Subseries 1.1:Shadow Governments, 1976/1991

Scope and content:

Material from Joel Garreau's book "Edge City" dealing with Shadow Governments. A Shadow Government is a private enterprise's government. Since Edge Cities are mostly made up of private organizations, the leadership of the organizations become the leadership of the Edge City. According to chapter six, "Phoenix - Shadow Government" of Edge City: "These shadow governments have become the most numerous, ubiquitous, and largest form of local government in America today, studies show. In their various guises shadow governments levy taxes, adjudicate disputes, provide police protection, run fire departments, provide health care, channel development, plan regionally, enforce esthetic standards, run buses, run railroads, run airports, build roads, fill potholes, publish newspapers, pump water, generate electricity, clean streets, landscape grounds, pick up garbage, cut grass, rake leaves, remove snow, offer recreation, and provide the hottest social service in the United States today: day care." The chapter goes on, stating that the Shadow Governments are central to the Edge City Society, "in which office parks are in the childrearing business, parking-lot officials run police forces, private enterprise builds public freeways, and sub-divisions have a say in who lives where."

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