No Insurance for Wildfire-Prone California

Insurers think they have the answer to California’s most wildfire-prone areas: get people to stop living there.

Upzoned, Podcast, Top StoryStrong TownsJanuary 26, 2022Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, housing crisis, California, wildfires, natural disasters, disasters

Jarrett Walker: "Prediction and Freedom Are Opposites"

Special guest Jarrett Walker shares his thoughts on the limitations of prediction.

Weaponizing Historic Preservation

Has historic preservation harmed the capacity for cities across the U.S. to address the housing crisis?

Peter Norton: The Illusory Promise of High-Tech Driving

Technology historian Peter Norton talks about why we need to be more skeptical toward the utopian promises of self-driving cars.

Population Growth and the Housing Crisis

A smaller population does not necessarily result in more affordable housing for those looking for it. But why?

Tim Soerens: Reconnecting Churches with Their Neighborhoods

In 2022’s inaugural Strong Towns Podcast episode, Chuck interviews Tim Soerens, author and co-founder of the Parish Collective.

Disaster Relief for America's Housing Crisis

COVID has enabled us to get some “disaster relief” for the housing crisis. But what about when the pandemic is over?

The Infrastructure Bill, Racial Equity, and Local Government: How Should the Money Be Spent?

The $1 trillion infrastructure bill is being signed into law. But who gets to decide how the money will be spent, and will they make the right decisions for communities of color?

The "Bikelash" Phenomenon (and Why It Shouldn't Scare Local Leaders)

Some people get up in arms about adding new bike lanes to neighborhoods. So why do the mayors who head these projects so often get reelected?

Upzoned, Podcast, Bikeability, Top StoryStrong TownsNovember 17, 2021Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, bikeability, bikes, bike lanes, local government, member drive

"Zillow Offers"...Homes to Investors, Not Homeowners

The “Zillow Offers” program was supposed to sell thousands of homes to homeowners and landlords…so why is Zillow now having to offload them onto institutional investors, instead?

Upzoned, Podcast, Housing, Top StoryStrong TownsNovember 10, 2021Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, housing, housing crisis, Housing

The Gathering "Swarm" of Small-Scale Developers

What will it take to get back the ecosystems of tradespeople, laborers, lenders, and small-scale developers who made incremental development possible in the past?

Regulating by Use

What kind of zoning reform do we need in order to build strong towns?

Upzoned, Podcast, Zoning, Top StoryStrong TownsOctober 27, 2021Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, zoning, local regulation, housing, Housing, amazon, Amazon

The "Great Supply Chain Disruption"

You can’t just turn off the world supply chain, then turn it back on again and expect it to work properly.

Upzoned, Podcast, Coronavirus, Top StoryStrong TownsOctober 20, 2021Podcast, podcast, Upzoned, Savannah, coronavirus, economics, Economy

The Global Energy Crisis Is a Story of Fragility

How will we deal with the overseas energy crisis as it spreads beyond Europe’s borders?

CDOT's Proposal for Transit-Induced Pollution

CDOT drafts a rule that intends to address both greenhouse gas emissions and Colorado’s spreading development pattern. But can this kind of top-down solution work?

Best of 2020: Our Favorite Podcasts

The myth of capitalism, social alienation and the rise of populism, a young entrepreneur creating opportunities for other entrepreneurs, and more. Here are 7 of our favorite podcasts of 2020.

Podcast, Best of Blog, Top Story 2, Top StoryStrong TownsDecember 11, 2020Podcast, podcast, Best of 2020

Stacy Mitchell: Fighting for Small Businesses and Strong Local Economies

Why were small businesses on such weak footing even before the pandemic?

Fragile Policies are Making California More Vulnerable to Megafires

There are things we can do right now to make California less vulnerable to megafires. So why aren’t we doing them?

Podcast, Upzoned, Top StoryStrong TownsSeptember 23, 2020California, wildfires, podcast, Upzoned, Climate Change, fieldsteadca

Now Is the Time to Start Raising Up the Next Generation of Community Advocates

Our best hope for making longterm change is showing our children what strong cities look like. These family-friendly presentations—from Charles Montgomery, Jeff Speck, and others—can help.