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TitleEmerging from the shadows
NameKrishnan, Uma (author), Holcomb, Briavel (chair), Listokin, David (internal member), Rubin, Julia Sass (internal member), Diversi, Marcelo (outside member), Rutgers University, Graduate School - New Brunswick,
Degree Date2009-05
Date Created2009
SubjectPlanning and Public Policy,
Municipal incorporation--California--Goleta,
Goleta (Calif.)
DescriptionLocal governance struggles including municipal incorporations and city annexations have been the subjects of public and scholarly debates on metropolitan area administrations and their effects on land use, urban services and quality of life issues for area residents. Central to this dissertation is one such governance struggle that took place in the California's Goleta Valley.
Goleta Valley lies in the sun drenched southern California coastline. It remained a large densely populated unincorporated area in Santa Barbara County. Casting a shadow on the Valley's identity was its glamorous neighbor, the City of Santa Barbara. During the time period 1970-1995, one annexation proposal and three slightly different incorporation referendums were defeated at the polls. The focus of this dissertation is the fifth and successful incorporation bid that resulted in cityhood for Goleta in the year 2001.
The research question that is addressed by this thesis is how and why Goleta Valley was able to incorporate successfully while competing against a reactionary
and defensive annexation bid by the City of Santa Barbara. The research also attempts to discern the differences between the successful effort and earlier
unsuccessful initiatives. The research strategy applied was the case study method. The logic of employing a single-case study design is based on the rationale that
Goleta incorporation was a revelatory case that held the significant possibility of uncovering aspects of the incorporation process that were previously unknown in the literature.
The research findings reveal varying levels of support for separate incorporation theories. In contrast to the theorization of a single strong motive, the case reveals that the proponents in fact have multiple equally strong motives. Further, the Goleta case demonstrates that standard linear regressions will not fully explain successful incorporations. Instead, hedonic regressions or logit models are better suited to explain the effect of "residual" factors in incorporation struggles. In the Goleta case, "ground politics" and "access to funding resources" played a significant role in making the initiative a success. Goleta incorporation also renders some support for Marxian incorporation theories. Additionally, Goleta highlights the role that the boundary entrepreneurs play in shaping local governance battles.
Goleta Valley lies in the sun drenched southern California coastline. It remained a large densely populated unincorporated area in Santa Barbara County. Casting a shadow on the Valley's identity was its glamorous neighbor, the City of Santa Barbara. During the time period 1970-1995, one annexation proposal and three slightly different incorporation referendums were defeated at the polls. The focus of this dissertation is the fifth and successful incorporation bid that resulted in cityhood for Goleta in the year 2001.
The research question that is addressed by this thesis is how and why Goleta Valley was able to incorporate successfully while competing against a reactionary
and defensive annexation bid by the City of Santa Barbara. The research also attempts to discern the differences between the successful effort and earlier
unsuccessful initiatives. The research strategy applied was the case study method. The logic of employing a single-case study design is based on the rationale that
Goleta incorporation was a revelatory case that held the significant possibility of uncovering aspects of the incorporation process that were previously unknown in the literature.
The research findings reveal varying levels of support for separate incorporation theories. In contrast to the theorization of a single strong motive, the case reveals that the proponents in fact have multiple equally strong motives. Further, the Goleta case demonstrates that standard linear regressions will not fully explain successful incorporations. Instead, hedonic regressions or logit models are better suited to explain the effect of "residual" factors in incorporation struggles. In the Goleta case, "ground politics" and "access to funding resources" played a significant role in making the initiative a success. Goleta incorporation also renders some support for Marxian incorporation theories. Additionally, Goleta highlights the role that the boundary entrepreneurs play in shaping local governance battles.
NotePh.D.
NoteIncludes bibliographical references (p. 240-251)
Noteby Uma Krishnan
Genretheses
Persistent URLhttp://hdl.rutgers.edu/1782.2/rucore10001600001.ETD.000051366
Languageeng
CollectionGraduate School - New Brunswick Electronic Theses and Dissertations
Organization NameRutgers, The State University of New Jersey
RightsThe author owns the copyright to this work.