The Next American City : The Big Promise of Our Midsize Metros

**From four-term Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, a hopeful and illuminating look at the dynamic and inventive urban centers that will lead the United States in coming years.****Oklahoma City. Indianapolis. Charleston. Des Moines. What do these cities have in common?**They are cities of modest size but outsized accomplishment, powered by a can-do spirit, valuing compromise over confrontation and progress over political victory. These are the cities leading America . . . and they're not waiting for Washington's help.As mayor of one of America's most improved cities, Cornett used a bold, creative, and personal approach to orchestrate his city's renaissance. Once regarded as a forgettable city in "flyover country," Oklahoma City has become one of our nation's most dynamic places-and it is not alone. In this book, Cornett translates his city's success-and the success of cities like his-into a vision for the future of our country.__The Next American City__is a story of civic engagement, inventive public policy, and smart urban design. It is a study of the changes re-shaping American urban life-and a blueprint for those to come. "From four-term Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, a hopeful and illuminating look at the dynamic and inventive urban centers that will lead the United States in coming years. As Oklahoma City's first four-term mayor, Mick Cornett has used a bold, creative, and personal approach to orchestrate his city's renaissance--a crucial (and untold) story of urban reinvention. Once regarded as a "flyover city," Oklahoma City has become one of our nation's most dynamic places--and it is not alone. Indianapolis, Charleston, Seattle, Austin, New Orleans, Des Moines, Sacramento, Louisville, Buffalo: These cities are reinventing themselves and setting examples for communities of every kind--in ways that America's largest cities can't afford to do or can't figure out how to do. With The Next American City, Mayor Cornett translates his city's success into a vision for the future. Cities of modest size but outsized accomplishment, powered by a can-do spirit, valuing compromise over confrontation and progress over political victory--these are the cities leading America. and they're not waiting around for Washington's help. As Mayor Cornett argues, "In the fight to grow jobs, improve health, eradicate poverty, and protect the environment, the middle is leading the way.""-- Provided by publisher From four-term Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, a hopeful and illuminating look at the dynamic and inventive urban centers that will lead the United States in coming years. Oklahoma City. Indianapolis. Charleston. Des Moines. What do these cities have in common? They are cities of modest size but outsized accomplishment, powered by a can-do spirit, valuing compromise over confrontation and progress over political victory. These are the cities leading America . . . and they're not waiting for Washington's help. As mayor of one of America's most improved cities, Cornett used a bold, creative, and personal approach to orchestrate his city's renaissance. Once regarded as a forgettable city in "flyover country," Oklahoma City has become one of our nation's most dynamic places-and it is not alone. In this book, Cornett translates his city's success-and the success of cities like his-into a vision for the future of our country. The Next American City is a story of civic engagement, inventive public policy, and smart urban design. It is a study of the changes re-shaping American urban life-and a blueprint for those to come. From four-time Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, a hopeful and illuminating look at the dynamic and inventive urban centers that will lead the United States in coming years. As Oklahoma City's first four-term mayor, Mick Cornett has used a bold, creative, and personal approach to orchestrate his city's renaissance—a crucial (and untold) story of urban reinvention. Once regarded as a "flyover city," Oklahoma City has become one of our nation's most dynamic places—and it is not alone. Indianapolis, Charleston, Seattle, Austin, New Orleans, Des Moines, Sacramento, Louisville, Buffalo: these cities are re-inventing themselves, and setting examples for communities of every kind—in ways that America's largest cities can't afford to do or can't figure out how to do. With LEADING FROM THE MIDDLE, Mayor Cornett translates his city's success into a vision for the future. Cities of modest size but outsized accomplishment, powered by a can-do spirit, valuing... Preface: The Next American City: Three Transformations, Under Way -- Introduction: Leading from the Middle -- Building a City, Beyond Boom and Bust -- The Best Thing That Never Happened -- Government We Want to Pay For -- From Mow to Row -- Making the Big Leagues -- Where Leaders Come From -- Putting the City on a Diet -- Building for the Future -- Punching Above Our Weight -- Conclusion: The Path to Public Service