John Norquist, the Democratic mayor of Milwaukee, is one of the most perceptive analysts of urban policy. In his new book, he describes how the natural advantages of cities — as centers of commerce, innovation, and culture — have been undermined by a half century of ill-conceived education, welfare, housing, transportation, crime, and environmental policies that have resulted in urban decline and suburban sprawl. Among his proposed solutions are school choice; competition for public works contracts; and real work, not “workfare.”