Explores solutions to the problem of shrinking cities, population declines in urban areas. Consolidation and de-annexation are not desirable alternatives, but for many shrinking cities no other workable alternative can be seen. The reality is that many cities will continue to shrink. Radical redesign can make cities better and smaller. (SLD)

Describes the evolving emphasis of schools of urban planning from concentration on scientific management, beautifying cities, and educating the public in the 1920s to solving the social problems in the 1960s. Calls for a collaboration of business and other professional schools to redefine the function and purpose of urban planning schools to…

Argues that the problems of underclass neighborhoods are essentially crime problems, not connected with neoconservative theories about the "culture of poverty" or liberal theories about social and economic change. Cites examples of communities that have developed successful anti-crime programs. (FMW)

Argues that the major problem of the core areas of our cities is their lack of economic value: community control is an issue only because nothing more worth fighting about remains. (JM)

The old city remains, finding new specialties to justify its persistence. Most noteworthy of these is a role as an Indian reservation for socially undesired persons, and for those who manage them for the rest of society. (JM)

Discusses the definition, size and composition, and growth of the underclass. Suggests the following policy directions: (1) invest in children; (2) provide support for families who want to move out of the ghetto; and (3) replace the welfare system with income support more closely tied to employment. (FMW)

Discusses the development of social policy since 1901, with special emphasis on the War on Poverty. Analyzes the relationships among poverty, social norms, and family structure. Outlines the problems of the new social condition, characterized by drug abuse and welfare dependency. (FMW)

Discusses the problems of public policy responses to the AIDS epidemic in relation to a number of recent research reports and analyses. Suggests that effective policy will be increasingly difficult to formulate as AIDS becomes focused in the Black and Hispanic ghettos. (FMW)

The contrast between private contentment with family life and public pessimism about the state of the U.S. family mirrors the frightening view of human relations presented by popular culture, particularly popular music. Many African-American leaders deplore any association between African-American culture and current, often obscene, pop music…

The new human capital orientation of the new political administration must result in better education and training for the residents of cities. Both the compulsory education systems and the employment training systems must be revamped. Apprenticeship models hold promise of the vocational education we sorely need. (SLD)

Discusses failure of education programs to affect spread of AIDS by intravenous drug users in inner cities. Suggests following policy responses: confidential, identity-linked reporting of HIV test results; programs to alert the sexual partners of HIV-positive persons; elimination of barriers to HIV testing; routine offering of HIV testing; and…

Advocates renewal of the settlement house tradition in the inner cities, tracing the history of the settlement movement, and illustrating contemporary settlement approaches in St. Louis (Missouri), Cleveland (Ohio), New York City, and Boston (Massachusetts). Settlements offer a way to provide organization in disorganized communities. (SLD)