Article | Spring 2008
The Challenges of Effective Urban Governance
by Clare Casey (Center for Urban Research and Policy (CURP))
Is innovation at the level of urban governments becoming more important than federal and state programs to the vitality of global cities like New York? Ester Fuchs (SIPA/Political Science) examined this question at the inaugural session of the Center for Urban Research and Policy (CURP)'s new seminar series, held on February 28, 2008. Drawing on her experience working with Mayor Bloomberg, who has presided over what many consider to be one of the most effective mayoral administrations in NYC history, Fuchs asked whether urban political theory was paying sufficient attention to the growing importance of urban governance and local agency.
Many have claimed that NYC is sui generis. Contesting this view, Fuchs argued that other global cities could derive important lessons on effective governance by looking at New York's recent history, from its emergence from the dire straits of 9/11 (including the loss of 110,000 jobs) to the current period of economic buoyancy.
What Fuchs called "livability initiatives" have played a major role in the overall economic and social health of New York City during Bloomberg's second term. These initiatives use a variety of strategies to improve the quality of life for residents, increase economic opportunities and diversity, and make the city more business-friendly overall.
One only needs to look at NYC public schools to observe the positive impact of the city's innovative strategies on the social sector. Fuchs noted that bringing public schools under mayoral management has brought greater accountability, energy, and, most importantly, results to the educational challenges plaguing the city. The potentially transformative role of municipal "housekeeping" has been under-recognized as a vital part of developmental policy, and the successes of the Bloomberg administration testify to the capacity of local governments to effect change.
With regard to economic development, Fuchs emphasized the importance of thinking of new ways to reach out to businesses and workers. She highlighted the need to design intelligent incentives to attract larger corporations, as well as the benefits of making city government customer service-oriented, transparent, and accessible. Mayor Bloomberg's "311" initiative, for example, has been heralded as an example of such transparency and accessibility in local government. This phone service, provided by operators who speak over 700 languages, helps the city's new residents navigate what might otherwise seem like an impenetrable bureaucratic system. Since its inception in 2003, "311" has played an important role in attracting a socioeconomically diverse workforce to all areas of the economy and and in spurring economic growth.
Certainly, the impact of federal and state level government cannot be ignored, but they are also not the only meaningful forces at work, according to Fuchs. Credit for the positive turnaround in the city's fortunes in recent history is largely due to innovation in mayoral leadership and community-based organizations. And continuing this trend requires that we be attuned to the city's competitive position in the global market and that we maintain the focus on livability and accessibility.
