“Tell me your zip code, and I’ll tell you your life expectancy” famously stated by Dr. Anthony Iton of University of California - Berkeley to describe the dynamic relationship between race, class, neighborhood design, and public health. This episode is about just Environmental Justice - defined in community organizing as “the right of all people to live, work, and play in a clean and healthy environment, regardless of race, class, gender, or geography”. 

The host of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast, Jasmine, is joined by Brittany Simmons, better known as @signedbritt to her 70,000+ followers on social media, to discuss environmental justice (injustice). Brittany is an urban planning professional with a content creation platform on Instagram, TikTok, and Substack. This episode is one of a 26-part series titled “The Planning Alphabet” on the for the city girls Substack website. In the episode the host and special guest discuss zip code 48217 in Detroit, known as Michigan's most polluted zip code. In which the neighborhood’s predominantly Black residents have been in a decades-long fight with the adjacent oil refinery company over air pollution and related asthma, cancer, and mental health issues. 

The Flint Michigan Water Crisis, Cancer Alley in Louisiana, and the Cross-Bronx Expressway are a handful of examples of environmental injustice in the United States. These are cases of air, water, and soil pollution that result from policy decisions and disproportionately impact minority and low-income communities negatively. In the episode, the host and special guest Brittany Simmons discuss the evolution of environmental justice from smoke-stacks and waste dumping to highways and food deserts as well as the implications of environmental quality on human health outcomes. 

Brittany Simmons Bio:

Brittany Simmons is a Detroit-based urban planner and storyteller who leads place-based, community-driven strategies to create more livable and equitable, vibrant cities. With experience in both New York City and Detroit, she brings a creative, interdisciplinary lens to urban planning, rooted in a deep understanding of people, place, and culture. Brittany’s expertise in community engagement ensures that local voices are centered at every stage of planning and development. Beyond her professional practice, she is also a content creator who shares insights on urban planning and city life, making the field more accessible and inspiring new conversations about the future of our cities. 

Share this episode with a friend who cares about their neighborhood! 

Thank you for listening to The Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast! Follow us on Instagram @the4degreespod and send us an email at [email protected].

Connect with Brittany on Instagram and TikTok @signedbritt and subscribe to the for the city girls Substack here.  

Think of your favorite debate show like First Take or Inside the NBA on TNT and replace sports with urban planning. That is what you can expect in this episode. 

The host, Jasmine, sits down with one of her best friends and fellow urban planner, Jonathan Braun, to discuss the housing affordability crisis, equitable access to public transportation, commonly ignored problems with electric vehicles, and so much more. Jonathan Braun is a senior consultant in urban planning working on transportation, land use, and environmental projects across the United States. Jonathan was born in Manhattan and raised in the New York City-Newark-Jersey City, NY-NJ-PA metropolitan statistical area before spending formative years in rural Iowa. In the episode he shares how these places shaped his opinions on the built environment.

This episode is the result of a six year friendship in urban planning. The Friends in Urban Planning episode is two friends going back and forth (like an Aaliyah record) about the issues of cities with a trained eye. The conversation at times is serious as we discuss the public health risks of transportation and at times straight hilarious when Jonathan shares his Washington, D.C theft story. 

Share this episode with a friend who cares about their neighborhood! 

Thank you for listening to The Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast! Follow us on Instagram

@the4degreespod and send us an email at [email protected].

If you had to describe the first three months of 2025 in one word, what would you say? For me, the first quarter of 2025 was bananas!! This episode is the 1st of quarterly bonus episodes summarizing all things city planning that happened in the previous 90 days. In addition to our regularly scheduled programming, our monthly episodes, these four times a year quarterly episodes take a broader view at the goings-on (things happening) across the U.S and sometimes internationally at the intersection of urban planning x community development. 

Q1 2025 Review in Urban Planning starts in January with Donald Trump taking the U.S Presidential/Executive office, the host: Jasmine and hundreds of thousands of people in Los Angeles having to evacuate their homes because of wildfires, and wraps up in March with a coast to coast run down of the hottest real estate deals. 

