From four-time Oklahoma City Mayor Mick Cornett, a hopeful and illuminating look at the dynamic and inventive urban centers that will lead the United States in coming years.
The world is noticing Oklahoma City's remarkable renaissance and its popular mayor, Mick Cornett. His list of awards includes nods for urban design, health, sports and the arts. Newsweek called him one of the five most innovative mayors in the country. London-based World Mayors listed him as the No. 2 mayor in the world and Governing magazine named him the Public Official of the Year. Best known for helping Oklahoma City attract an NBA franchise and putting Oklahoma City "on a diet," Cornett also led the charge to pass MAPS 3, an innovative $800-million investment in parks, urban transit, wellness centers, and infrastructure that will dramatically reshape Oklahoma City and enhance the quality of life of its residents.
A nonfiction finalist for the 2019 Oklahoma Book Award
“Mick Cornett’s The Next American City calls on midsize metros to
seize this moment and secure their future.”--The Wall Street
Journal
“Mr. Cornett tells it with wit, self-deprecation and
generosity.”--Pittsburgh Post Gazette
“The Next American City is not a reference to just Oklahoma City,
but a guide to how any community can aspire to such
recognition.”--The Oklahoman
“At the heart of the book is optimism about what people and
government can do when working together.”--Tulsa World
“…[Mick Cornett’s] achievements are real: OKC has undeniably risen
in stature, and other ‘middle’ cities of the heartland have done
the same. Valuable lessons for students of urban design and
planning as well as local governance.”--Kirkus Reviews
“In The Next American City, Mayor Cornett lays out why many of us
believe the future of America is in our mid-sized cities. This book
is for anyone in politics or public policy interested in where we
are headed and how we can get beyond the Washington gridlock that
too often holds our country back."--Mitch Landrieu, former mayor of
New Orleans, 2017-2018 president, United States Conference of
Mayors
"The Next American City makes a serious point that we need to hear
right now: innovation and bold ideas aren’t limited by geography or
political affiliation. [Cornett] exposes the weaknesses in the
cliché about two Americas — red/blue, urban/rural,
coastal/heartland — by showing how cities across the country, led
by mayors of both parties, are creating inclusive communities with
good jobs and a high quality of life."--Eric Garcetti, mayor of Los
Angeles
“Headlines from Washington dominate our social media pages and
consume the nightly news, but Mayor Cornett points out the
truth—that cities like Oklahoma City and Fort Worth, Texas, are
leading the way for a brighter future in America. From innovation
that augments fiscal responsibility to bold leadership that isn’t
afraid to cross party lines, cities are providing the commonsense
leadership that our citizens deserve.”
--Mayor Betsy Price, Fort Worth, Texas, Chairwoman Emeritus,
Community Leaders of America
“As a mayor and a governor, I’ve seen cities in my state and across
the region grow from sleepy Western towns jolted by booms and busts
to economic engines attracting the country’s top employers. When
people love where they live and they invest in it, there’s no
telling what will come. Oklahoma City and places like it have a
bright future ahead.”
—Governor John Hickenlooper, state of Colorado, former mayor of
Denver (2003–2011)
"The Next American City provides an inspiring vision for those
in America's fastest-growing places. If we are all very lucky,
hundreds, maybe thousands will hear the call to action in this
book. Our nation will be a better place for it."--Patrick McCrory,
Former Governor of North Carolina, Four-term Mayor of Charlotte
“The biggest, boldest ideas for [a] life that really matters to
people are rising up in places like Oklahoma City and those
following in its wake.”—Anthony Williams, mayor of Washington, D.C.
(1999–2007), and CEO, Federal City Council
"Mick Cornett's leadership in Oklahoma City, and the stories he
tells in The Next American City, can help ambitious, visionary
young athletes, artists, entrepreneurs and others find the ideas,
and inspiration it takes to make their cities great. Across
America, talent can bloom and grow right where it comes from—or in
my case, right where it belongs."
--Nadia Comăneci, Olympic Gold Medalist
“The Next American City is essential reading for the next
generationof city leaders in any party, from any city.”
—Stephen Goldsmith, Daniel Paul Professor of the Practice of
Government, Director of the Innovations in American Government
Program, Harvard Kennedy School of Government
“Cornett and White remind us that today’s struggling community was
likely yesterday’s boom town, and more importantly, could be
tomorrow’s thriving innovation hub. The history of cities is
one of constant change. They provide practical and
inspirational insights on the renaissance taking place in cities as
small as Charlottesville and as big as New York, as these cities
discover their potential to flourish as centers of innovation and
entrepreneurship.”
--Professor Michael Lenox, Chief Strategy Officer, Darden School of
Business
“Mick Cornett’s achievements in Oklahoma City are truly
revolutionary. If you are a mayor—or simply care about your
city—please read this book!”—Joe Riley, Charleston mayor
(1975–2016) and founder, Mayors’ Institute on City Design
"Something new is happening—and The Next American City taps into
this change in Middle America and what it means for creative humans
from coast to coast.”
—Wayne Coyne, founder and front man, The Flaming Lips
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