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Dear Alumni and Friends of the Goldman School: Like many of you, I find myself reflecting on the state of our nation and world as 2016 draws to a close. I deeply believe in decency toward others, tolerance, respect for each and every person, the value of freedom, and the need for equal opportunity. I also believe in the importance of knowledge and information in the policy process, the opportunities for government to make the world better, and the importance of…

Too often, policy analysis is at high levels of abstraction. At the local level, there is little abstraction -- everything is excruciatingly real. Policies affect individuals with names and addresses who raise their concerns and struggles directly to your face. As President Obama once told visiting mayors, “being president is tough, but thank goodness I’m not a mayor.” Using my experiences as a former Oakland city manager, I introduce Goldman students to the world of…