P. “Tip” O’ Neill, Former Speaker of the House
Why are local politics important?
Includes key elements of American political life
Often the most visible manifestation of government
Most citizen concerns tend to be local
Devolution of federal power

6. America Is An Urban Society
75 percent live in a metropolitan area
Cities are center of American culture
Social problems are often concentrated in large cities

7. Urban Political Studies Have Often Shaped Our Understanding of American Politics
Pluralism -- Robert Dhal’s study of new haven
Elite theory- Floyd hunter’s study of Atlanta
Competitive federalism -- Paul Peterson’s city limits

8. Course Requirements Book:
Judd, Dennis R. and Todd Swanstrom City Politics, 9th Edition New York: Pearson.
An historical analysis of urban politics.
An introductory background and an explanation of current issues and problems in urban politics
Carefully read the assignment for each class session.

9. Course Requirements Monitor some news source Best Daily Newspaper:
Look for the activities of the Mayor, City Council, and the major city departments (particularly the police and the redevelopment agency) as well as the actions of the authorities that control the city’s major infrastructure: LAX, the Port of LA, LA Water and Power, LA Metro, and Caltrans.
Don’t forget to monitor the business news for local real estate activity.

10. Course Requirements There will be five quizzes (including the final).
These will include a series of short answer questions; you will have a choice of questions to answer. The final exam will similar to the earlier four exams in format and content except that it will include at least one longer essay question.

11. Course Requirements
Actively participate in the urban decision making role playing simulation.
The simulation introduces the student to a world of contending and sometimes contentious groups and people, with a rich diversity of viewpoints, values and goals.

12. Grading
The grade will be determined according to the following formula:
Class Participation %
Average score of 4 in-class short answer quizzes (15% each) 60%
Final short answer and essay quiz 30%

13. Class Organization Class Date Topic Reading Quiz July 8 Introduction
July 13
The urbanization of America and an
introduction to village politics
Chapter 1: City Politics in America: An Introduction
Chapter 2: The Enduring Legacy
July 15
Machine politics,
reform and modernization
Chapter 3: Party Machines and the Immigrants
Chapter 4: The Reform Crusades
In class short answer quiz 1

14. Class Organization Class Date Topic Reading Quiz July 22
The Great Society
Program and the fall of national urban policy
Chapter 7: National Policy and the City/Suburban Divide
Chapter 8: Federal Programs and the Divisive Politics of Race
In class short answer quiz 2
July 27
Urban planning and the suburbs
Chapter 9: The Rise of the Sunbelt
July 29
Politics and the legal basis of planning
Chapter 10: The Rise of the Fragmented Metropolis
In class short answer quiz 3

15. Class Organization Class Date Topic Reading Quiz August 3
Cars, congestion and transportation planning
Chapter 11: Governing the Fragmented Metropolis
August 5
Housing and
housing poor people
Chapter 12: The Metropolitan Battleground
In class short answer quiz 4
August 10
Race and space in American cities
Chapter 13: The Renaissance of the Metropolitan Center
August 12
Theories of power in urban government
Chapter 14: Governing the Divided City
August 17
Growth and economic development planning
Chapter 15: City and Metropolis in the Global Era
Case study simulation: Mammoth Motors’ New Paint Shop
Final short answer quiz