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

Top of the Bottom-Up: Building Gentle Density and a Grassroots Campaign for City Council

Ashley Salvador is a housing advocate and city councilor in Edmonton, Alberta.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Planning Profession, Housing, Success Story, Top Story, Incremental HousingStrong TownsDecember 1, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, local conversations, taking action, city council, accessory dwelling units, ADUs, Incremental Housing, success, success stories

Nervous About Speaking in Front of Your Council? Practice!

Join us Wednesday, August 31, for a mock council meeting, in which we’ve asked our Strong Towns Toastmasters members to prepare a persuasive speech or participate as a skeptical council member.

Announcement, Van Eeden Petersman, Top StoryNorman Van Eeden PetersmanAugust 29, 2022announcement, city council

Spokane Opens the Door for Middle Housing Expansion

Last week, the city council of Spokane, WA, voted on a truly “bold, transformational package” that will allow for more forms of missing-middle housing and infill development in the city.

San José Joins in the Push To Abolish Parking Minimums

San José adds itself to the list of cities that are doing away with harmful parking minimums!

Parking, Success Story, Top StoryDaniela CastañedaJuly 15, 2022Parking, parking minimums, parking, minimum parking requirements, End Parking Mandates and Subsidies, parking landing page, California, city council, transportation, success, success stories

Keep It Simple, Cities!

So, you want to attend a city council meeting? Good luck getting past all the jargon! Check out these “translations” of a real-life council agenda, and why it’s important to be more transparent with citizens.

#StrongCitizens, Engagement, Top Story, OwensTiffany Owens ReedJune 16, 2022local government, public engagement, Public Participation, city council, localism, Strong Citizenship, community engagement

I'm Making Real Change in My City

If you ever wanted to REALLY make a change in your town, instead of just starting a fight, consider this your manifesto.

Local Government, Member Post, Politics, Top StoryAllen AldermanApril 19, 2022local government, local gov, public engagement, community engagement, local politics, city council, city government, Municipalism, how to, member story

Accidentally On Purpose

Massive property damage and pedestrians being injured (or killed) is our transportation system functioning precisely as designed. This is how it was designed to work.

Community, Member Post, Neighborhoods, Transportation, Walkability, Planning Profession, In the Neighborhood, Engineering Profession, Urban Design, dear winnipeg, Top StoryMichel Durand-WoodApril 14, 2022advocacy, canada, Winnipeg, neighborhood, city council, community

Can We Please Stop Fighting About Gardens

In this town where so many people have front-lawn gardens, why is anyone still arguing that they shouldn’t be allowed?

Local Food, Sheppard, Top StorySeairra SheppardMarch 15, 2022gardening, Gardening, food deserts, local food, community, Community, city council, Illinois, Small Towns, small towns

High Value, Chapter 6: Zoning Issues

This week in High Value, Stark unveils the roadblocks the commission will face if they move forward with building a High Value grocery store in the community.

High Value Serial, Top StoryHamilton LudwigFebruary 11, 2022High Value series, series, big box stores, city council, local government

High Value, Chapter 5: Pre-Submission Meeting

This week in High Value, a new project is proposed for Chippewa Lakes that sounds like a dream come true to Nancy Hjerne.

High Value Serial, Top StoryHamilton LudwigFebruary 4, 2022High Value series, series, big box stores, city council, local government

The Bottom-Up Revolution Is...an Interdisciplinary and Incremental Leader

Andrea Marr is an engineer, a Strong Towns member, and the mayor pro tem for Costa Mesa, CA.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Engineering Profession, Local Government, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 13, 2022The Bottom-Up Revolution, taking action, California, engineering profession, city council

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Building Gentle Density and a Grassroots Campaign for City Council

Ashley Salvador is a housing advocate and city councilor in Edmonton, Alberta.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Planning Profession, Top StoryStrong TownsNovember 18, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, local conversations, taking action, city council, accessory dwelling units

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Saying "Yes" to Your City

City Councilor and Strong Towns member Mason Thompson is committed to making Bothell, WA, a resilient place to live.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Local Government, Membership, Member Post, Top StoryStrong TownsNovember 11, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, taking action, city council, local government

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Connecting Neighbors and Harnessing the Power of Fun

Cate Ryba is Chief Operating Officer at Urban3, as well as a former city councilor, dog park creator, neighborhood revitalizer and fun run founder.

Podcast, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Neighborhoods, Urban3, Local Government, Top StoryStrong TownsSeptember 2, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, Urban3, local government, city council, community, taking action

What To Do When Your City Won't Listen to Reason

When you’re a change-maker, there’ll be times when you’ll feel like you’re losing your mojo. Here’s how to get back on your feet to keep making your city or town a stronger place.

Community, Member Post, Neighborhoods, Top StoryMichel Durand-WoodAugust 24, 2021advocacy, canada, Winnipeg, neighborhood, city council, community

The Bottom-Up Revolution is... Stepping Up to Run for Public Office

How do you go from seeing a problem in your city to solving it collectively, and then getting elected to city council? This advocate’s story will show you.

Podcast, Taking Action, The Bottom-Up Revolution, Success Story, Local Government, #SlowtheCars, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 28, 2021The Bottom-Up Revolution, California, city council, Safe Routes to Schools, schools, taking action

"Business as usual" is bankrupting our cities. Here's how to challenge the status quo.

Local leaders must challenge the status quo around how we build our cities. Here’s how to bring colleagues and civic officials around to your position.

Top Story, PoliticsDaniel HerrigesJuly 27, 2020elected officials, leadership, city council, public engagement

Beyond the Buzzword: Innovation and How it Can Help Local Government Create Meaningful Change

In this episode of our new podcast It’s the Little Things, Jacob Moses chats with Nick Kittle, author of the recently released book Sustainovation: Building Sustainable Innovation in Government, One Wildly Creative Idea at a Time. Nick argues that—even in government—innovation is an attainable workplace culture that, when embraced, can create meaningful change in our cities, towns, and neighborhoods.

Podcast, It's The Little Things, Top StoryJacob MosesOctober 3, 2018local government, innovation, city council

Introducing a New Podcast: "It's The Little Things"

Want to better your community but don’t know where to start? Enter It’s the Little Things: a Strong Towns podcast that gives you the wisdom and encouragement you need to take the small yet powerful actions that can make your city or town stronger.

Podcast, It's The Little ThingsStrong TownsSeptember 12, 2018local government, city council, Strong Citizenship

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