Paul A. Leonard, Deputy Assistant Secretary for Policy Development and Research

We are pleased to present in this issue of Cityscape a collection of articles containing valuable research that provided the background papers for HUD's The State of the Cities report released in June 1997. The articles contribute essential up-to-date information on the conditions of urban communities. They also explain how the interplay of social and economic forces and technological change may shape prospects for future development and growth. The authors underscore how interconnected changes in economic and social dynamics will pose significant challenges to urban areas in the next century.

As the Nation approaches the 21st century, urban policy must reflect the dramatic and continuing changes in the social, economic, and political contexts of metropolitan areas. The Office of Policy Development and Research commissions research by leading scholars that provides a critical assistance to the Secretary of Housing and Urban Development -- and other members of the policymaking community -- in formulating urban policy. This research demonstrates HUD's efforts to bridge academic analysis with government policymaking to better inform the debate about the challenges facing cities. The authors' insightful research supplies invaluable support for HUD's continued mission to build stronger communities through empowerment.

We hope that this issue of Cityscape will be useful in stimulating discussion and debate about urban revitalization in the next decade.