Listen to this episode to hear takes on: 

• Donald Trump’s first 90ish days as the 47th President of the United States 
• How the host: Jasmine navigated the historic Los Angeles Wildfires 
• Consequences and opportunities for cities with Forever 21 bankruptcy and store closings 
• Hot List of Real Estate Deals: Hudson Yards (New York, NY), Poplar Point Redevelopment (Washington, D.C), office-to-residential construction (Los Angeles, CA)

References:

Greater Los Angeles Wildfires - January 2025

Forever 21’s Bankruptcy Could Be a Win for Mall Owners  

Mayor Bowser Announces Selection of Therme Group’s Inclusive Health and Wellbeing Destination for Poplar Point

Therme Group 

About NYC Community Boards

Hudson Yards casino proposal by Related and Wynn Resorts rejected by Manhattan Community Board 4

Jamison Starts Mixed-Use Conversion 

The Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast interviews Desiree “Dee” Powell about the Black Planner Collective, Do Right By The Streets Urban Planning, South Dallas Food Park, Implementing vs. Planning for community development, and her takes on urban planning issues and trends.

Dee, as she is affectionately known to her thousands of social media followers, is founder of Do Right By the Streets Urban Planning, an urban planning and space curation firm. But the organization is not your typical consulting service, Do Right By the Streets is “working to embed ourselves into communities/neighborhoods as lifelong residents and friends”. Dee shares her experience working in City Hall and talks about the dichotomy of growing up in rural Louisiana and the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex.

Thank you for listening to The Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast! Follow us on Instagram @the4degreespod and send us an email at [email protected].

Share these insights from this month’s episode with friends and family:

1. Community and resident independence and empowerment as one of the most useful outcomes of urban planning / policy implementation.

2. Experience as a municipal or city planner (ex: Planning Assistant, Planner I, Planner II, Senior Planner) provides valuable technical, policy, communication, and legal skills.

Get in contact with our guest, Desiree “Dee” Powell: 

Email:  [email protected], 

IG: @thedee_p OR @sunnysouthdallasfoodpark

Website:  www.drbtsurbanplanning.com and www.prolificpl4ces.org

New York City is the largest city in the United States, greater than the next largest (Los Angeles) by roughly 5 million people, it is also the 13th largest city in the world. The New York Metropolitan area or the Tri-State area (NJ, NY, CT) contain 7% of the U.S population and contribute 12% to the national GDP (gross domestic product).

The region is home to millions of people and jobs, cultural and historic resources, environmental treasures, international ports, and so much more, all thriving off of the city’s 24 hour + 7 day a week subway system.

However, that system, including the actual mechanics and infrastructure (cables, switches, train cars, etc.), stations and platforms, and access points are all in need of improvement and modernization. In January 2025, the City of New York launched its congestion tolling or congestion pricing system to disincentivize driving in one of the world's most gridlocked areas - Midtown Manhattan and to finance the much needed capital repairs along the city's transit system. 

Join the host of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast in conversation with Tiffany-Ann Taylor, Vice President of Transportation for the Regional Plan Association, the region's oldest and premier urban planning research and advocacy organization dating back to 1922, as we discuss the impact of congestion pricing and the opportunities/challenges facing the New York Tri-State area for the years to come. 

Share theses insights from the episode: 

1. Congestion pricing revenue is forecasted to generate $1B annually and is designated for MTA capital improvements. 
2. New York City is the first city in the United States to implement a congestion pricing network, inspiring many North American cities including Toronto, Canada and Los Angeles, California to consider congestion tolling of their own. 
3. The New York City metropolitan area struggles with the compounding challenge of an old system, with many parts of the system 100+ years old, and the impacts of climate change that cause freezing, flooding, and overheating of various parts of the transit system. 

