The Relation of Local Government Structure to Urban Renewal

Abstract

Enthusiasts for a municipal activity which demands wide cooperation from all corners of local government are often likely to favor a clear hierarchy of authority, which the policy is formulated at the top level of local government-whether it be mayor, council, or city manager-and then is put into effect from above. On the other hand, enthusiasts for a narrowly limited and self-contained activity are likely to favor granting to the organization responsible for the activity a substantial independence from the usual city hall chain of command. Since urban renewal requires both the widespread cooperation of many existing local government departments and agencies and the pursuit of some relatively limited and self-contained new activities, it is understandable that there has been no generally accepted doctrine as to wfiich local government structure is the best for accomplishing urban renewal. Adding to the complexity of discovering an optimum municipal organization for urban renewal is the fact that the administration of a redevelopment program does not end at the local level. Federally aided local renewal programs involve the close participation of the federal government-as well as that of private organizations, business firms, civic associations, neighborhood groups, and many others. How may all these elements best be coordinated? Urban renewal is not so narrow and so immediate an objective that renewal enthusiasts dare neglect general local government procedures or authority structure. It is not so broad an objective that whatever contributes to good procedure and executive power, general, will necessarily be good for urban renewal. Renewal involves middle-range objectives which demand both a certain freedom of action limited fields, and some centralization of responsibility and authority local government. In this connection, consider the recent observation of a businessman that in the past we have generally thought of municipal operations as separate and distinct service functions-police, fire, schools, zoning, sanitation, and so forth ... the greatest impact of federal programs for urban renewal has been to change completely our purposes and aims of city government. While municipal services continue to be important, we must now look additionally for local governments to think terms of the economic growth and development of the community.'