Left Coast City: Progressive Politics in San Francisco, 1975-1991 [Paperback]

Richard Edward Deleon (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 070060555X | ISBN-13: 978-0700605552 | Publication Date: September 1, 1992

When Art Agnos campaigned for mayor of San Francisco in 1987, he articulated and defended the "left" isms-liberalism, environmentalism, and populism. He won. Seeing Agnos as a defender of slowgrowth vs. progrowth, the city's progressives had high hopes. But to their disappointment, in the wake of the passage of Proposition M-the most restrictive growth control legislation of any large U.S. city-Agnos supported waterfront development and proposals to build a new baseball stadium in China Basin and a large residential and business development in Mission Bay. In 1991 Agnos ran for reelection. He lost. Left Coast City provides insight into how San Francisco's progressive coalition developed between 1975 and 1991, what stresses emerged to cause splintering within the coalition, and how the coalition fell apart in the 1991 mayoral campaign. Focusing on San Francisco's turbulent political history, non-conformist traditions, and ethnic and cultural diversity, political scientist Richard DeLeon analyzes the successes and failures of the progressive movement as it topples the business-dominated progrowth regime, imposes stringent controls on growth and development, and achieves political control of city hall. Although the movement has achieved national recognition as a possible vanguard of social and political change in this country, DeLeon argues that a new progressive regime has not yet emerged to replace the defunct progrowth regime. Having helped to create chaos out of order, progressive leaders now face the task of creating order out of chaos.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A well-written and thoroughly documented account of the city's transition." -- Choice

"DeLeon has a gift for storytelling. He takes readers on a fascinating tour of San Francisco's political world." -- San Francisco Daily Journal

"Power brokers and citizens alike would do well to read this book." -- San Francisco Examiner

"This keen study roughs out the contours and illuminates the shadows of The City's political terrain between 1975 and 1991." -- San Francisco Magazine

From the Back Cover

"An outstanding case study of big city electoral politics that perceptively analyzes the nuts and bolts of constructing a progressive governing coalition and illuminates the dynamics and contradictions of contemporary urban liberalism."--John Mollenkopf, author of The Contested City and The Restructuring of New York

"First-rate. It's a winner. DeLeon is a skillful writer. His work is clear and uncluttered by jargon. At the same time, he displays a remarkable ability to integrate seemingly diverse theoretical strands. . . . His analysis of coalition politics and of the referendum process shows him to be a master of the regime concept and to be acutely aware of the tensions within populist alliances. He sees the business community as composed of diverse sectors, not as a monolith. And he puts the mobility of capital into perspective, acknowledging its importance but showing its limits as well-particularly in an advantaged location of the kind San Francisco enjoys. This is a very sophisticated work."--Clarence Stone, author of Regime Politics: Governing Atlanta, 1946-1988

"DeLeon treats the process of regime formation as an open and contingent historical process--as it should be treated. He writes in a clear and lucid style. This book is a significant contribution to the literature on urban politics. Its audience will extend well beyond political scientists, encompassing urban sociologists, historians, geographers, political economists, and planners."--Michael Peter Smith, author of City, State, and Market: The Political Economy of Urban Society

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: University Press Of Kansas (September 1, 1992)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 070060555X
• ISBN-13: 978-0700605552
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #257,411 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A must read for those interested in San Francisco politics, January 27, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Left Coast City: Progressive Politics in San Francisco, 1975-1991 (Paperback)

If you are at all interested in the new role of cities in the global economy or San Francisco politics, this is the book to have. The most informative book on San Franicisco politics to date. Theoretically sophisticated and a readable case study at the same time

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential in understanding San Francisco Politics, March 23, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Left Coast City: Progressive Politics in San Francisco, 1975-1991 (Hardcover)

I have read this book and learned about San Francisco politics in a manner that could only be paralleled by an education at San Francisco State University. Highly informative and highly recommended.