Subsidiarity isn't a magic fix, but I think an intense dose of it would help our national situation immensely.

We are in uncharted waters with more questions than answers. In every city in this country, we need to start trying a lot of things – a lot of little experiments – and start figuring out what is going to work. At Strong Towns, we have ideas, lots of rational notions that we would recommend you try, but nothing like a simple solution. If you’re waiting for one of those, especially if you are on a city staff, you are actually part of the problem.

Travel season is back in full swing here, the long summer months of thinking, writing and spending time with family now replaced by airline queues, hotel rooms and road trips. We were in Ponderay, Idaho last week and after a short 48 hours home I found myself in Minneapolis to speak to a group of municipal bond analysts (that was utterly fascinating) and then at an event to add some Strong Towns vibe to Railvolution (podcast to come – I hope). Wednesday I flew to Texas to speak Thursday at a regional gathering in Fredericksburg, a surprisingly amazing little town. I love sharing this messages and remarked to our team here that the audiences continue to grow in size and enthusiasm in a way that continues to amaze me. Let’s all keep pushing; we have a lot of momentum now.

Enjoy the week’s news.

Don’t be intimidated by haters. Keep doing what you can to build a strong town.

This Friday finds me, along with Jim Kumon and Gracen Johnson, in Ponderay, Idaho. I just finished a radio show and am getting ready to dig into some plans and codes as part of an effort we have going on here. After spending a lot of time in big cities, it feels good to get back to my small town roots. Lots of struggles here, but lots of potential too. The job of a Strong Towns advocate is to see both with as clear a vision as one can have.

Enjoy the week’s news.

With all the talk of how to pay for a five year road plan, nobody seems to be willing to publicly acknowledge the obvious: Brainerd has more roads to fix and maintain than it has tax base to pay for them. This isn't a taxing problem and it isn't a spending problem. It is an insolvency problem, one that debt can only make worse.

As you are checking out the new website, there is one special place I want to direct you while I'm delivering an important message to our key supporters.