The Twenty-First Century City: Resurrecting Urban America

America's cities can be saved--so says Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith. As the mayor of America's twelfth largest city, he eliminated city deficits, cut the city payroll, enhanced services, rebuilt infrastructure, revitalized neighborhoods, and reduced crime. And he did it all while cutting taxes Now, in The Twenty-First Century City, Goldsmith shows how he did it. The Twenty-First Century City gives a hopeful glimpse of the city of the future--a city where less bureaucratic intervention means lower costs, safer streets, and better services. Mayor Goldsmith has proved that by using this new philosophy of urban governance--of government acting as a business and perceiving its citizens as customers--America's cities can once again buzz with the sounds of success.

Stephen Goldsmith, former mayor of Indianapolis, earned a reputation as one of the nation’s most innovative mayors. He is a research fellow at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government, assistant professor at Indiana University’s School of Public and Environmental Affairs, and chairman of the board of the Center for Civic Innovation at The Manhattan Institute. He is a lifelong resident of Indianapolis, where he lives with his wife and four children.