URPL-GP 4666 - NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Service



URPL-GP 4666 Topics in Urban Studies Fall 2019Instructor InformationMichael BlakeEmail: mc7877@nyu.eduPhone: (o) 212.998.7562 (m) 847.452.9510Office Address: Puck Building – Office 3037Office Hours: By appointment.Course InformationClass Meeting Times: Wednesdays (9/4, 9/18, 10/16, 10/23, 10/30, 11/13, 12/4) from 6:45pm - 8:25pm Class Location: Silver 518Course DescriptionGiven the continual changing dynamics in urban environments, policy and politics in cities must have game changing impact. How do we ensure that reality in an ever shifting climate given racial, gender, economic and societal changes? This course explores the opportunities, challenges and solutions for governing an urban community within a city, promoting equity and social justice, while providing measurable impact. Delivering quality public services and driving large-scale change initiatives is made all the more challenging because of the complex array of stakeholders and institutions that impact the life of an urban community, but,we will practically lay out how to create solutions thrive in a smart, urban city through the SITUATION-ACTION-RESULT approach.This course will be led by Michael Blake, who serves as a third term New York State Assembly Member in The Bronx, Vice Chair at large of the Democratic National Committee, and is a former White House and campaign aide to President Barack Obama. In this course, we will explore how public servants successfully effect change, and consider the roles of the federal, state and city government, business leaders, community groups, the press, and other citizens play in enacting generational change in our urban communities.Course and Learning ObjectivesWe will learn that, due to systemic lack of sufficient investment, to create transformational and impactful urban policy, we must focus on EQUITY not EQUALITY We will understand the continual intersectionality of Federal, State and City policies and their impact on Urban Communities, along with the multiple external and internal factors that impact successful policy implementation.We will focus on HOW to make impactful urban policy through the approach of SITUATION-ACTION-RESULT.We will create an individual policy memorandum to be presented to an elected official that demonstrates TRANSFORMATION at scale within a community and/or issue, which will be presented during the final class, around the frame of "SO LONG AS..." Each student will initially present a policy proposal, which will be followed by a final memo.Each student will do a “press conference” announcing a 2020 policy rollout, in the midst of a Presidential election, to demonstrate that local policies are impacted by federal and state policies and circumstances. Moreover, each student will do a second “BREAKING NEWS” press conference to convey progress on said rollout. These activities will demonstrate that press rollouts can impact policy implementation almost as much as the actual substance of the policy. Learning Assessment TableGraded AssignmentCourse Objective CoveredAssignment 1 – Policy Proposal1-3, 4Assignment 2 – Policy Memo1-3, 4Class Presentations1-3, 5Assessment Assignments and EvaluationIn addition to attending classes, students are required to perform the following tasks:Participation (20% of total grade)Students enrolled in this class are required to attend the events, complete any required reading, fully participate in class discussions and when speakers are present participate by asking questions during Q and A. While, I do not expect that every student will ask questions of every speaker, students will be graded based on their overall engagement and participation. Assignment 1 - Policy Proposal (20% of total grade)Recognizing that the issues must be addressed in a 2020 implementation lens, you will delineate the policy issue you want to research and present on at the end of the course, including your proposed community engagement strategy, tactics for implementation and demonstration of a dual internal policy preparation and external policy promotion strategy - Double spaced, Times New Roman and 12 point font.Due Date: Monday, October 25, 2019, by 11:59 pmAssignment 2 - Policy Memo (40% of total grade)You will submit a policy proposal to a local candidate of any city of your choice detailing how you will address that city’s Intersectional urban challenges in 2020 given federal, state and city dynamics using the SITUATION-ACTION-RESULT frame through his/her campaign and throughout his/her first term. The memo will be a maximum of ten (10) pages, Double spaced, Times New Roman, 12 point font and include