Note: This episode was recorded in November 2024 prior to the tolling starting in January 2025 and prior to President Trump proposed changes to the program. Read the Regional Plan Association Press Release here: RPA Statement on Trump Administration Plan to Revoke Congestion Pricing  

Links:

Contact RPA  

RPA.org / @regionplan on X / @regional_plan on Instagram 

Follow the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast on Instagram @the4degreespod

The United States government spends more than $600 billion on goods and services sourced from third-party suppliers. As the largest consumer in the world, the U.S government issues thousands of contracts to companies. With that opportunity comes the responsibility to distribute contract dollars equitably, across a wide range of business classifications and avoid providing an advantage to one type of business. Supplier diversity involves the policies, procedures, and programs that support equitable inclusion of small and/or diverse organizations in access and receipt of vendor contracts. In this episode, the host of the Four Degrees to the Streets Podcast sit down with diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) strategist Jaime Coleman to advise small business on how to bid for a government contract and to examine how governments are performing on their equity in procurement/supplier diversity goals. 

Jaime Coleman most recently served as the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Strategist for a midsize city in North Carolina. As a one-person department, Jaime ideated and led all internal DEI learning & development and its corresponding compliance, reviewed and revised policies, engaged with stakeholders to establish trust with the municipality, represented the organization at various community and cultural events, and facilitated relationships between internal departments and historically underutilized businesses (HUB).

Jaime’s career started in Higher Education. Priding herself on being well-read and well-researched, Jaime believes that knowledge, open-mindedness, and understanding are essential tools to address many social ills. With years of experience as an Adjunct, she uses her facilitation skills to deliver interactive workshops that create openness, and equip and inspire the audience to take meaningful action. Jaime is a passionate advocate for people. She understands the importance of internal culture and its impact on external constituents.

Personally, Jaime cherishes time with her husband and children. Jaime is an avid reader, a certified trauma-informed yoga instructor, and a seasoned traveler. Jaime earned her MBA from Georgetown University, holds a Master's from NYU, and her Bachelor's is from Rutgers University. Jaime appreciates invitations to contribute and promises to deliver.

Share these insights from this episode: 

1. The United States federal government has procurement targets for each business classification for every department. 
2. The local chamber of commerce, economic development department, small business resource center, and community college are excellent resources for small businesses. 
3. Jaime Coleman shares a five-step process for small businesses to earn contracts with local, state, and federal governments.

Resources:

New Jersey Disparity Study: A Study on the Availability and Utilization of Small, Minority, Women, and Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Businesses

Massachusetts Performance Audit

NC MWBE Coordinators Network

FAA DBE Program

Equity in Federal Government Procurement Literature Review

In 2019 Minneapolis, Minnesota became the 1st city to eliminate single-family zoning. The Minneapolis-Saint Paul region continues to be a leader in urban planning and economic development practices. Yet the region, like others across the U.S, continues to struggle with poverty, unemployment, and housing affordability issues. Join us in a conversation with Minneapolis native and experienced planner: Breanne Rothstein, AICP, founder and CEO of Thrive Consulting on how to improve quality of life by shifting the focus of economic development to investing in people and community. 

Breanne Rothstein, AICP, is founder and CEO of Thrive Consulting, a firm that seeks to connect communities to the abundance in the economy by creating economic development and housing solutions through policy and programs. Breanne has a distinct passion for communities and strives to help them be welcoming places through meaningful, inclusive community partnerships. She offers over 20 years of experience of community development and organizational development in the public, private, and non-profit sectors. She is a powerful speaker and trainer, and has presented over 50 panels, sessions, and workshops on topics of zoning reform, housing finance, and inclusive economic development strategies.

Share these insights from this episode: 

1. Traditional economic development practices in local/city governments have focused on growing the tax base and bringing jobs to the neighborhood but these objectives are often missed and not in alignment with the economic and growth needs of residents and small businesses. 
2. Small business centers, down-payment assistance programs, talent/industry cultivation, micro-loans (<$10,000), and affordable housing are examples of economic development that invests in people. 
3. An adjustment of permitted/not-permitted vs. conditioned land uses can be an effective strategy to reduce red-tape or barriers to housing development. 

