Baltimore pool closings: a warning sign of shallow governance

The job of any big city mayor might be split into two distinct skill sets. The first is political — giving speeches and working crowds, strengthening your base of supporters while reaching out to build coalitions with members of the City Council, business and community leaders, and your state and regional counterparts. The other is administrative. This part of the job is not unlike serving as a chief executive officer of a company with thousands of employees.