but not be limited to demonstrating: the historical root causes of inequity for said city, the federal, state and city previous proposed and implemented remedies, the new approach that you are proposing including budget, agencies and personnel, the explained rationale for said path of action and determine the metric oriented progress report for the next four years. Due Date: Wednesday, November 27, 2019, by 11:59 pmClass Presentation (20% of total grade)You will make two public presentations to demonstrate that many times the public understanding and perception of a policy can often times lead to the success of the implementation of said policy.First, you will hold a seven (7) minute “press conference” to rollout of your policy proposal including timeline for implementation, the name of your branded initiative, the relevant agencies, budget and plan of action, realizing that you need to find ways to break through the coverage given the 2020 news cycle.Second, you will have a second three (3) minute “BREAKING NEWS” press conference that demonstrates the progress of your policy rollout so that constituents understand the updates as a significant development has happened within your city and/or related to your issue of interest, taking into account the fiscal and legislative calendar of your city to determine the feasibility of implementation amidst the 2020 electoral calendar.Due Date: Wednesday, December 4, 2019 during class timeLetter GradesLetter grades for the entire course will be assigned as follows:Letter GradePointsA4.0 pointsA-3.7 pointsB+3.3 pointsB3.0 pointsB-2.7 pointsC+2.3 pointsC2.0 pointsC-1.7 pointsF0.0 pointsStudent grades will be assigned according to the following criteria:(A) Excellent: Exceptional work for a graduate student. Work at this level is unusually thorough, well-reasoned, creative, methodologically sophisticated, and well written. Work is of exceptional, professional quality.(A-) Very good: Very strong work for a graduate student. Work at this level shows signs of creativity, is thorough and well-reasoned, indicates strong understanding of appropriate methodological or analytical approaches, and meets professional standards.(B+) Good: Sound work for a graduate student; well-reasoned and thorough, methodologically sound. This is the graduate student grade that indicates the student has fully accomplished the basic objectives of the course.(B) Adequate: Competent work for a graduate student even though some weaknesses are evident. Demonstrates competency in the key course objectives but shows some indication that understanding of some important issues is less than complete. Methodological or analytical approaches used are adequate but student has not been thorough or has shown other weaknesses or limitations.(B-) Borderline: Weak work for a graduate student; meets the minimal expectations for a graduate student in the course. Understanding of salient issues is somewhat incomplete. Methodological or analytical work performed in the course is minimally adequate. Overall performance, if consistent in graduate courses, would not suffice to sustain graduate status in “good standing.”(C/-/+) Deficient: Inadequate work for a graduate student; does not meet the minimal expectations for a graduate student in the course. Work is inadequately developed or flawed by numerous errors and misunderstanding of important issues. Methodological or analytical work performed is weak and fails to demonstrate knowledge or technical competence expected of graduate students.(F) Fail: Work fails to meet even minimal expectations for course credit for a graduate student. Performance has been consistently weak in methodology and understanding, with serious limits in many areas. Weaknesses or limits are pervasive.NYU ClassesStudents will use NYU Classes to view the most updated version of the course syllabus, to read course announcements, to access any assigned readings for which a URL has not been provided; and to submit class assignments.Henry and Lucy Moses Center for Students with Disabilities at NYUAcademic accommodations are available for students with disabilities.? Please visit the Moses Center for Students with Disabilities (CSD) website and click the “Get Started” button. You can also call or email CSD (212-998-4980 or mosescsd@nyu.edu) for information. Students who are requesting academic accommodations are strongly advised to reach out to the Moses Center as early as possible in the semester for assistance.NYU’s Calendar Policy on Religious HolidaysNYU’s Calendar Policy on Religious Holidays states that members of any religious group may, without penalty, absent themselves from classes when required