Links to resources: 

Thrive Consulting 

Metropolitan Council 

Breanne Rothstein AICP

Heart disease, cancer, stroke, and diabetes are the leading causes of death in the United States. Across the country it is easier for a family to get a variety of fast junk food than it is to get fresh vegetables and protiens. Food deserts are defined by the USDA (Department of Agriculture) as a low income community more than 1 mile from a grocery store or supermarket, there are 45 million Americans of all backgrounds living in food desert communities. Some are doubly hurt by also living in an area with a lot of liquor stores, tobacco shops, and fast food brands known as ‘food swamps’. Download the episode to learn about the strategies available to solve the food desert problem in urban areas. 

Share these insights from this episode: 

1. Urban farms, transit oriented developments, zoning, and state-tax credits are some strategies applied to solve improve access to quality healthy food 
2. 14% of the U.S population, roughly 45 Million people live within a food desert 
3. Programs that increase supply of healthy food in food desert neighborhoods report an increase in consumption of fresh food

Links to resources: 

USDA Food Desert Map

USDA Research Report: Characteristics and Influential Factors of Food Deserts

The Social-Ecological Model of Health

Food Swamps Predict Obesity Rates Better Than Food Deserts in the United States

Lyft Up Grocery Access

Brookings Institution Research: Delivering to deserts: New data reveals the geography of digital access to food in the U.S.

New Jersey Healthy Corner Store Program

Truman Olsen Redevelopment 

Safe Routes to Healthy Food

MARTA Fresh Markets

Columbia Heights Restoring a Historic Neighborhood

New Jersey Food Desert Relief Supermarket Tax Credit Program

New York State Food Retail Expansion to Support Health    

Thank you to all of our listeners for a great season 4! In this bonus episode, Nimo and Jas recap the season, memorable moments, special guests, and our accomplishments over the last four years. We’ve reached over 10,000 total downloads, 27 countries, and over 6,000 unique listeners. The Podcast will be back with new episodes for season 5 in Fall 2024.

News for next season: Nimo will be taking a break. However, Jas will continue to host Season 5. 

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.

Or send us an email to connect with us!

It's difficult to argue Tyler Perry's influence in the entertainment industry and Black media. Twenty-four feature films, 20 stage plays, 17 television shows, and two New York Times bestselling books. In this episode, Nimo and Jas uncover the impact of Tyler Perry Studios (TPS) and the physical footprint implications in Atlanta. TPS opened its 330 acres in 2019 after purchasing land that was the former Fort McPherson military base. Press play to hear: 

• History of Fort McPherson and Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) that led to closing multiple bases across the country
• Examples of other military base redevelopments, consistent themes, and community concerns
• A review of the benefits and consequences of Tyler Perry Studios over the past five years 

Thank you for a great Season Four! Episodes will return in Fall 2024.  

Thank you for listening and tune in every other Tuesday where Nimo and Jas keep it Four Degrees to the Streets.

Follow us on X and Instagram @the4degreespod.

Or send us an email to connect with us!

Resources

The effect of film production studios on housing prices in Atlanta, the Hollywood of the South

Oakland City Fort Mac 

Fort McPherson Draft Master Plan 2021 

Base Realignment and Closure (BRAC) 

Once feared, redevelopment of Myrtle Beach Air Force Base has been resounding success

Governor Murphy and Netflix Announce Plans to Build State-of-the-Art East Coast Production Facility at Fort Monmouth

Netflix moving ahead with plan to build N.J. mega studio

'Hollywood of the South:' After a decade, industry leaders succeed in making Atlanta a hub for filmmakers of color

Tyler Perry on Building an Entertainment Empire in Atlanta - BNN Bloomberg