Morality Politics in American Cities By Elaine B. Sharp

1. Morality Politics in American CitiesBy Elaine B. Sharp A presentation by Abbey and Laconnie. Yay.

2. The Author • Elaine B. Sharp is professor of Political Science at the University of Kansas. • She has written three other politics books.

3. Presentation Overview • Study of Morality Politics • Abortion • Gambling • Sex Industry • Gay Rights • Drugs and Health • Conclusion

4. Morality Politics • Issues of morality have now been brought to the mainstream agenda and have been identified as a new phenomenon in American politics. • What accounts for the differences in policies from city to city surrounding issues of morality (i.e. drugs, gambling, etc.)?

5. Morality Politics (Cont.) • There are two major views on morality politics in local governments. • Peterson’s classic categorization of city politics into developmental, allocational, and redistributive sphere of activity. None of the sphere of activity are defined to include morality issues but are primarily focused on how the issues help or hurt the economy. • Stone’s regime theory emphasizes economic development and overlooks morality issues at the local level.

6. Most studies of morality politics are done through Quantitative Analysis Pros: involves many cities, provides a generalizable explanation for differences in policies Cons: No historical perspective, only one issues at a time, and focuses on the adoption of a particular policy Sharp’s approach is done through data found in large quantitative studies and single city case studies to find a middle ground and show systemic comparisons and contrasts. Studying Morality Politics- Finding a Middle Ground Approach

7. Sharp’s Approach • There are four key explanations for official action on a morality issues at the local level: • Cultural/Subcultural Explanations • A city was determined unconventional by 6 issues in its community subculture in 1990, those being: • Same-sex partner households per 100,000 households • Percentage of individuals not living in households with married parents and children under the age of 19 • Percentage of women in the labor force • Percentage of the workforce in professional, scientific, technical or educational categories • Percentage of the population aged 25 and older with a bachelor’s degree or higher • Percentage of the county population not adhering to a church • Institutional Explanations • Reformed VS Nonreformed • Economic Explanations • Declining VS Growing • Intergovernmental Explanations • Conflicting VS Cooperative Relationships

8. Sharp’s Approach (Cont.) • Ten cities were chosen due to their spectrum spanning characteristics. • Five were conventional cities and five were unconventional cities. • Pseudonyms were used for the study cities themselves and for individuals, organizations and specific places within each city to remind the reader that the intent is to move away from the mid-set that treats a particular city’s experiences as being unique to that city. The idea is to create a relevant context inside of highlighting a city’s uniqueness.

9. Valley City A growing city, home of many high tech companies and major exports. High medium income and high property values Liberal and Progressive In the sunbelt Voter turn out high but low political activism Hybrid reform city Western City Has a growing population. Historically has a boom and bust cycle economy Diversified economy with a good business climate Global aspirations for a more cosmopolitan city Non-reformed governmental structure The Study Cities (Unconventional)

10. Hill City High tech city with much industrial growth in health care sector and tourism Focus on environmental issues Predominantly white, with a substantial Hispanic population and smaller Black population Liberal oriented local politics Counsel Manger form of gov The Study Cities (Unconventional Cont.) • Port City • Growing population and booming economy- in high tech and service sectors • Diverse multiracial and multiethnic population • Progressive on many morality issues • Only 6% are fundamentalist or evangelical Christians • Non-reformed with a strong mayoral form of government

11. Metro City Declining job market and population Majority/Minority city, 2/3 of the population is black Good highway system and airport Great trade facilities Most jobs are going to the suburbs Unconventional subculture High level of church attendance (mostly in black churches) Strong mayoral form of government The Study Cities (Unconventional cont.)

12. River City Old industrial city Top ten in National headquarters homes Declining Central City A mix between people of progressive and traditional values Home of civil rights developments and labor union power Hybrid version of the classic commission form of government South City Key distribution center (overnight drive from 60% of the nation’s population) Declining city (incomes) Bible Belt Minimal mobilization of the Gay Community Hybrid form of city government The Study Cities (Conventional)

13. Border City Downtown serves as a home for many national businesses Economically declining Tri-county region is culturally conservative on economic, moral and racial issues Large Catholic population Classic counsel manager form of government Lake City Economically distressed Government is trying to redevelop by building new housing and attracting the entertainment industry into the central business district (i.e. opening casinos and stadiums) High level of church membership Combination of reform and non-reform elements in government The Study Cities (Conventional Cont.)

14. Coastal City In good economic shape! Major elements include tourism and the military In order to better the economy the city ventures into public-private partnerships or become sole proprietors of sports, recreation and entertainment facilities Most liberal city in a conservative state (relatively conservative) Counsel manager form of government The Study Cities (Conventional Cont.)

15. ABORTION!

16. Costal City has no abortion clinic, therefore the people who want to protest abortions do so in neighboring cities. The strong Christian right organizations in this conventional city keep abortion clinics out of the city. The city has not taken any action against abortion but the people itself have made it an unwelcome climate for the practice. Hill City exhibits a strong pro-choice approach to abortion issues with is understandable based on its unconventional subculture. Police arrested protesters blocking abortion clinic entrances City Government increased funding for abortions Case Study: Hill City VS. Costal City Case Study: Hill City VS. Costal City

17. In Conclusion • The differences in community subculture determine the policy decisions made on the issue of abortion. • Intergovernmental explanation are also important because state or county decisions may conflict with local needs.