in compliance with their religious obligations. Please notify me in advance of religious holidays that might coincide with exams to schedule mutually acceptable alternatives.Student ResourcesThe NYU library system provides additional support for research using many different kinds of data. For more information about these services, please go to the guides link at Bobst library.NYU’s Wellness ExchangeNYU’s Wellness Exchange has extensive student health and mental health resources. A private hotline (212-443-9999) is available 24/7 that connects students with a professional who can help them address day-to-day challenges as well as other health-related concerns.Course PoliciesAttendance Attendance is absolutely required, and a sign-up sheet will be circulated each week. A major component of this course is your engagement with our guest speakers. You are expected to arrive on time and participate actively. Participation counts significantly more than in most courses.Academic IntegrityAcademic integrity is a vital component of Wagner and NYU. All students enrolled in this class are required to read and abide by Wagner’s Academic Code. All Wagner students have already read and signed the?Wagner Academic Oath. Plagiarism of any form will not be tolerated. You should write in your own voice, using your own research, properly attributed and without copying from others. It is your affirmative obligation to submit original work, properly crediting ideas and quotations from your sources. If any student in this class is unsure about what is expected of you and how to abide by the academic code, or if you are aware of any violations of the code, you should consult with me.ExtensionsExtensions on assignments will be granted only in case of documented emergency or extenuating circumstances. This policy is adopted out of respect to those who abide by deadlines despite equally demanding schedules. Assignments handed in late without authorized extensions will be penalized one-third of a grade per day..Class ScheduleWEEK 1 (9/4): Introductions; Course Framework and Recurring ThemesTopicsThe Purpose of Urban PolicyTheory of ChangeIntersectionality of Urban PolicyEquity not Equality“So Long As”Economic MobilitySituation-Action-Result Model5 Ws and HRequired Readings“In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” - Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. “So long as there is one child without milk, so long as there is one family without a decent home, so long as there are aged persons without pensions, working mothers without fair wages, struggling farmers without income, so long as there are overcrowded schools, inadequate hospitals and families on relief, so long will the need for the Democratic Party continue - and so long will we be called upon to assume the responsibilities of leadership.” - Remarks of Senator John F. Kennedy at the Democratic City Committee Annual Pre-Election Dinner in Easton, Pennsylvania, October 30, 1957.What’s the Difference Between Equity and Equality? (2018, April 5). The George Washington University Milken Institute School of Public Health.Michael Massing (2018). Journalism in the Age of Trump: What’s Missing and What Matters? (The Nation)Rankin, Nancy, and Apurva Mehrotra. “Stuck: Low-Income New Yorkers Don’t See Themselves Moving Up And Support Policies To Drive Economic Mobility.” Community Service Society. June 2015 (Pages 1 - 25).Optional ReadingHendren, Nathaniel, and Ben Sprung-Keyser (2019, July). A Unified Welfare Analysis of Government Policies. Harvard University (Pages 1 - 13).WEEK 2 (9/18): How Community Engagement Impacts Policy; The Art of Persuasion in Policy Making; Skill Set for Policy ImplementationTopicsThe “How To”Situation-Action-Result ModelConsensus BuildingDevelop CoalitionsEffective CommunicationStrategic PlanningCommunity OrganizingPublic EngagementParticipatory BudgetingJane JacobsSeptember 12th Debate Recap on IssuesDiscuss AssignmentsRequired ReadingsBlogle, Mary, Gregory Acs, Pamela J. Loprest, Kelly Mikelson (2016, August). Building Blocks and Strategies for Helping Americans Move Out of Poverty. Urban Institute.Barnes, Melody, and Paul Schmitz (2016, Spring). Community Engagement Matters (Now More Than Ever). Stanford Social Innovation Review.The Office of Public Engagement During the Obama YearsFlint, Anthony. “The Battle of Washington Square Park.” In Wrestling with Moses: How Jane Jacobs Took On New York's Master Builder and Transformed the American City. New York: Random House, 2009.Gilman, H. (2016). ?Participatory Budgeting and Civic Tech: The Revival of Citizen Engagement?. Washington, DC: Georgetown University Press.Read the Following Chapters:Why Participatory Budgeting?What is Participatory Budgeting?Participatory Budgeting in the United StatesFainstein, Susan (2011). “Toward an Urban Theory of Justice.” In The Just City (1 edition). 