Course examines current problems and issues in the field of public policy. Topics may vary from year to year and will be announced at the beginning of the semester. Open to students from other departments.

The course will provide students an in-depth understanding of key urban policy issues as well as the realities facing top officials in implementing policy and managing cities. It will cover the basics of what students should know if interested in working in local government. The course will address issues of public safety, land use, housing, homelessness, transportation, schools, water, sanitation, ballparks, and of major importance, budgeting. it will also address the rules of the game (e.g., charters, municipal codes, and basic city law) as well as issues of management. As important, the course will focus on the important distributional questions of who are cities managed for and who benefits from city policies and actions. Using Oakland and other Bay Area cities as case studies, The course will integrate direct front-line experience with broader conceptual analyses. Students will work on projects of current importance and gain familiarity with a wide-range of city policies and programs. The class will include presentations by key city decision-makers. The course is given by a former Oakland City Manager.

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