This chapter provides ethnographic and survey evidence to substantiate a theory of distributive politics for an urbanizing continent. It pays close attention to the historical evolution of urban neighborhoods, as well as how certain residents and groups make meaning of specific goods and resources. This is particularly important in cities where land is scarce while property values rise, enabling politicians and leaders to politicize the commons. The chapter provides an alternative to conventional accounts of distributive politics by considering how informal norms of settlement and belonging shape certain types of distributive politics across neighborhoods. The chapter shows how Ashaiman residents and leaders constructed a public sphere in their city, while Ga Mashie and Old Fadama restrict decision-making along club and private lines, respectively.