1–22. Ithaca London: Cornell University Press.Jeffries, H. (2018). Dear Colleague Letter Expressing Support for FIRST STEP Act. Federal Sentencing Reporter, 31(2), 153–156. ?Cornell Belcher (2017) “What happens to a centrist Democrat who can't hold the Obama coalition?” SalonCornell Belcher (2019) "Schools progressives on what it will take to win The White House in 2020” Think ProgressNew York Times (2018) The True Source of the N.R.A.'s clout: Mobilization not Donations“Obama and the Cities”Fiscal Policy Institute response to the 2019-2020 Budget (New York State)Optional ReadingsA Conversation With Valerie Jarrett: Senior Advisor To President Obama Shares Her JourneyCecilia Mu?oz, White House's Top Latina: Obama's Work Will EndureVon Hoffman, “Towards a New Vision of Community Development,” (2012) pdf pages 1 – 45 (article pages 10-37, 48-53)WEEK 3 (10/16): Current Issues in Housing and Economic Development PolicyTopicsRacial Wealth GapMinority Business Development Agency (MBDA)Minority and Women-owned Business Enterprises (M/WBEs)Universal Basic IncomeRent RegulationNew York City Housing Authority (NYCHA)Affordable HousingRequired ReadingsMartin Luther King Jr. speaks with NBC News 11 months before assassination (Video) Watch from Minute 13:50 - 16:00. - 2019 New York City Self Sufficiency Standard Economic DevelopmentNoel, Nick, Pinder, Duwain, Steward III, Shelley and Wright, Jason (2019, August). The Economic Impact of Closing the Racial Wealth Gap, McKinsey & graphic: The Impact of Minority Businesses on the U.S. Economy (2017, April 4). Minority Business Development Agency.The Souls of Poor Folk: Auditing America 50 Years After the Poor People’s Campaign Challenged Racism, Poverty, the War Economy/Militarism and Out National Morality (2018, April). Poor People’s Campaign.Furman, Jason (2017 December 21). Can Economic Policy Solve Economic Problems? Project Syndicate.HousingNYCHA Federal Monitor’s First Quarterly Report for the New York City Housing Authority; Pursuant to the Agreement dated January 31, 2019 (April-June 2019). SUBMITTED BY BART M. SCHWARTZ, FEDERAL MONITOR. Executive Summary - 9 - 14Furman Center for Real Estate and Urban Policy (2018). State of New York City’s Housing and Neighborhoods. Part 1, pg. 5-31Furman Center (2018) A Better Conversation about Area Median IncomeRothstein, Richard (2017). The Color of Law: A Forgotten History of How Our Government Segregated America, Chapter 3, Racial Zoning. Pg. 43-57 (CP)Goldstein, Emily, Walters, Chris & Weibgen, Adrien (2019). Getting at the need: The Case for Looking at Rent Burden not AMI to understand the impact of Housing New YorkOptional ReadingsTempey, Nathan (2017). B?? "We're not anti-landlord, we're anti-stealing': Talking to a self-appointed enforcer of NY's rent lawsGreenhalgh, Leonard, and James H. Lowry (2011 February 28). Minority Business Success : Refocusing on the American Dream. Stanford University Press. IntroductionThe Honorable Tom Perez (Former Labor Secretary) on how to fight for social changeNino, Nathalie Molina (2018). Leapfrog: The New Revolution for Women Entrepreneurs - Outsmart the Status Quo; Launch, Fund & Grow Your Business. “Hack 49 by Nina Vaca “Catch a Whale”Testimony by Heather Boushey before the Ways and Means Committee on “How Middle Class Families are faring in today’s economy”Wes Moore (CEO, Robin Hood): We need 'a battle plan for poverty'Rogers, John (2019, February 11). That law firm with the all-white partner class? It's a sign we have more work to do. Chicago Tribune.How Jennifer Jones Austin, Poverty Relief Advocate, Spends Her SundaysMillennial Compact With America: An Agenda for the Future (2018). New Leaders Council.WEEK 4 (10/23): Education and Immigration; Our Path ForwardTopicsRace’s impact on Education & Immigration is intertwined throughout the urban agendaDemonstrate specific plans to improve education conditions.Promote what majors are more or less likely for higher wages in the coming yearsHighlight business rationale for Immigration reformRecap of October Debate on Policy IssuesRequired ReadingsBadger, Emily, Miller, Claire Cain, Pearce, Adam & Quealy, Kevin (2018). Extensive Data shows punishing reach of racism for Black Boys, New York TimesEducationNew York Daily News “A better way to educate black young men” Secretary Hillary Rodham Clinton & David Banks (2018)New York State Education Department My Brother's Keeper Guidance Document: Emerging Practices for Schools and Communities. December 