City Journal explores Detroit and Newark’s similar journeys

City Journal, a quarterly institute of urban affairs published by the libertarian-leaning Manhattan Institute, celebrates two maverick mayoral figures, Newark’s Cory Booker and Detroit’s Dave Bing, in an exhaustive new article. While New Jersey and Michigan’s largest cities shared a troubled past, much of the article discusses their shared future and creative solutions to offering city services during financial setbacks, making this read a thorough look at post-industrial cities in the 21st century.

Excerpt:

Bing has been even more adamant about streamlining and
professionalizing. During the campaign, Bing suggested that his
private-sector experience — after playing in the NBA, he founded a steel
company, built it into a successful manufacturing conglomerate, and
managed it for 30 years — would help him transform city government.Shortly after taking office, he announced a new dress code at City Hall, required workers there to be at their desks by 8 a.m.,
and asked them to sign a pledge to adhere to the city’s ethics policy.
He also commissioned a panel of experts to identify ways to overhaul the
city’s creaky government. It came up with dozens of recommendations
that could save some $500 million over several years, including
privatizing crucial city assets like airport management and
consolidating and downsizing the government.

Read more here.