Abstract This paper describes a study intended to determine the feasability of hiring support staff to assist citycouncil members with their workload. The paper discusses several aspects of the study, including data collection, cost implications and recommendations. The paper concludes that the reasonable cost of obtaining an employee support staff member for each CityCouncil member is well worth the City's resources sometime in the future.
Table of Contents:
Background
Data Collection
Analysis
Coordination
Cost Implications
Recommendations
Specific Role of Public Policy Analyst
From the Paper "At present, however, it is recommended that two secretaries be hired, one for half of the City Council, and one for the other. Further, it is recommended that two research assistants, or Public Policy Analysts, be hired, one for half of the City Council, and one to perform duties for the other half. This will allow each City Council member to perform their duties and responsibilities at an optimum level and capacity. Each new staff employee would assist the City Council members by alleviating their overwhelming workload, coordinating meetings, performing research on important legal and administrative issues."
Abstract This paper discusses and examines affirmative action at AT&T and Pasadena (California) CityCouncil. It focuses on the ethical challenges both organizations face with regard to their affirmative action practices and its compliance with the law. The author explores hiring and promotion issues.
From the Paper "In any discussion on affirmative action and its challenging effects on business and government the two key words are discrimination and justice. The root of the word discrimination comes from 'discrete' from the Latin meaning to sift apart ..."
This paper discusses physical space barriers decreasing the quality of education for minorities in the United States, as presented to the New York CityCouncil Education Committee.
Abstract This paper discusses the manipulation of physical space and other barriers diminishing quality education for minorities in the United States. In the paper, the author conducts a nation wide scan of those barriers, the players and interests involved, and the effects of those barriers on life chances, and identifies several alternative courses of action to remedy the situation. Specifically, these alternatives were judged upon their feasibility so that the New York CityCouncil Education Committee could rely on the suggestions of the author in deciding how best to address this issue.
Outline:
Introduction
Residential Segregation in the United States Since the 1968 Fair Housing Act and How it is Connected to Quality Education
Key Players, Interests, Power and Histories
Effects of Residential Segregation its Effects on Education
Conclusion and Possible Courses of Action
Suggestions and Recommendations
Changing Election Districts
Changing Zoning and Land Use Regulations
Changing School Districts
Tables
From the Paper "Residential segregation is the manifestation of the concept of economic superiority and minority socioeconomic inferiority through geographically dominated areas forcing minorities to live in designated areas away from the superior economically advantaged. As time goes on and a minorities gain economic success and try to move to an area that is populated by the economic affluent but they are blocked by a number of means including: zoning laws, housing development regulations, mortgage inflation, and changes in voting district zones. This behavior is illegal conduct in the United States since the passing of the 1968 Fair Housing Act and all subsequent acts that followed because the Fair Housing Act fails to eliminate discrimination in housing discrimination based on race, national origin, age, and families with children."
Tags: socioeconomic minority geographic economic, development regulations, discrimination
Abstract In this article, the writer discusses the issue of reform for the United Nations Security Council. The writer looks at the world's primary instrument for maintaining international order and peace. Further, the writer discusses various proposals and argues that enlarging the structure of the Security Council would be beneficial.
From the Paper "Inside the United Nations and in both the halls of governments and the popular press, a debate has raged over various proposals to reform the Security Council, to make that organ's membership less exclusive and to improve its capacity to function in response to various crises and issues. As Marianne Hanson commented, the United Nations' Security Council U.N.S.C. remains the world's primary instrument for maintaining international peace and security. Various reform proposals have been put forward reflecting the recognition on the part of ... "
Tags: United Nations, Security Council, international relations.
Abstract This paper examines why there is general agreement around the world that the United Nations Security Council is in thorough need of reform, for it has failed many times to meet its responsibility to prevent regional conflicts. The paper addresses this problem by establishing that these failures have been due primarily to fundamental structural and procedural flaws in the Security Council's composition and methods of debate.
From the Paper The United Nations Security Council: Issues of Reform Part A Introduction There is general agreement around the world that the United Nations Security Council is in thorough need of reform, for it has failed many times to meet its responsibility to prevent regional conflicts. I propose to address this problem by establishing that these failures have been due primarily to fundamental structural and procedural flaws in the Security Council's composition and methods of debate. In the process, I would emphasize that the Council's lack of formal authority to enforce its decisions is another inherent flaw, which compounds its structural and procedural flaws."
Abstract In this article the writer discusses the privy council, supreme court of Canada in relation to social, political and economic currents in Canada. It is argued in this essay that the privy council and the supreme court are influenced by the social, political and economic currents in Canadian society.
From the Paper "The decisions of the Judicious Comity of the Privy Council (JCPC) and the Supreme Court of Canada have always been politically and legally controversial. One of the major issues is whether the JCPC and the Supreme Court of Canada have strictly followed The British North America Act of 1867 (The Canadian Constitution) or whether the judges in the JCPC and the Supreme Court of Canada have made their decisions based on the prevailing social, economic and political currents of the time in Canadian society."
