What Strong Towns Really Says About Infrastructure Spending

Are urban areas really more financially sustainable than suburbs? Do urban areas inherently have higher infrastructure costs? Here's what Strong Towns actually says about the Suburban Experiment and infrastructure spending.

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnJuly 22, 2024growth ponzi scheme, infrastructure spending, infrastructure, city government, financial solvency 2 Comments

West Philly Porchfest: The Battle for Car-Free Streets and Community Celebration

Philadelphia's Porchfest festival showcases the vibrant community spirit of West Philly, and residents proved the endurance of that spirit last month. After the city refused to close streets to car traffic, residents did so themselves to keep festival attendees safe. Admirable, but it should never have been necessary.

News, Top StoryAsia MieleszkoJuly 19, 2024safe and productive streets, city government, people centered places, arts, community building 1 Comment

3 Questions To Ask Your Council Member as a Strong Towns Advocate

Conversations with local decision-makers are an essential part of advocating for stronger cities. To make the best use of this sometimes-rare opportunity, you need to know the right questions to ask.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJuly 16, 2024advocacy, city government, city council, collaboration, communication Be the First to Comment

A Small Win Is Still a Win

When budget season comes around, it can be hard to feel good about policy wins when there are so many other important causes that are also fighting for funding.

Emma Durand-Wood, Top StoryEmma Durand-WoodMarch 21, 2024local government, city government, city council, budget, street trees Be the First to Comment

"How Can We Help Our City?" Start by Asking Questions.

The next smallest step for your community doesn’t always involve changing a street’s design or making housing policy reforms. Sometimes, it’s as simple as asking questions and probing the thoughts of local leaders.

Top StorySeairra JonesNovember 20, 2023ohio, local conversations, local government, city government, small bets Be the First to Comment

The Limits of the City

When it comes to saving the world, there’s a limit to what top-down policies can do.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedOctober 24, 2023city government, localism, local government Be the First to Comment

The Technical Brush-Off (and How To Fight It)

Too often, people who offer seemingly simple solutions for problems in their community just get dismissed by municipal staff. Here’s how to persist.

Edward Erfurt, Top StoryEdward ErfurtAugust 18, 2023local government, city government Be the First to Comment

Give a Little Grace

Rapid villainization is easy; grace for city staffers and elected officials is the harder path.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedMay 9, 2023city government, local government, city council, advocacy 4 Comments

No City Should Rely Primarily on a Sales Tax for Funding

At a glance, the sales tax is a nearly invisible revenue source that is also a cash cow. Yet, for local governments, it is the most distorting of taxes. Here’s why.

Marohn, Top StoryCharles MarohnMay 1, 2023sales tax, local government, city government, municipal finance, finance, financial solvency, taxes, transparent local accounting, local economy 10 Comments

Walk Into City Hall

City hall is an institution with a diversity of responsibilities serving your community, and in it lies an opportunity to observe how your local city operates and is managed.

Edward Erfurt, Top StoryEdward ErfurtApril 14, 2023city council, local government, city government, public engagement, community engagement 2 Comments

Flushing Success Down the Toilet

This public toilet in Winnipeg, MB, is a case study in why city governments need to pay attention to the power of small bets.

Top StoryMichel Durand-WoodMarch 24, 2023city government, canada, public space, small bets, little bets, local government, transparent local accounting, homeless Be the First to Comment

Cities Don't Need to Regulate Arts and Culture

Cities don’t need to pay for or try to create arts and culture programs. They just need to remove barriers to and support the organic culture already existing in their neighborhoods.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 24, 2023arts, top-down, city government, local government, texas 1 Comment

Do It Afraid

To save our cities, we need to try new ideas, and that’s scary. But sometimes we must make scary decisions if we’re ever going to move into a stronger, more resilient future.

Owens, Top StoryTiffany Owens ReedJanuary 17, 2023local government, policy change, city government Be the First to Comment

“The City Should Put a Trader Joe’s There” (and Other Muddled Thinking About Development)

Many of us are keen to express the “what” that we’d like to see in the built environment, but unwilling to think rationally and clearly about the “how.”

Herriges, Top StoryDaniel HerrigesOctober 17, 2022development, local government, Municipalism, city government, localism, community, big box stores 19 Comments

What Customer Service Should Mean for a City

Many local governments have taken on a “the customer is always right” mindset, but that’s simply not the best approach, especially for decisions that should be made at the block level.

Podcast, Marohn, Top StoryStrong TownsOctober 10, 2022podcast, local government, city government, localism, neighborliness, neighborhoods 2 Comments

Community Is Important. But “The Community” Is an Illusion.

You should be wary of anyone who claims to speak for “the community” or “the public,” especially when it’s in lieu of telling you who will benefit from the actions they support.