Hudnut Years In Indianapolis 1976 1991

In this book the former Mayor tells the story of his sixteen years as the head of Indianapolis, the problems he faced, how he perceived them, how the city organized to meet them, and where he succeeded and where he failed. Anyone interested in these important years in the history of Indianapolis will be fascinated by this book, as will students of urban government generally. In addition to presenting his own account, Hudnut has asked scholars to offer their assessment of his administration's performance in a number of key areas: fiscal health, the amateur-sports strategy, neighborhoods and their relationship to UNIGOV, the police department, the politics of health, education, the urban environment, and affirmative action. A group of citizen activists and political opponents were also asked to comment on the Hudnut years. In a final chapter, Hudnut offers a summary of the lessons he learned about the role of a mayor and the problems of urban governments.

"Bill Hudnut improved the quality of life for all Indianapolis citizens, leaving an indelible impression on one of America's great cities." --Senator Richard G. Lugar

"This book is the story of a great American turnaround: the rebirth of our 12th largest city.... For those who care about municipal governance, this book is well worth reading."

WILLIAM H. HUDNUT III served as Mayor of Indianapolis for an unprecedented four terms, earning national recognition for spearheading the partnership of public- and private-sector interests that transformed his city.

Foreword: Urban American in the Hudnut Years

Peter A. Harkness

Preface and Acknowledgments

William H. Hudnut III

What Would You Do?

William H. Hudnut III

Part One: From India-No-Place to India-Show-Place

William H. Hudnut III

Indianapolis, Now and Then

Laying the Foundations of a Renaissance

Forging the Partnership

Strengthening the Infrastructure of the Spirit

Waking Up Naptown

Marketing the Store, Not Just Minding It

Leveraging Amentities

Harvesting Plums

No Conclusion, Just a New Beginning

Notes

Illustrations follow p. 132

Part Two: Academic Critics

Fiscal Health

Laura Littlepage, Mark S. Rosentraub, and Michael Przybylski

The Amateur Sports Strategy

David W. Swindell, Mark S. Rosentraub, Daniel R. Mullins, and Michael Przybylski

Neighborhoods and Unigov

David W. Swindell and Roger Parks

The Police Department

David J. Bodenhamer and William Doherty

The Politics of Health

Karen S. Harlow, Kathryn Diefenthaler, and Amy Dillow

Education

Carol D'Amico and Leslie Lensowsky

The Urban Environment

David McSwane and Jerry Smilely

Affirmative Action

David A. Caputo

Academic Contributors

Part Three: Citizen Critics

William Styring III

William M. Schreiber

Amos C. Brown III

Dennis J. West

Fay H. Williams

Harrison J. Ullmann

Afterword: Lessons Learned

William H. Hudnut III