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This issue confirms the National Civic League's continuing dedication to seek out the promising developments at the local level that can help reinvigorate our democracy. Articles celebrate the active role that citizens, in concert with local government officials and members of the private and nonprofit sectors, play in communities across the country. Contributors also highlight the potential impact of such local and state level civic engagement can have on national trends in political reform, particularly in the highly active area of campaign finance reform.

Case studies from the field include an analysis of the response to the Los Angeles disturbances a decade later that emphasizes the prominent role that grassroots organizations have had in crafting efforts to make changes there. The city manager of Chico, California, takes a searching look at the public hearing process and makes applicable suggestions for improving its efficacy as a tool for citizen involvement. Richard C. Harwood, founder and president of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, contributes a thoughtful essay on patriotism and the devotion we all need to bring to the public square as we take up our responsibilities for the common good.