Almost all US cities are controlled by real estate and development interests, but Santa Cruz, California, is a deviant case. An unusual coalition of socialist-feminists, environmentalists, social-welfare liberals, and neighborhood activists has stopped every growth project proposed by landowners and developers since 1969, and controlled the city council since 1981. Even after a 1989 earthquake forced the city to rebuild its entire downtown, the progressive elected officials prevailed over developers and landowners. Drawing on hundreds of primary documents, as well as original, previously unpublished interviews, The Leftmost City utilizes an extended case study of Santa Cruz to critique three major theories of urban power: Marxism, public-choice theory, and regime theory. Santa Cruz is presented within the context of other progressive attempts to shape city government, and the authors' findings support growth-coalition theory, which stresses the conflict between real estate interests and neighborhoods as the fundamental axis of urban politics. The authors conclude their analysis by applying insights gleaned from Santa Cruz to progressive movements nationwide, offering a template for progressive coalitions to effectively organize to achieve political power.

As researchers seek replacements for banned, ozone-depleting foaming agents, the authors of Thermoplastic Foam Processing: Principles and Development strive to develop a better understanding of foaming processes and find solutions for day-to-day practice. This book presents the latest research in foam extrusion and physical foaming agents with a strong focus on the interaction of material components in the foaming process. As part of the Polymeric Foams series and a companion to the volume, Foam Extrusion: Principles and Practice (2000), the book includes new topics such as polymer blends and mechanical properties, and further develops several vital topics appearing in Foam Extrusion, such as extensional rheology and solubility/diffusivity. The text also addresses factors that affect the critical interaction between polymer and gas in the foaming process, such as polymer plasticization, gas dissolution, phase separation, foaming, and stabilization. Written by experts, the book provides clear information on the mechanisms and the practical conditions experienced during nucleation and cell growth. In the midst of new research for alternative, environmentally friendly foaming agents, Thermoplastic Foam Processing: Principles and Development gives the reader a clear understanding of the current trends in R & D and an up-to-date review of the state of the art in thermoplastic foam processing. This book provides useful tools for the development and validation of innovative physical foaming agent and polymer combinations for current and future research.

Almost all US cities are controlled by real estate and development interests, but Santa Cruz, California, is a deviant case. An unusual coalition of socialist-feminists, environmentalists, social-welfare liberals, and neighborhood activists has stopped every growth project proposed by landowners and developers since 1969, and controlled the city council since 1981. Even after a 1989 earthquake forced the city to rebuild its entire downtown, the progressive elected officials prevailed over developers and landowners. Drawing on hundreds of primary documents, as well as original, previously unpublished interviews, "The Leftmost City" utilizes an extended case study of Santa Cruz to critique three major theories of urban power: Marxism, public-choice theory, and regime theory. Santa Cruz is presented within the context of other progressive attempts to shape city government, and the authors' findings support growth-coalition theory, which stresses the conflict between real estate interests and neighborhoods as the fundamental axis of urban politics. The authors conclude their analysis by applying insights gleaned from Santa Cruz to progressive movements nationwide, offering a template for progressive coalitions to effectively organize to achieve political power.