A City on the Edge

Wauwatosa, Wisconsin — located along the border of Milwaukee, is a midsized suburb known as the “heartland of the heartland.” In recent years it’s been caught in between volatile protests in the name of police brutality, a decisive presidential election, and controversial public health discourse. As mayor of Wauwatosa in 2020, McBride witnessed the trials and tribulations of one of America’s most tumultuous moments in his hometown. McBride’s town was itself A City on the Edge (Indiana University Press) — the edge of anarchy, political turmoil, and a deadly pandemic. The book details a mayor’s experience of navigating national and local troubles at home and looking for a balance between order and the need for change. McBride uses Wauwatosa as a case study representing American cities reeling with society-altering issues. He communicates to local leadership and citizens alike that the best way forward is searching for a balance of adaptability, civic leadership, and trust right at home.