19651 BOOKS IN REVIEW 337 ~

Books in Review . . Jewel Beltnsh, Editor

Metropolitan Areas GREATER LONDON: TEE POLITICS OF

METROPOLITAN REFORM. By Frank Small- wood, The Bobbs-Merrill Company, Inc., 4300 West 62nd Street, Indianapolis 6, 1965. xi, 324 pp. $2.95 paperback.

Both American and British readers will find this study most helpful in gaining a better understanding of the politics of metropolitan reorganization in their re- spective countries. By pointing out the similarities and differences in the ap- proaches to reform on the two sides of the Atlantic, Dr. Smallwood has made a unique contribution to the study of com- parative politics.

The reader is provided an expertly con- ducted tour which follows the course of the massive reorganization of metropolitan London culminating in the adoption of the London Government Act of 1963. The chapter dealing with London’s historical development sets the stage for a penetra- ting analysis of the power-the profes- sional and ideological “stakes”-which characterized the contest. American polit- ical scientists will find his description of the “missing stakes” of special interest.

As the story of the royal commission’s inquiry and parliamentary maneuvers and struggles is presented, the American reader will be struck by the fact that political strategies are very different, in- deed, when the ultimate decision is made in the parliamentary arena rather than by popular referendum. This is high- lighted by the description of the differing strategies of proponents and opponents of the Greater London Plan.

Hopefully, the author will continue his interest in metropolitan politics and in the government of Greater London in partic- ular. It would be most illuminating a few years hence for him to determine how well the new system of government stands

up under the two tests which were applied in appraising the old system, namely, those of “administrative efficiency and the health of representative government as well as the organic relationship of both.”

W.N.C.

Commuters FEDERAL-METROPOLITAN POLITICS AND

THE COMMUTER CRISIS. By Michael N. Danielson. Columbia University Press, 2960 Broadway, New York 10027, 1965.

Scores of scholars today are philosoph- ically so realistic and pragmatic that the utopian dreams of reformers from an earlier era are hidden from view. It is difficult to question the findings of em- piricists like Michael Danielson who have carefully culled evidence from newspaper columns, collections of government docu- ments and contentions of political leaders. Although the author discusses the transit woes in other cities, the New York metro- politan area serves as his focus of atten- tion.

This study is another gem for the growing metropolitan areas bookshelf. It transforms a complex and tiring topic into a number of delightful political games, The actors are Presidents, cabinet officers, governors, congressmen, mayors and supervisors-ch with his particular perspective and distinctive constituency, each representing the conflicting needs of his arena. In addition, different orienta- tions and ecological settings have sep- arated members of the same political party. To illustrate: Governor Nelson A. Rockefeller of New York has sought state involvement in transit decisions and has been generally suspicious of federal in- volvement, while U. S. Senator Jacob K. Javits has revealed a more regional perspective. On the Democratic side,

x, 244 pp. $6.00.

338 NATIONAL CIVIC REVIEW [June

former Governor Robert B. Meyner of New Jersey seemed more timid about getting his state involved in transit and preferred deferring to federal respon- sibility while his confrire, then-Governor Abraham A. Ribicoff of Connecticut was was less involved in the transit issue because the commuter crisis was limited to Fairfield County.

The problems of mass transit come alive in this book because of Dr. Daniel- son’s skill in writing and his sensitivity to the political realities which serve as his frame of reference. How was it ever possible to get the 1964 transit bill through Congress? The answer con- stitutes the author’s thesis. By a slow consensus-building political process, groups were gradually drawn together, beginning with the core cities and their allies, railroad interests, then some of the suburbs, a number of crucial states and key congressional leaders, including the star, Senator Harrison A. Williams, Jr., of New Jersey. This process the author labels federal-metropolitan politics.

One aspect of the book is puzzling-the term “metropolitan actor,” which is used to describe participants in metropolitan politics who have most of their constit- uents in the metropolitan area. The study stands essentially as proof that we have few, if any, metropolitan actors. Rather, we have urban, suburban, state and national actors who play bit parts in a metropolitan play which is too big for any one of them to control or direct alone.

Reapportionment THE EFFECT OF THE FEDERAL REAPPOR-

TIONMENT DECISIONS ON COUNTIES AND OTHER FORMS OF MUNICIPAL GOVERN- MENT. By Jack B. Weinstein. Columbia Law Review, Columbia Law Review As- sociation, Inc., New York, January 1965. 34 pages.

The number of local government reap- portionment cases is multiplying each day. Already, the National Municipal

League has gathered together enough precedent-setting cases to publish a 168- page volume of local government opinions in the Court Decisions tm Legislative Apportiortment series.

The January issue of the Columbia Low Review contains an excellent article by Jack B. Weinstein, county attorney for Nassau County, New York, wherein he effectively covers the local reappor- tionment situation, cites the probable trend of events and offers a series of recommendations.

W.J.D.B.

Urban Renewal REBUILDING CITIES. By Basil Zimmer.

Quadrangle Books, 180 North Wacker Drive, Chicago 60606, 1964. 363 pp. $6.75.

In a recent message to Congress, President Johnson noted that within 40 years urban America will have to be rebuilt to meet the challenge of industrial expansion and population growth. In line with this prophecy, Basil Zimmer analyzes the impact of expanding public works. In Rebuilding Cities, the author brings together important data concerning the impact of urban renewal and highway programs on some 300 business establish- ments in Providence, Rhode Island. The disruptive effects of these two public programs have serious consequences, offer- ing exciting opportunities for improve- ment for some and hardship and anxiety for others. The lower level of the busi- ness community receives the brunt of “progress”4f that it be.

The author clearly delineates the profile of displaced small businesses : generally the marginal producer, those smaller in size, operated by an older age group with more limited experience and education. Those who survive the impact of govern- ment urban renewal and highway pro- grams and who in fact experience im- provement and growth are, to a large extent, the bigger among the small busi- ness enterprises. Paradoxically, these are