Abstract This paper discusses Phenix City in Russell County, Alabama, otherwise known as "Sin City, USA." The paper discusses the history of illegal activity in Phenix City and how the city became a haven for criminals. The paper then goes on to describe the efforts to clean up Phenix City and how its image has begun to evolve over time. The paper concludes by discussing the name of the city, "Phenix."
Table of Contents:
I. A.K.A.
"Once Known as "Sin City"
II. Commonplace Sins
A Haven for Hellish Activities?
Cleaning Up Phenix City III. The name, "Phenix"
Excuses and Reasons
From the Paper "Hugh Bentley, a layman, decided to try to fire the churches into action against the sin and criminal activity in 1946. Bentley stressed that Phenix City's problem was a moral one and that until the moral breakdown was changed, things would not improve. January 9, 1951, Bentley's house was blown up with thirty-six sticks of dynamite, however, neither he nor any of his family was seriously injured."
"In 1954, Albert Patterson, a sixty-year-old Phenix City lawyer, adopted his campaign crusade to be cleaning Phenix City's gambling machine. At this time, Phenix City was described by Life Magazine as the "wickedest city in the United States, . . . everything from gambling to murder to arson to fraud." (Ibid.) June 1, 1954, Patterson won the Democratic primary."
Abstract This paper illustrates the issues of large urban port cities as seen in Dublin and New York City. The paper provides an in-depth history of each city and compares the social issues of the urban environment, ethnic diversity, poverty and crime.
From the Paper "New York City is generally considered the doorway to America. It is the largest city in the nation, seven million strong, and a main hub of financial activity. This is probably the most racially and ethnically diverse of the large American cities, the epitome of the melting pot. A third of the population is of African descent, fifteen percent are Jewish, twelve percent Hispanic. Other ethnic populations have a vocal presence, including the Irish, Italian, Chinese, Korean, Indian, and other Asians. If one city has represent urban America over the last 200 years, it would be the harbor city of New York, New York.
" Across the Atlantic ocean lies another city, a little farther from the ocean, though not much. It is the "fair city" of Dublin, that capitol of the Republic of Ireland. This is a fairly heterogeneous city, for it is the center of 4,000 year old struggle for cultural sanctity and independence. The vast majority of the citizens are Irish or British nationals, Christian and white. Most are Roman Catholic, and the largest "minority" are the British Protestants. One fourth of the citizens of Ireland, approximately 900,000 souls all told, now live in Dublin and its suburbs, and its name is becoming synonymous with Irish culture and tradition."
Tags: dublin, new, york, city, urban, city, cities, port, social, issue, environemnt, ethnic, diversity, poverty, crime
Abstract This paper explores the nature of the City of the Angels looking at a very mixed bag of primary sources about the nature of commerce and the city. The paper also looks at how the city has been defined by the nature of 20th century and now 21st century capitalism. It also looks at the way the suburb has been defined by capitalism and the ways in which Los Angeles as a city that cannot exist or be understood in isolation, has also been defined by the economics of suburbs and by the ways in which the bright promise of a city on the edge of the continent becomes so easily tarnished.
From the Paper "We may borrow an opening line of a famous Russian novel and bend it to our own purposes, we might say that while every city is unhappy in its own ways, every suburb is unhappy in precisely the same way. This aphorism that we have just coined may help us to understand the history of the city of Los Angeles ? although the history of this great American city is in fact one of the most difficult of all urban histories to write. It is difficult to talk about the nature of this city because it is not exactly a city ? if one's model of a city is a place like New York City that is. But it is also a difficult city to define and to describe if one is attempting to describe it as a suburb. For while in the popular imagination Los Angeles may be nothing more than a suburb (although one imagines that its reputation for being a suburb is one based, again, in East Coast sensibilities), it is not in fact a classic bedroom community. Los Angeles is both suburb and city, both Dream Factory and home, a city of significant and fascinating contradictions."
Tags: ethnic, struggle, natural, disaster, capitalism, city, american, image
Abstract A look at the discovery of Panama and the beginnings of Panama City. The paper discusses how the city was strategically placed and how, with the canal, it has developed into an important metropolitan city of South America. History of the city since the 1500's is surveyed. The paper deals with the series of foreign rulers and explorers who controlled the city.
From the Paper "In 1501, Spanish explorer Rodrigo de Bastidas discovered Panama in South America, which soon became a major point of dispersal for Spanish conquest and settlement in the New World (Preston 47). But of much greater value to the colonizers at the time was the City of Panama, then the capital of Castilla del Oro (later renamed into the Isthmus of Panama), and discovered in 1519 by Pedro Arias de Avila. The Isthmus served as a passage of advantage to Spanish ships between the Atlantic and Pacific oceans and between continents (Preston 46) in their sea exploration and conquest activities. Panama City's importance derived exclusively from its control of that passage or route (Blouet 726) ? from the City, expeditions set out for the conquest of the Pacific side of Central America up to Nicaragua and that of the entire South American west coast up to Chile (Blouet 729)."
