When Cities Lobby Book Talk & Panel

Join the BU Initiative on Cities and the American Politics Seminar Series for a discussion that explores why mayors rely on professional lobbyists to amplify their voices and represent their city’s interests in state politics. How did we end up with a system where political officials in different levels of government often choose to pay lobbyists to facilitate communication between them, and what are the potential benefits and costs? The event will feature author, Julia Payson (New York University), who will share insights from her recent book, When Cities Lobby: How Local Governments Compete for Power in State Politics. Payson documents how local officials use lobbyists to compete for power in a political environment characterized by intense urban-rural polarization and growing hostility between cities and state legislatures. Following her presentation, a panel of experts – including the City of Boston’s Intergovernmental Relations Director Clare Kelly and President of Simon & Company Jen Covino – will join the author for a discussion.