How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy

Business, Power, and the Environment in Twentieth-Century Los Angeles

By Sarah S. Elkind | Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press

About the book

Focusing on five Los Angeles environmental policy debates between 1920 and 1950, Sarah Elkind investigates how practices in American municipal government gave business groups political legitimacy at the local level as well as unanticipated influence over federal politics.

Los Angeles’s struggles with oil drilling, air pollution, flooding, and water and power supplies expose the clout business has had over government. Revealing the huge disparities between big business groups and individual community members in power, influence, and the ability to participate in policy debates, Elkind shows that business groups secured their political power by providing Los Angeles authorities with much-needed services, including studying emerging problems and framing public debates. As a result, government officials came to view business interests as the public interest. When federal agencies looked to local powerbrokers for project ideas and political support, local business interests influenced federal policy, too. Los Angeles, with its many environmental problems and its dependence upon the federal government, provides a distillation of national urban trends, Elkind argues, and is thus an ideal jumping-off point for understanding environmental politics and the power of business in the middle of the twentieth century.

Editions of How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy

Hardcover
ISBN 9780807834893
Paperback
ISBN 9781469618975
EBook
ISBN 9780807869116
EBook
ISBN 9781469602707
EBook
ISBN 9798893133202
PDF
ISBN 9798890883056

Read an Excerpt

Focusing on five Los Angeles environmental policy debates between 1920 and 1950, Sarah Elkind investigates how practices in American municipal government gave business groups political legitimacy at the local level as well as unanticipated influence over federal politics.

Los Angeles’s struggles with oil drilling, air pollution, flooding, and water and power supplies expose the clout business has had over government. Revealing the huge disparities between big business groups and individual community members in power, influence, and the ability to participate in policy debates, Elkind shows that business groups secured their political power by providing Los Angeles authorities with much-needed services, including studying emerging problems and framing public debates. As a result, government officials came to view business interests as the public interest. When federal agencies looked to local powerbrokers for project ideas and political support, local business interests influenced federal policy, too. Los Angeles, with its many environmental problems and its dependence upon the federal government, provides a distillation of national urban trends, Elkind argues, and is thus an ideal jumping-off point for understanding environmental politics and the power of business in the middle of the twentieth century.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy about?

Focusing on five Los Angeles environmental policy debates between 1920 and 1950, Sarah Elkind investigates how practices in American municipal government gave business groups political legitimacy at the local level as well as unanticipated influence over federal politics.

Los Angeles’s struggles with oil drilling, air pollution, flooding, and water and power supplies expose the clout business has had over government. Revealing the huge disparities between big business groups and individual community members in power, influence, and the ability to participate in policy debates, Elkind shows that business groups secured their political power by providing Los Angeles authorities with much-needed services, including studying emerging problems and framing public debates. As a result, government officials came to view business interests as the public interest. When federal agencies looked to local powerbrokers for project ideas and political support, local business interests influenced federal policy, too. Los Angeles, with its many environmental problems and its dependence upon the federal government, provides a distillation of national urban trends, Elkind argues, and is thus an ideal jumping-off point for understanding environmental politics and the power of business in the middle of the twentieth century.

What core themes, tropes, or subjects are explored in How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy?

Economics, Finance, Business and Management > Business and Management > History of specific companies / corporate history

Where can I read a sample of How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy?

You can read an official preview of the few pages here https://www.book2look.com/book/9780807834893

How long is How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy and how many pages does it have?

How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy has 288 page(s)

Is How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy part of a series, and can it be read as a standalone?

Yes it is a part of series The Luther H. Hodges Jr. and Luther H. Hodges Sr. Series on Business, Entrepreneurship, and Public Policy

Who is/are the Author/s of the book How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy?

Sarah S. Elkind

Who is the Publisher of the book How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy?

The University of North Carolina Press

What are the ISBN numbers for the physical and digital editions?

How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy is available as hardcover(ISBN 9780807834893) and paperback(ISBN 9781469618975) and ebook(ISBN 9780807869116) and ebook(ISBN 9781469602707) and ebook(ISBN 9798893133202) and pdf(ISBN 9798890883056)

Where can I buy How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy online or support local independent bookshops?

You can buy How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy from below

Where can I buy How Local Politics Shape Federal Policy?