Prior to the late 19th century, trash in many American cities accumulated in streets, in backyards, in privies, in empty lots, and in crawlspaces underneath homes. There were no organized municipal efforts to remove the trash and, as they grew in size and density, cities became smelly, foul, and unhealthy places to live. In their book, The Politics of Trash: How Governments Used Corruption to Clean Cities, 1890–1929, authors Patricia Strach, professor of political science and public administration & policy at the University at Albany and a fellow at the Rockefeller Institute, and Kathleen Sullivan, associate professor of political science at Ohio University, describe how this began to change. On this episode, Patricia and Kathleen discuss their book, the lessons we can learn about how cities develop new services, and how those lessons apply to some of the problems governments are facing today.
Guests:
Patricia Strach, professor of political science and public administration & policy, University at Albany, & fellow, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Kathleen Sullivan, associate professor of political science, Ohio University
Joel Tirado, director of communications, Rockefeller Institute of Government
Learn More:
The Politics of Trash: How Governments Used Corruption to Clean Cities, 1890–1929
