I would like to know where to find real case studies and stories of
how local government was able to help turn around a community;
battling drugs, helping to open economic doors, making the area more
attractive to live in.  I would like to read ideas that cities
(especially smaller cities) can put in place to enhance the business,
community and family environments.

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Request for Question Clarification by pafalafa-ga on 12 Mar 2005 17:56 PST

Hello caspian-ga,

You've asked an interesting and important question, but it's so broad
in scope that it's hard to know just where to begin.

I've always like the NACO --National Assoc. of Counties -- site.  Even
though it's focus is counties, it covers a lot of city issues,
especially smaller cities.

For intance, here's one issues page for Justice/Public Safety:

http://www.naco.org/Template.cfm?Section=Justice_and_Public_Safety&Template=/TaggedPage/TaggedPageDisplay.cfm&TPLID=2&ContentID=4039


with lots of articles and resources on idividual topics, such as "
Inmates help community, themselves through farming".


On the left hand side of the page are links to a number of other issue areas.


Is this the sort of resource that you're looking for...?


pafalafa-ga

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Clarification of Question by caspian-ga on 12 Mar 2005 21:48 PST

Sites like the one you liked to are of interest, but I am looking for
specific stories (newspaper articles, for example) of innovative steps
local governments have taken to attract business, foster
entrepreneural development, and deal with social problems in cities. 
I think books and newspaper articles and magazine articles featuring
stories of local leadership in communities.  The question is still
general, but I don't need a comprehensive list, but a few links and/or
book titles.  I'm looking for a place to start some research.  (I'm
running for city council in a small city.)