{"product_id":"the-mayor-has-a-hammer-james-schutz-9781421835792","title":"The Mayor has a Hammer","description":"\u003cp\u003eFinally - a book that gets it. These poems capture the soul of local\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003egovernment with honesty, heart, and just the right amount of humor.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIf you've ever served your community - as an elected official or as\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003estaff - you'll feel seen, understood, and proud. And if you haven't, this\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecollection offers a rare and moving window into what it's really like to\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003edo this work: the quiet frustrations, the small triumphs, and the deep\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecommitment that keeps us coming back.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- Kate Colin, Mayor, City of San Rafael, California\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eIt's rare in poetry to be privy to the minute particulars of a given\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eprofession. As the former city manager of one of the Bay Area's lovelier\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecities, though one not without its civic problems, Jim Schutz acts as our\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eVirgil through the not-so-divine comedy of running a municipality.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eHis tone can be biting, whimsical, impassioned, and\/or funny, but his\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003edisposition is always one of deep concern for \"the commons,\" and a\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eprofound appreciation of those who serve our local interests. As Jim\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003esays in his preface, these are really love poems to a work force too many\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003etake for granted. So, let him entertain you as he informs you. In these\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ebenighted times, maybe you'll find yourself among \"Those optimists\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ewho inhale conflict\/and exhale unity.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- Thomas Centolella, author of Almost Human\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWho knew local government could be poetry? Jim Schutz did! This\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003egem of a book makes you feel the joy, pain, and sheer craziness that\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ecome with being a public servant in these turbulent times.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- Kip Harkness, former Deputy City Manager, \u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCity of San Jose, California\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eMore than ever in these times, we need those who honor words for their\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eprecision and beauty. Jim Schutz has done just that. He has explored\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003ethe craft of poetry and brought it into City Hall, into the offices of\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003egovernment workers who don't get enough praise for their tireless work.\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003eWe thank him for his world of \"pensions, Ford Fusions, fluorescent\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003elights, taxes, and gavels in the small chambers of democracy.\"\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003e- Kathy Evans, author of Trespassers Welcome and Imagination\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eComes to Breakfast\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eAuthor:\u003c\/b\u003e James Schutz\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-10:\u003c\/b\u003e 1421835797\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eISBN-13:\u003c\/b\u003e 9781421835792\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublisher:\u003c\/b\u003e Blue Light Press\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eLanguage:\u003c\/b\u003e English\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePublished:\u003c\/b\u003e 06\/30\/2025\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003ePages:\u003c\/b\u003e 100\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eFormat:\u003c\/b\u003e Paperback\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eWeight:\u003c\/b\u003e 0.32lbs\u003cbr\u003e\u003cb\u003eSize:\u003c\/b\u003e 9.00h x 6.00w x 0.24d","brand":"James Schutz","offers":[{"title":"Paperback","offer_id":47072333103359,"sku":"9781421835792","price":20.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0662\/2982\/9887\/files\/img_1e89eca2-a6c8-46f5-b66b-2de9432142f0.jpg?v=1753416492","url":"https:\/\/www.whiterainbookhouse.com\/products\/the-mayor-has-a-hammer-james-schutz-9781421835792","provider":"WR Book House","version":"1.0","type":"link"}