Municipal Equation Podcast

We called it once-a-generation legislation when Congress passed it in 2021. The American Rescue Plan Act provided $1.9 trillion across the nation to restrengthen from the global pandemic that hurt so many communities. For their part, the cities and towns of North Carolina got about $1.3 billion -- and there's an important deadline coming up with it, which you can learn more about at arp.nclm.org. We're joined on this episode by NCLM's Stephanie Hughes, who has traveled to various municipalities across the state to see how they've put ARP resources to great use, and advises us on the reporting deadline ahead. Municipal Equation is a production of the N.C. League of Municipalities, https://www.nclm.org. Contact host/producer Ben Brown at .

While disagreement is a fact of life, and indeed it happens in the government space, there's a lot of potential in resolution. On this episode, we look at how local governing boards across North Carolina can tap into that together. Commit to Civility is a certification course from the N.C. League of Municipalities that explores the dynamics of discussion and disagreement and provides local leaders with the tools to navigate tense or emotionally charged situations with composure and respect. NCLM's Vickie Miller explains the context in and around the program and how local boards can sign on. That's right after a chat with Civic Credit Union on the how and why of its new campaign, "I Love NC Local Government." Municipal Equation is a production of the N.C. League of Municipalities, https://www.nclm.org. Contact host/producer Ben Brown at .

At a recent gathering of North Carolina municipal leaders, discussion briefly fell on a viral form of accountability activism from the public: “First Amendment audits," performed by citizen "auditors," with whom many local governments have had unforgettable experiences. Styles and practices of auditing vary, but generally in this context it’s the term for when private citizens, equipped with recording devices, occupy public spaces and engage with government officials (police officers, mostly) to test or evaluate their conduct. It can get tense. YouTube is bursting with videos uploaded by auditors that appear to show police and other government employees failing their test -- for example, an auditor might use provocative language to get a reaction from the police officer, who is expected to be cool and respectful of the auditor's free speech and other constitutional rights throughout. There are several cases of auditors successfully suing towns or police agencies over how their officers handled encounters, and it's a subject the N.C. League of Municipalities has followed for many years, even offering a course (called “Dangerous Crossroads”) meant to help with awareness of and readiness for peaceful outcomes with auditors, should they come around. On this episode, we talk with expert Scott MacLatchie about the subject and how the course, which he teaches, can help local agencies of any size.

Municipal Equation over the years has covered the challenges and successes of local law enforcement in a variety of ways. Today, we hear from the League of Municipalities’ in-house Shield Services experts – Tom Anderson and Joe Graziano, both of whom help agencies through the times, able to cite their own experience on the clock as sworn officers – about what it’s looking like out there today for law enforcement and public safety. Analysis of risks and liabilities; work toward innovations and solutions – it all makes for a thick conversation, evolving always, and it’s important that agencies participate together to understand and move the common needle, they say. “We’re only as strong as our networking,” Graziano told Municipal Equation. “Nobody can do this job alone.” Enjoy a full episode of interesting facts and candid perspective from League representatives who know the story closely.

Government communications, specifically the kind meant to connect with a diverse mix of everyday people, are always evolving in their reach, variety, and challenges. “I’ve been in the government communications side of things for 12 years, and it has changed dramatically over time,” said City of Hickory Communications and Marketing Manager Dana Kaminske. “It’s not just a press release anymore.” Kaminske, recently named Communicator of the Year by trade advancement group North Carolina City and County Communicators, in an interview with Municipal Equation said the city appreciates its media partners in helping to get the word out (about city hall programs, initiatives, proposals, announcements of immediacy, and so on), but there’s plenty more for government communicators to do. “We as governments have to be very active, just like a business, to communicate what I’d say our air-quote product is, and that’s our city, that’s our town, our government and what we’re doing,” said Kaminske. “We have to find what works really well for our community. I think everybody has to do that.” These points start off a great conversation between Kaminske and League podcast host Ben Brown about the modern and changing landscape of government outreach and information sharing, what the challenges are, what the public might expect, and what seems to be working in the state’s array of cities and towns. How does your town approach it? // Municipal Equation is a production of the N.C. League of Municipalities, . Contact host/producer Ben Brown at .

You’ve heard of “artificial intelligence,” or AI, in one sense or another; we’ve been reckoning with the concept through books, movies and academic discussions since its earliest mentions in the 1950s. When you hear about it today, though, it’s typically in the context of “generative AI,” the rapidly evolving web-based tool that humans are using right now to enhance their worlds. Generative AI (like the popular ChatGPT engine, among others) writes up entire documents, draws up complex images, researches historical issues, drafts organizational plans, and even provides advice on complicated scenarios, pretty much on its own, hence the "generative" term; all you have to do is type in what you're looking for. It's pretty amazing. If you work in local government, you might be thinking about where and how it fits in; perhaps your city already has an AI policy on the books, or has used it to help draft or enhance language in public documents. But, like with any transformative technology, it comes with all kinds of cautions and ethics worries. Are we comfortable with it essentially learning how to do jobs we've always entrusted humans with? Already, we’ve seen trust in generative AI lead to embarassing, avoidable public blunders and messes. It brings privacy and authenticity issues, too. Did you know generative AI can sample a recording of your voice and learn how to speak as if it's really you, potentially faking out anyone who hears it? Take this episode of Municipal Equation, the podcast about cities and towns from the NC League of Municipalities, as a sort of primer on the generative-AI conversation in the context of local government at the moment. What’s the potential? What are the dangers? How can cities and towns use generative AI safely and for the best? It’s not going away. // Municipal Equation is a production of the N.C. League of Municipalities, . Contact host/producer Ben Brown at .

When a city's or town's governing board adopts a comprehensive plan -- a big document meant to guide or manage growth and other elements of the locality's future -- it's a pretty big deal. Sure, municipalities across North Carolina have them, with insistence from state law. But for an individual city or town, it's a tremendous feat to complete such an intensive product in its purpose and sensitivity for the community, requiring all kinds of self-awareness work, public involvement, math, predictions, visioneering (the "blue sky" versus the real and practical) and, of course, time investment. On this episode of Municipal Equation, the podcast from the North Carolina League of Municipalities about cities and towns and how we shape them, we talk with a number of officials about how they view and pursue comprehensive planning guides, and how that might be changing with time. Philosophies, ideas for public engagement and inclusion, and plenty of other takeaways make this episode a solid one in the ongoing conversation of ever-improving and protecting the places we call home. // Municipal Equation is a publication of the N.C. League of Municipalities, . Contact host/producer Ben Brown at .

Recently, during a visit to North Carolina by municipal officials from the country of Moldova, they and fellow municipal officials from around Wake County discussed possible "sister city" arrangements, to learn from one another and possibly create mutual resource opportunties. But sister-city arrangements can form for a number of reasons. On this episode we look at the impacts of sister city arrangements in North Carolina and beyond, and how it all works.

When you think of downtown alleys, what comes to mind? Bad associations, maybe? The place to avoid at night? Ever since childhood, Americans have had the general impression that alleyways are dark, dirty, dangerous -- the right setting for noir crime stories. And that might sometimes be the case. But some U.S. cities are starting to embrace their alleys like assets -- as places to be -- with art, lighting, planters, seating and cleanliness. This is a classic episode of Municipal Equation from 2017, loaded with interesting voices and ideas.

Welcome to a special LIVE episode of Municpial Equation, NCLM's podcast about cities and towns adapting to change, recorded in December with a panelists about HOW public art is achieved, with expert voices from the realm of local government. This episode was recorded at the N.C. Local Government Budget Association's winter conference. Special thanks to them.  2017 episode: Previous live episode with NCLGBA: