Also, don't assume that living in a big city means there isn't "local politics" -- it's a slightly different animal but find out what an 'alderman' is. Shocking how many levers of political power just sit around gathering dust... or are manned by the dullest rock in the barrel.
I don't know why anyone even runs for congress-- You can do so much more by being on the community reporting group to the Department of Sanitation.
(for example insist they put more trash cans by the public high school)