The UK's coalition government wants to build a "Big Society." The Prime Minister says "we are all in this together" and building it is the responsibility of every citizen as well as every government department. The broad vision is welcome, but everything depends on how the vision is translated into policy and practice. The…

Examines Washington, DC, Advisory Neighborhood Commissions (ANC) as an illustration of neighborhood involvement in city revitalization and maintenance. Considers (1) hypotheses about neighborhood roles and participation in public issue raising; (2) ANC structure, participation, and decision roles; and (3) likely roles neighborhood governments can…

Describes community based, voluntary neighborhood revitalization projects in New York and Philadelphia. Discusses the effects of Reagan Administration cutbacks and seeming indifference to such projects which appears to be contradictory to the Republican party platform of 1980 pledging aid for self-helping and cooperative community efforts to…

The problems of cities influence the amount of state aid which is given. More aid is allocated in states with needier cities. Reformist political climates have also helped to gain state allotments for distressed cities. The record of states in this matter is better than that of the federal government. (VM)

Describes HOPE VI, a federal housing program that finances new public housing development, examining the spatial organization of one site that has played an integral role in housing the poor. Demonstrates the layers of interactions involved in implementation of the housing program, noting limitations of the program to provide suitable housing for…

The Secretary of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) describes programs to improve poor Americans' access to home ownership and economic opportunity. Discusses the Home Ownership and Opportunity for People Everywhere (HOPE) initiative, enterprise zones, housing opportunity zones, and other tools to eliminate barriers to entrepreneurship, job…