| This is a case study of the redevelopment of the central business district of the city of Santa Cruz, California following the Loma Prieta earthquake of October, 1989. In this study, I trace the political and economic history of Santa Cruz, focusing on the factors that gave rise to a progressive governing coalition which has been in political control of the city since 1981. This broader analysis lays the foundation for examining the context within which the redevelopment of the downtown occurred.; To guide the rebuilding effort, the city created a public-private partnership known as Vision Santa Cruz that brought together political leaders, business elites, and representatives of non-profit groups and civic organizations. Analysis of the creation, implementation, and activities of this partnership, as well as examination of more recent controversies over development proposals in Santa Cruz, permits assessment of several competing theories of urban development and urban politics all bearing on the central question of the relative autonomy of politics from economics.; Through a combination of archival research, participant observation, and depth interviews with members of Vision Santa Cruz, city officials, and citizen activists, I analyze the policy decision making process. The specific question I address is whether or not the implementation of the Vision Santa Cruz public-private partnership created the conditions for a resurgence of business power in shaping municipal land-use and development policies.; I conclude that while objective conditions appeared conducive to regime realignment---that is, for the creation of a progrowth governing coalition and a concomitant shift toward a growth-oriented economic development policy---progressive leaders were able to halt this process of regime transformation. They were able to retain control of the local state because of the unique political and economic conditions obtaining in Santa Cruz. Because of a confluence of structural and contingent factors, Santa Cruz represents a deviant "case" that challenges a number of influential theories of urban policy making and politics. |