2016. Section 1: Overview of Research - What Are The Outcomes for Boys of Color and What Do They Suggest for Programs and Strategies?The Economic Value of College Majors, Georgetown University (2015) Center on Education and the Workforce - Anthony P. Carnevale, Ban Cheah & Andrew R. Hanson (Pages 4-20) Making the Grade: The Path to Real Integration and Equity for NYC Public Schools - Executive Summary: 60-96ImmigrationFwd.us (Commonsense Immigration Reform: Building A Better Way)The Business Case for Comprehensive Immigration Reform (2019)Optional ReadingsThe Bronx PlanBrennan Center - Campaign for Fiscal Equity vs. New YorkEducation Equity - Improving Diversity, Increasing Opportunity (Kirsten John Foy)Jonathan Kozol: Savage Inequalities: Children in America's Schools (Specifically, the section referring to P.S. 79 in The Bronx)Monday, 10/25: Submit Policy Proposal by 11:59 p.m. (electronically)WEEK 5 (10/30): Place-based Policies: Housing, Health, Transportation and Environmental JusticeTopicsPlace-Based PoliciesPresident Jimmy Carter’s Urban Policy AgendaStrong Cities, Strong Communities (SC2)Opportunity ZonesThe Role of Public vs. Private Sector in Driving Change in Urban CommunitiesRequired ReadingsWhite House Council on Strong Cities, Strong Communities (2017, January). Final Report. NOTE: This memo might be the most impactful one throughout the course as it lays out our top policy initiative during the Obama White House Urban Affairs era.Orszag, Peter R., Melody Barnes, Adolfo Carrion, and Lawrence Summers (2009, August 11). Memorandum for the Heads of Executive Departments and Agencies: Developing Effective Place-Based Policies for the FY 2011 Budget. The White House Washington. NOTE: This reading is critical to understand how we had the multiple federal agencies and entities collaborate.Kingsley, G. Thomas, and Karina Fortuny (2010, May). Urban Policy in the Carter Administration. Urban Institute.Bergman, Peter, et. al. (2019, August) Creating Moves to Opportunity: Experimental Evidence on Barriers to Neighborhood Choice. Opportunity Insights. Executive Summary.FundRise, “What are Opportunity Zones and How do They Work?” 2019.Chetty, Raj, Nathan Hendron, and Lawrence Katz. “The Effects of Exposure to Better Neighborhoods on Children: New Evidence from the Moving to Opportunity Project.” American Economic Review 106(2016): 855-902. NOTE: Only need to read Pages 1 - 23Ellen, Ingrid Gould, and Margery Austin Turner, “Does Neighborhood Matter? Assessing Recent Evidence.” Housing Policy Debate 8(4): 833–866. The Changing Face of Transportation, Chapter 1EJ 2020 Action Agenda: EPA’s Environmental Justice Strategy (Overview - Pages 1 to 12)Democratic Debate 2019: Climate proposals from candidates, explainedDr. Diana Hernandez (2018). Housing as a Platform for Health and Equity: Evidence and Future Directions, American Journal of Public HealthGalea, Sandro & Vlahov, David; URBAN HEALTH: Evidence, Challenges and Directions (Pages 341-359). Center for Urban Epidemiologic Studies, New York Academy of Medicine, and Department of Epidemiology, Joseph T. Mailman School of Public Health, Columbia UniversityAn Overview of Delivery System Reform Incentive Payment (DSRIP) WaiversWEEK 6 (11/13): Race, Criminal Justice, Gun Violence Prevention & EquityTopicsRace and class are intertwined in justice, media and policy.Equity must be addressed Before, During and After a person is incarcerated.Gun Violence prevention and violence interruption efforts must be promoted, especially from communities of color.We cannot make progress in urban America unless we acknowledge the rise of white supremacy and nationalism and its impact on livelihood.Required ReadingsCongresswoman Deb Haaland (NM-01), Pueblo of Laguna NCAI Congressional Response for the State of Indian Nations.Alexander, Michelle, The New Jim Crow: Mass Incarceration in the age of color blindness (2010)? – ?Introduction.Justice League NYCA More Just New York City. Independent Commission on New York City Criminal Justice and Incarceration Reform - Executive Summary 12 – 19.Fareed Zakaria State of Hate: The Explosion of White Supremacy (Transcript)Why do we ignore the initiatives that reduce gun violence (2017) Antonio Cediel, Amber Goodwin, Michael Mcbride and Ciera WalkerWhy Can’t We Talk about Homophobia in the Black Community?Wednesday, 11/27: Submit Policy Memo by 11:59 p.m. (electronically)Tuesday, 12/3: Submit PowerPoint Presentation by 11:59 p.m. (PDF file submitted to the class site)WEEK 7 (12/4): Student Presentation of Final Papers; In Class Press Conferences and final course reflections ................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download