Geography 120: Urban Geography: A Global Perspective
Assignment #1: Profile of a City
Imagine yourself as the policy advisor to the newly elected Mayor of your city. You are tasked to write a 10-12 page research-based report to the Mayor arguing for what the policy priorities should be in the first 100 days of her/his administration. This report should answer the following three key questions:
1. What are the particular strengths of your city? You should consider these factors in developing your answer to this question:
a) What are the site characteristics of your city (location and physical characteristics of the area)?
b) What is the history of your city? When was it founded, who founded it, what has been its historical economic base, and how does this history contribute to the current character of the city?
c) What is the current composition of your city’s population (e.g. race, age structure, immigration status) and how has this changed over time? Is the city growing rapidly, or declining? Are people moving to the suburbs, or remaining in the city core? To help answer this, the U.S. Census is on-line at: http://www.census.gov. You should also, however, consider historical patterns, not just current population.
d) What is your city’s current economic base (in
simple descriptive terms, e.g. tourism, oil extraction, high-tech
manufacturing, administrative functions related to state government)? What companies are the major employers in
your city? How has this changed over time?
How many people are employed in those industries in your city, or the
county in which it is located? (
e) What are the political dynamics in your city? How has this shifted over time?
2. What are the major challenges confronting your city? Factors you might consider include the following: What are the economic trends and are there problems related to economic opportunity? Is your city experiencing problems with suburban sprawl? Traffic congestion? Are there certain neighborhoods of the city that are particularly run-down? What are the patterns of poverty in your city?
3. Given your answers to the above two questions, what do you recommend the top priority (or priorities) of the new administration should be, and what are the policy initiatives the new Mayor should consider, in order to improve the quality of life for residents of the city. In other words, what particular strengths can the new Mayor build on, and what are the particular problem areas the new Mayor should focus on, in order to have the most positive impact in the city.
Note changed due date:
Now due Friday, October 31st!