Discusses why state constitutions matter, the structures and processes of governments, and the rights of citizens. Few citizens know much about the constitution of their state. Some don't even know there is one. Yet state constitutions are basic instruments of our democracy. They structure state and local government and stipulate the rights of citizenship. In New York State, as in others, the Constitution mandates a periodic vote on whether the state Constitution should be revised. In New York, a mandatory ballot question is put before the voters every twenty years―“Shall there be a convention to revise the constitution and amend the same?” Seven months prior to the next such vote―which will be held on Election Day, November 4, 1997―the Nelson A. Rockefeller Institute of Government is publishing companion books on the New York State Constitution―one a sourcebook on constitutional change in New York, the other a rich history of the last constitutional convention held in New York State, that in 1967.

Decision 1997: Constitutional Change in New York

Constitutional Law

Rockefeller Inst Pr

New Life at Ground Zero: New York, Home Ownership, and the Future of American Cities

Presents a lively in-depth look at the efforts and struggles of the New York City Housing Partnership to build moderate and middle-income housing in New York City. Not long ago, the South Bronx and other devastated New York City neighborhoods had become legendary as the worst urban war zones, so infamous that busloads of foreign tourists would ask to be taken there to snap pictures of the rubble. What's more, the city's treasury was empty, and the federal government under Ronald Reagan was pulling back from its commitment to confront the nation's “urban crisis.” In New Life at Ground Zero, Charles J. Orlebeke traces New York City's dramatic comeback in the '80s and '90s, focusing on one organization, the New York City Housing Partnership, which helped spark the recovery by building thousands of new homes for the ownership market in the South Bronx and throughout the city. As Orlebeke vividly recounts, this high stakes gamble was pulled off by a diverse cast of characters―sometimes working cooperatively, more often at odds in the nation's most complex and contentious political environment. Behind the facade of “public-private partnership” presented by retired banker and civic leader David Rockefeller and popular mayor Ed Koch in 1982, lay minefields of conflicting interests, bureaucratic roadblocks, and clashing personalities. New Life at Ground Zero sets the stage for the emergence of the Housing Partnership with account of colliding views about how New York City should develop after World War II, whether as a gleaming “city of the future,” or as the messier, human-scale city of neighborhoods envisioned by Jane Jacobs. Both views seemed irrelevant in the mid-'70s, as New York City plunged into near bankruptcy. From this civic ordeal would emerge the Housing Partnership, a business-led nonprofit developer that would combine large-scale rebuilding with relatively low-density neighborhoods of resident owners. In telling the Housing Partnership story, Orlebeke draws on a careful analysis of internal documents and communications and on interviews with key partners, including city officials, Partnership staff, community activists, business leaders, homebuilders, and buyers. Still flourishing today, the Partnership has branched out into rebuilding abandoned rental buildings with neighborhood entrepreneurs, and is also sponsoring the development of new retail stores in places once written off as hopeless. As such, it stands out as a useful model of community revival for other cities to study and adapt to their own local circumstances. Reflecting on the Housing Partnership achievement, the author taps into his experience as a public official and a student of urban policy and argues persuasively that this story is an early example of an increasingly potent, national community development movement that challenges the conventional pessimistic view of the urban prospect.

Business & Money

Orlebeke, Charles J.

