Local Government and Suburbanization

• Local issues

• state and local government

• growth and sprawl

• smart growth

Local Government--what people really care about

• Some issues of local govt:• promoting jobs and housing• maintaining town character--pleasing neighborhoods and

vital downtown• preserving local environment and green space• providing recreation• providing health and social services• ensuring public peace and safety• maintaining infrastructure, waste disposal• providing schooling

Forms of local government• City: - weak mayor (council/manager) vs. strong mayor- district/at large elections- planning commission, police review board, etc.Special districts:- school, transportation, air, water, waste management• County: - Board of Supervisors- City council for the unincorporated areas- Oversee provision of county services

State Government in CA

• Governor and statewide offices• plural executive

• 40 Senators, 80 Assemblypersons

Growth and sprawl

• abandoning pre-automobile land-use• low density• separation of functions• single family residential, commercial, office, industrial

Is growth good or bad?

• What is smart growth?• “infill” not “greenfield”

• higher densities, especially in urban cores

• mixed uses

• streetscape designed for pedestrians as much as cars

• http://www.sierraclub.org/sprawl/community/transformations/index.asp

Gated Communities and “privatopias”

• Detachment from the public realm?

A choice