18. CASINOS! Gamble, Gamble, Gamble- WHAT!

19. Because of Lake City’s 1970’s economic crisis the mayor supported gambling even though the state prohibited it. City counsel submitted a proposal to legalize gambling, but it was defeated (i.e. religious opposition) Even more economic pressure caused the mayor to think harder. Proposals were passed supporting river boat gambling and Indian reservation gambling. Finally in 1999 and 2000 casinos were built in Lake City. Though there is a conventional subculture, most residents are in favor of gambling in South City because of the positive effects seen in a neighboring state’s economy. Gambling isn’t legal in the state and efforts to overturn this have been shot down because of issues with family values. Fear of competition led lobbyists from the neighboring state’s casinos to provide incentives to discourage South City’s counsel from legalizing gambling. In the end the state legalized a lottery system and betting on horse races, but South City still has not received a horse track or the economic benefits of having one. Case Study- Lake City VS. South City

20. In Conclusion… • The economic explanation is key in accounting for these cities’ stance toward gambling. • Officials in declining cities are more receptive to gambling, while officials in growing cities are either disinterested or hostile. • Conventional subculture is also another important factor in determining gambling policy (i.e. religion). But it doesn’t entirely deter efforts to legalize gambling. • The institutional explanation plays a minor role but there is evidence that strong mayors are crucial in the transformation of casinos from a moral issue to an economic savior.

21. SEX!(The Industry, baby) Lets talk about…

22. Just so you know… • Sex industry policy is dealt with in three ways: • Prohibition- most restrictive, no sexy time is permitted • Regulation- allowed but has limitations • Prevention- least punitive

23. Because of its reputation for being wild, Costal City got a reputation as a resort destination. The city has been trying to stamp out it’s sex industry because it wants to market itself as a family oriented place. Metro City has used zoning regulations and liquor licensing to slow and stifle the sex industry. These efforts have been proven ineffective because the actions are targeted at certain neighborhoods instead of the whole industry. Case Study- Costal City VS. Metro City VS. River City • Morality issues surrounding the sex industry have been comparatively rare in River City. • The adult entertainment business was slowly bought out of the downtown area over time. • The city has many ordinances banning or prohibiting sexually explicit activity or business.

24. In Conclusion…. • Economic considerations are important to declining and growing cities and can work in more than one direction (i.e. permissive or restrictive policies). • Intergovernmental policy is largely the same across cities, and subcultural differences do not matter as much for this issue.

25. Gays, Rights, and Local Morality Politics.

26. Metro City has a thriving openly gay community and gays have immerged as a force in politics. There was an ordinance bestowing insurance benefits on city employees and their live-in partners both gay and straight that was vetoed by the mayor. Gay couples were allowed to register as domestic partners, and anti-discriminatory laws regarding sexual orientation were implemented, but they were still given no benefits. But nearly a decade after the battle for health insurance started, it was finally granted to all domestic partners. In South City, efforts to push gay rights have been virtually non existent. The state had sodomy law the only applied to people of the same gender. In 1993 the law was challenged and declared unconstitutional. There was effort to ban gay marriage. Gay and Lesbian activist groups are a new thing in South City and have minimal political mobilization. In South City where gays are politically insignificant, city officials have provided nothing more than tolerance of gay pride events. Case Study- Metro City VS. South City

27. In Conclusion… • For gay rights issues, local culture matters. The distinction of unconventional and conventional cities improves our ability to anticipate and understand the types of stances city officials take on gay issues.

28. DRUGSNot your average DARE class..

29. South City a drug court has been established in South County but a treatment oriented drug court came late to South County delayed by both community politics and conflict with the state government. Metro City received momentum for the building of a drug court due to the efforts of governmental and nongovernmental actors that had come together before to battle alcohol and drug abuse. Gaining resources to support the drug courts was a challenge Now the drug courts are seen as better options than incarceration due to their rehabilitative nature Case Study 1 Drug Courts- South City VS. Metro City

30. In Valley County it is illegal to possess or provide hypodermic needles without a prescription in the state. Valley County officials have been at odds with the conservative state officials because they run an underground needle exchange program. In 1999 underground needle exchange programs were legalized. Though earlier efforts to create a needle exchange program were opposed, in 1996 the city counsel approved a needle exchange program. Lake City’s needle exchange program has been able to solicit private donations in order to continue business. Some concerns were raised by residents on the location of needle exchange programs because of fear of drug culture leaking into neighborhoods. Case Study 2 Needle Exchange- Valley City and Lake City.

31. In Conclusion… • In both cases the subcultural influences are most important. Drug courts are more accepted in unconventional communities, but have been implemented in both conventional and unconventional cities. Needle exchange programs are much better received in unconventional communities.

32. CONCLUSION… WHAT DOES IT MEAN???

33. THE END … (well kinda) • The various explanations are not equally relevant for each morality topic. Morality issues are neither the same, driven by the same dynamics, nor shaped by the same factors. • The weakness of institutional explanation is that so many different institutions are potentially relevant in morality issue decision making. • An important consideration for evaluation the intergovernmental explanation is the lack of variation.

34. The End… (almost there) • The explanations that most account for the difference in decision making on morality issues are the economic and subcultural.

35. The REAL END! • One must distinguish between pure morality and material morality issues. • Pure morality issues are those which the competing sides and competing issues frames they offer are all grounded in morals rather than material benefits or economic stakes. • Material morality are ones in which there are a clash between morals and money.