City of Disorder : How the Quality of Life Campaign Transformed New York Politics

**2009 Association of American University Presses Award for Jacket Design** In the 1990s, improving the quality of life became a primary focus and a popular catchphrase of the governments of New York and many other American cities. Faced with high levels of homelessness and other disorders associated with a growing disenfranchised population, then mayor Rudolph Giuliani led New York's zero tolerance campaign against what was perceived to be an increase in disorder that directly threatened social and economic stability. In a traditionally liberal city, the focus had shifted dramatically from improving the lives of the needy to protecting the welfare of the middle and upper classes—a decidedly neoconservative move. In **City of Disorder**, Alex S. Vitale analyzes this drive to restore moral order which resulted in an overhaul of the way New York views such social problems as prostitution, graffiti, homelessness, and panhandling. Through several fascinating case studies of New York neighborhoods and an in-depth look at the dynamics of the NYPD and of the city's administration itself, Vitale explains why Republicans have won the last four New York mayoral elections and what the long-term impact Giuliani's zero tolerance method has been on a city historically known for its liberalism.

2009 Association Of American University Presses Award For Jacket Design

in The 1990s, Improving The Quality Of Life Became A Primary Focus And A Popular Catchphrase Of The Governments Of New York And Many Other American Cities. Faced With High Levels Of Homelessness And Other Disorders Associated With A Growing Disenfranchised Population, Then Mayor Rudolph Giuliani Led New York's Zero Tolerance Campaign Against What Was Perceived To Be An Increase In Disorder That Directly Threatened Social And Economic Stability. In A Traditionally Liberal City, The Focus Had Shifted Dramatically From Improving The Lives Of The Needy To Protecting The Welfare Of The Middle And Upper Classes—a Decidedly Neoconservative Move.

in city Of Disorder, Alex S. Vitale Analyzes This Drive To Restore Moral Order Which Resulted In An Overhaul Of The Way New York Views Such Social Problems As Prostitution, Graffiti, Homelessness, And Panhandling. Through Several Fascinating Case Studies Of New York Neighborhoods And An In-depth Look At The Dynamics Of The Nypd And Of The City's Administration Itself, Vitale Explains Why Republicans Have Won The Last Four New York Mayoral Elections And What The Long-term Impact Giuliani's Zero Tolerance Method Has Been On A City Historically Known For Its Liberalism.

2009 Association of American University Presses Award for Jacket Design In the 1990s, improving the quality of life became a primary focus and a popular catchphrase of the governments of New York and many other American cities. Faced with high levels of homelessness and other disorders associated with a growing disenfranchised population, then mayor Rudolph Giuliani led New York's zero tolerance campaign against what was perceived to be an increase in disorder that directly threatened social and economic stability. In a traditionally liberal city, the focus had shifted dramatically from improving the lives of the needy to protecting the welfare of the middle and upper classes—a decidedly neoconservative move. In City of Disorder , Alex S. Vitale analyzes this drive to restore moral order which resulted in an overhaul of the way New York views such social problems as prostitution, graffiti, homelessness, and panhandling. Through several fascinating case studies of New York neighborhoods and an in-depth look at the dynamics of the NYPD and of the city's administration itself, Vitale explains why Republicans have won the last four New York mayoral elections and what the long-term impact Giuliani's zero tolerance method has been on a city historically known for its liberalism. "New York in the 1990s faced a "quality if life" crisis of homelessness and public disorder. In response, frustrated local residents embraced the neoconservative ideas of then Mayor Rudolph Giuliani, who pledged to restore order through aggressive policing and punitive social policies, shifting the focus of government from improving the lives of the needy to protecting the welfare of the middle and upper classes. In exploring this development, Alex S. Vitale shows why historically liberal New York has voted against Democrats in the last four mayoral elections." "In City of Disorder, Vitale uses neighborhood case studies and city-wide economics development data to investigate the rise of punitive urban social policies. His findings show that the neoconservative backlash against the homeless and poor was a direct result of urban liberalism's embracing of neoliberal economic development strategies and its unwillingness to use local resources to respond to the disorder it helped create in a way that would have brought positive change to those on the margins."--Jacket Contents......Page 8 Preface......Page 10 Acknowledgments......Page 12 Introduction......Page 14 Conceptualizing the Paradigm Shift......Page 28 Defining the Quality-of-Life Paradigm......Page 42 Defining Urban Liberalism......Page 67 The Rise of Disorder......Page 83 Globalization and the Urban Crisis......Page 106 The Transformation of Policing......Page 128 The Community Backlash......Page 157 Conclusion......Page 196 Notes......Page 208 Bibliography......Page 228 Index......Page 236 About the Author......Page 244 Introduction -- Conceptualizing the paradigm shift -- Defining the "quality of life" paradigm -- Defining urban liberalism -- The rise of disorder -- Globalization and the urban crisis -- The transformation of policing -- The community backlash -- Conclusion