POLS 207: Topic 11 (Metropolitics)

What is a metropolis? What traits characterize metropolitan life?

A metropolis is the most important unit of social and economic life. Characterized by:

• population size and density

• heterogeneity of population

• regional social and economic independence

• authority fragmented among many governments

Describe the status of regional governing structures in the United States.

County, municipal, special districts. Each has political and service functions which can create inefficiency or redundancy.

What are some of the traditional differences between the residents of suburbs and those who live in the urban core of a city?

• Social class: suburbs = middle class

• Race: less diversity in suburbs

  • history of discriminatory zoning laws, racial covenants

• Partisanship: urban core is more Democratic, suburbs more Republican

• Lifestyle: suburban pull factor for child-centered families

• Taxes: lower taxes in suburbs

What is meant by “flight” (e.g. “white flight”) and how did it lead to a decline in the urban core of the city?

Wealthier residents leave declining neighborhoods = areas lose consumer spending & tax revenues.

Those who can't move are left behind which concentrates poverty & reinforces decline

What is gentrification, and why can it be controversial?

Neighborhood changes that occur with influx of higher income residents and higher rent tenants

Controversy: displacement of older residents and businesses. formerly redlined neighborhoods are often at risk. loss of unique neighborhood culture

What are some examples of some land-use policies that can restrict growth? What are some consequences of these policies?

Smart growth emphasis: zoning, subdivision control, utility and environmental regulations, building permits

Consequences: Shortage of affordable housing, costs fall on poor / working class minorities

What is eminent domain? In what ways does the U.S. Constitution restrict its use?

The taking of private property for public use by government or its agent (infrastructure, roads, utility lines). Compensation must be provided to property owners

US Constitution, 5th Amendment: “… nor shall private property be taken for public use, without just compensation.”

• public use = roads, utility and pipelines, infrastructure, park, sports stadium, etc.

How did the U.S. Supreme Court ruling in Kelo v. City of New London (2005) change the legal understanding of public use?

Public use in this case was to help the city’s economy and increase local tax revenue, but was this actually public use?

• Case for New London won (taking DOES qualify as public use)

  • public use is now broadened to public purpose

What solutions do regionalism and localism advance for providing services and addressing the common problems of metropolitan areas? What are some of the common arguments in favor of regional or local solutions to metropolitan problems?

Common Problem: how can metros manage services and shared problems?

Regionalism Solution: centralizing and consolidating governments and services

• Arguments for Regionalism:

  • reducing costs w/ economies of scale (less inefficiencies and redundancies

  • no free riding

  • clear lines of responsibility

Localism Solution: local governments stay separate and provide services for own communities

• Arguments for Localism

  • keep unique community identity

  • decentralization of power

  • retain control of funding (schools especially)

What does the Tiebout Model claim about an individual’s choice of local community? What are some shortcomings of this model?

Tiebout Model is a public choice model of politics in which persons and businesses “vote with their feet” and relocate to a preferred community.

Shortcoming: assumptions of mobility, choice, and perfect information

What are some of the methods metropolitan areas have used to manage their continued growth, providing services, and addressing problems for the region?

Coordination and Consolidation:

• Government consolidations

  • city-county merger

• Municipal annexation

  • extension of city boundaries

• Councils of governments

  • facilitate metro-area coordination / cooperation among regional governments

• Interjurisdictional agreements

  • contracts made between governments

How does annexation put large cities at odds with the residents of unincorporated areas? In Texas, what degree of municipal annexation power do cities have?

It is very difficult and expensive for cities to annex large residential subdivisions.

Texas: Home rule cities have broad power to annex adjoining territory unilaterally in their extraterritorial jurisdiction (EJT)

• resident approval also required