Economics

Presents a lively in-depth look at the efforts and struggles of the New York City Housing Partnership to build moderate and middle-income housing in New York City.Not long ago, the South Bronx and other devastated New York City neighborhoods had become legendary as the worst urban war zones, so infamous that busloads of foreign tourists would ask to be taken there to snap pictures of the rubble. What's more, the city's treasury was empty, and the federal government under Ronald Reagan was pulling back from its commitment to confront the nation's “urban crisis.” In New Life at Ground Zero, Charles J. Orlebeke traces New York City's dramatic comeback in the '80s and '90s, focusing on one organization, the New York City Housing Partnership, which helped spark the recovery by building thousands of new homes for the ownership market in the South Bronx and throughout the city. As Orlebeke vividly recounts, this high stakes gamble was pulled off by a diverse cast of characters―sometimes working cooperatively, more often at odds in the nation's most complex and contentious political environment. Behind the facade of “public-private partnership” presented by retired banker and civic leader David Rockefeller and popular mayor Ed Koch in 1982, lay minefields of conflicting interests, bureaucratic roadblocks, and clashing personalities.New Life at Ground Zero sets the stage for the emergence of the Housing Partnership with account of colliding views about how New York City should develop after World War II, whether as a gleaming “city of the future,” or as the messier, human-scale city of neighborhoods envisioned by Jane Jacobs. Both views seemed irrelevant in the mid-'70s, as New York City plunged into near bankruptcy. From this civic ordeal would emerge the Housing Partnership, a business-led nonprofit developer that would combine large-scale rebuilding with relatively low-density neighborhoods of resident owners.In telling the Housing Partnership story, Orlebeke draws on a careful analysis of internal documents and communications and on interviews with key partners, including city officials, Partnership staff, community activists, business leaders, homebuilders, and buyers. Still flourishing today, the Partnership has branched out into rebuilding abandoned rental buildings with neighborhood entrepreneurs, and is also sponsoring the development of new retail stores in places once written off as hopeless. As such, it stands out as a useful model of community revival for other cities to study and adapt to their own local circumstances.Reflecting on the Housing Partnership achievement, the author taps into his experience as a public official and a student of urban policy and argues persuasively that this story is an early example of an increasingly potent, national community development movement that challenges the conventional pessimistic view of the urban prospect.

A new, substantially updated, and expanded version of a classic work on how to evaluate public policy published over a decade ago.This book presents a lively retrospective account of a career as an inner and outer in American government and academe by a social scientist who has spent many years conducting evaluation studies of what works―and what doesn’t work―in domestic public affairs. It uses rich histories of prominent policy issues and descriptions of major studies of welfare and job programs to bring to life crucial questions about how social science can best serve social policy. This is a new, substantially updated, and expanded version of a book published by Basic Books over a decade ago.Richard P. Nathan writes about the real politics of social science research in a style for both practitioners and students of American government. Reviewing the earlier version of this book, James Q. Wilson said Nathan “summarizes in plain English what he has learned about how to evaluate public policy. It is an important book for a political system that may have wearied of adopting programs simply because they make us feel good or serve ideological ends.” Robert Reischauer, President of The Urban Institute, commented, “Nathan’s book is essential reading for policymakers who must look for ways to identify efficient government programs.”

Social Science in Government: The Role of Policy Researchers

Politics & Social Sciences

Nathan, Richard P.

Social Sciences

Discusses welfare reform in Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin. Several Midwestern states have been leaders on welfare reform in the 1990s and have led the way for other states in implementing the federal Personal Responsibility and Work Opportunity Reconciliation Act of 1996. This book provides detailed analyses of the political rationales and processes that preceded the federal direction to states to dramatically alter their welfare programs and administrative systems. It discusses implementation choices as well as difficulties and successes in carrying out those choices. The book also analyzes the role of political parties, interest groups, foundations, think tanks, and academics in setting agendas and formulating policy. The book features chapters describing and analyzing welfare reform, both their development and implementation in five states―Kansas, Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Wisconsin.

Learning from Leaders: Welfare Reform Politics and Policy in

Politics & Government

A guide for appointed officials in American government. In American governments, unlike in other countries, there are thick layers of officials who serve on a short-term basis as high officials in appointive offices. Thousands of people serve in these roles. They are “inners and outers” who serve “at the pleasure” of the officials who appointed them. This small book―really a long essay―is intended to inform people who should be interested in these exciting, challenging leadership jobs inside America’s governments. It is hoped the ideas presented here and the advice proffered will stimulate interested citizens to seek and accept appointive office, and that this book will also aid them in being successful in carrying out their responsibilities.

Handbook for the Governing Class: Appointed Officials in America's Governments

Nathan, Richard

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Rockefeller Inst Pr publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Books by Rockefeller Inst Pr

See the best price to sell, buy or rent books by the Rockefeller Inst Pr publisher. BookScouter helps to compare book prices from 25+ online bookstores and 30+ buyback vendors with a single search.

Decision 1997: Constitutional Change in New York

New Life at Ground Zero: New York, Home Ownership, and the Future of American Cities

New Life at Ground Zero: New York, Home Ownership, and the Future of American Cities

Social Science in Government: The Role of Policy Researchers

Social Science in Government: The Role of Policy Researchers

Learning from Leaders: Welfare Reform Politics and Policy in

Handbook for the Governing Class: Appointed Officials in America's Governments