Abstract This six page undergraduate paper examines the impact of technology on cities. The author notes that the impact of computer technology on cities has been significant, especially over the last ten years, for the tremendous expansion of e-commerce is transforming the retail shopping habits of millions of city residents. The writer points out that instead of shopping in the retail districts or suburban shopping malls of cities, many people are staying at home and shopping by computer. Further the writer notes that this is driving many metropolitan area stores out of business, which is producing a series of cause-and-effect developments which are altering cities in numerous ways.
From the Paper "The impact of computer technology on cities has been significant, especially over the last ten years, for the tremendous expansion of Internet e-commerce is transforming the retail shopping habits of millions of city residents. Instead of shopping in the retail districts or suburban shopping malls of cities, many people are staying at home and shopping by computer. This is driving many metropolitan area stores out of business, which is producing a series of cause-and-effect developments which are altering cities in numerous ways. For example, when "brick and mortar" stores go out of business, cities lose important sales tax revenue because people are not spending money in local stores."
Abstract This paper discusses the role of public administration in five different American cities. The cities examined include Columbia, Missouri; Bozeman, Montana; Denver, Colorado; Fargo, North Dakota; and Yuma, Arizona. Different aspects of each city are discussed, including an examination of city organization and governmental structure.
From the Paper "Public administration within the context of any city can take on a variety of forms. A number of organizational structures and functions are relatively common, such as fire and police protection. However, some cities have specialized needs and must develop organizational systems capable of meeting those needs and providing for the citizens of the city. These special needs often are developed outside the standard organizational structure of the city's administration functions. This is evident when we consider the Storm Water Task Force, developed as a special committee in the city of Columbia, MO. In 2001, the city council of Columbia authorized the Public Works department in the city to create a new task force that would deal specifically with storm water issues and agendas (Willett)."
Abstract A thorough history of the city of Fez, Morocco. The author examines the religions present in the city, and their influences upon each other as well the architectural designs of the city. Includes a timeline of the major events of the city.
From the Paper "The city of Fez is located in north-central Morocco, east of the capital city, Rabat. It is roughly 150 miles south of the Mediterranean and 150 miles inland from the Atlantic coast. Sited in a valley of the Middle Atlas Mountains and fed by the Wadi Fez River, the city has an excellent environment to prosper in. The lack of adverse natural conditions has caused the city to become a cultural, religious and commercial center in Morocco. Its location at the intersection of several important trade routes has kept the city one of the most technologically advanced in Africa. What has kept this city in such high regard by the millions of Muslims who visit it every year and the 570000 people who reside there? (www.i-cias.com) The answer lies in the rich history of Fez. "
Tags: africa, architecture, city, europe, history, islam, jew, madrasa, mosque, muslim
Abstract The following discussion will focus on city hall design in the last half of the twentieth century. The focus will be on the city halls of Kitchener, Mississauga, Ottawa and Toronto. Initially, a brief history of Canadian city hall architecture and an outline of the International style will be presented. Subsequently, the four projects will be briefly described and analyzed. A concluding section will offer some qualitative comments and assess the broader meaning of these projects.
Abstract The writer of this article notes that Robert Lewis, in "A City Transformed: Manufacturing Districts and Suburban Growth in Montreal, 1850-1929", and Richard Harris, in "Industry and Residence: The Decentralization of New York City, 1900-1940", deal with the phenomenon of suburbanization in two large North American cities within time frames overlapping the early 20th century. The writer points out that both authors' analyses of changes in residential settlement, industrial relocation, and the restructuring of the urban and suburban landscapes along class lines represent a radical revision of the traditional conceptual models of the processes of suburbanization. The writer maintains that both of these articles are primarily descriptive as opposed to theoretical. It is only when one considers them in terms of the article they later jointly authored - "The Geography of North American Cities and Suburbs, 1900-1950" - that one may see how explicitly their revisionist perspectives, foreshadowed in these earlier articles, have challenged prevailing theoretical models of suburbanization in North America.
Outline:
Introduction
New York and Montreal: Key Findings
The Findings in their Larger Theoretical Context
Conclusion
From the Paper "The findings that the move to the suburbs in both Montreal and New York City during the late 19th and early 20th century was comprised of working class people represents a critical distinction between this phase of suburbanization and the more well-known later 20th century model. For example, in the 20th century settlement in the suburbs was seen as a means of escaping low-income housing. In a number of American cities, a racial dimension was added to this class distinction, as the suburbs became areas to which the blue-collar white workers and the white middle-class resettled from the inner city, which was left to the African American working class. Studies of cities such as Detroit have found that these industrial suburbs are notably "hostile" to Black settlement; a factor that adds the complications of race and ethnicity to class in explaining settlement patterns and the processes of suburbanization."
