2022 Deil S. Wright Symposium
City Terrace 7, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville
Introductions, Mingling, and Welcome
9:00-9:30AM
Diverse Methods Investigating Regional and Interlocal Governance Mechanisms for Physical and Human Infrastructure
9:30-11:00AM
The impacts of the federal bipartisan physical infrastructure bill (Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, 2021-2022) will be a story of not just intergovernmental implementation through federal-state or state-local relations. It will also require an understanding of how local governments and the constellations of interlocal mechanisms that operate at the substate level function as resources are deployed. Scholars often consider special districts, regional public sector organizations, interlocal agreements, and other collective action mechanisms in isolation. While developing a rigorous understanding of the components requires narrow focus, the larger network is not nearly as siloed.
The Build Back Better bill focusing on human infrastructure-in whatever final resulting form—will rely on many of the same overlapping constellations of local governments and interlocal mechanisms, as well as partnerships with civic sector providers. The governance and implementation of programs through Area Agencies on Aging, multijurisdictional opioid addiction response partnerships, watershed coalitions, and educational partnerships operate within some of these same regional public sector organizations. The special districts and interlocal agreements impacted by investments in human infrastructure may involve many of the same local government and civic sector partners as the physical infrastructure investments. Our panelists will discuss ongoing governance research focused on four areas central to physical and human infrastructure needs in the U.S.: water systems management, broadband deployment, behavioral health care, and sustainability planning. Each panelist applies different research techniques to capture these questions: network analysis, individual case study, interview data analysis, and survey data analysis.
Putting fragmentation back together again: Advancing a typology of successful water system governance
Kate Albrecht (University of Illinois-Chicago)
Thomas Skuzinski (Northern Illinois University)
Jason Michnick (University of Illinois-Chicago)
Carolina Velandia Hernandez (Northern Illinois University)
Rural Broadband and Co-Regional Activity in Southwestern North Carolina
Jay Rickabaugh, (Appalachian State University)
Jen Luetkemeyer (Appalachian State University)
Outcome Insights: Applying an NPG lens to examine a capacity building initiative among the government and its partners
Sapna Varkey, (University of Missouri-Saint Louis)
Kara Lawrence (North Carolina State University)
Leila Chelbi (North Carolina State University)
Amanda J. Stewart (North Carolina State University)
Richard M. Clerkin (North Carolina State University)
Infrastructure Regionalism and Sustainability Planning in Illinois Municipalities
Thomas Skuzinski (Northern Illinois University)
Break
11:00-11:15AM
Roundtable Discussion: Future Research Questions and Idea Brainstorm
11:15-12:15
Professor Deil Wright was a true master of mentorship and research collaboration. As such, to honor his legacy to the section and to the field, we will dedicate an hour of the day to an open conversation among attendees about their research in progress. Attendees are invited to share about current research, their future ideas, any stumbling blocks they may be grappling with on their projects, and other topics related to federalism, intergovernmental relations, intergovernmental management, or general professional development in the field.
Lunch
12:15-1:30PM
COVID-19, Policy, and Outcomes in the Federal System
1:30-3:00PM
Negativity Bias in City Councilors' Responsibility Attribution for COVID-19 Outcomes
Ulrich Jensen (Arizona State University)
Akheil Singla (Arizona State University)
Justin Stritch (Arizona State University)
David Swindell (Arizona State University)
Policymaking During COVID-19: Preemptive State Interventions and the Factors Influencing Policy Implementation Success
Seungkyu Choi (Arizona State University)
Michelle Allgood (Arizona State University)
David Swindell (Arizona State University)
Defining Urban Sustainability: An Examination of U.S. Cities
Chris Hawkins (University of Central Florida)
Program Concludes
3:00PM
SIAM Business Meeting
5:00PM