The Possible City

A special bonus episode, and something a little different: our intrepid hosts were recently in Charlotte, North Carolina for the 31st convening of the Congress for the New Urbanism, an organization that advocates for people-centered design in cities all over the country. In this episode, we catch up on what what we liked, what we saw, and what we learned at CNU this year. If you were there or if you've got any other thoughts on how urbanism influences local leadership, politics, and activism, shoot us an email at [email protected]. We'll be back soon with more interviews about what's possible in America's cities. For now, thanks for listening and please share this episode with all the city-builders you know.

While the World Health Organization recommends around 30 to 35 square meters of green space per person, the standard in Mexico is currently around 4 to 5 square meters. San Pedro, a thriving suburb of Monterrey, surpasses this standard with six times the amount of green space per resident - a fact that doubtlessly factors into its reputation as having the highest quality of life in the entire country. Today's guest on The Possible City, German Enriquez, leads the NGO that manages and maintains these incredible public spaces, San Pedro Parques.

An industrial engineer by training, he initially wanted to focus on energy as a way to contribute to improving the environment. He soon found himself drawn to the importance of high quality, accessible public spaces as a way to both protect the planet and build community from the ground up. According to German, parks are not just "the lungs of the city," as they're often described - they are tools for mitigating climate change, enhancing public safety, and making people healthier. In today's episode, German talks about what he does to help local governments understand the value of these tools and invest in them appropriately.

Referenced in this episode: News & Tribune, September 24, 2021: "Part of the bigger picture: Parks leaders in Indiana, Mexico support connection."

"How can we ensure that we look at every opporutnity possible to make sure that everyone can thrive?"

Michele Martinez is one of the Golden State's most accomplished and thoughtful policymakers. In her capacity as special master to an Orange County federal judge, she works diligently find humane, innovative, and effective legal solutions to southern California's homelessness crisis. As a member of the California Transportation Commission, she is committed to leveraging state and federal transportation dollars to help local governments make more responsible land use and transportation choices. Drawing on her long career in local politics and government affairs, Michele has a unique ability to see the connections between land use, tax revenue, housing, transportation, and quality of life for California's most vulnerable populations. In this inspiring conversation, she makes it clear that leaders need to prioritze small changes and a bottom up approach to drive bigger changes - and once they start to think and act systemically, a financially stronger and more equitable state is possible.  Referenced in this episode:

Streetsblog, August 6, 2020: New California Transportation Commissioner Michele Martinez Wants "Everybody at the Table"

Streetsblog, August 17, 2020: Representation on the California Transportation Commission Is Shifting

Forbes, July 21, 2021: To Help End Homelessness In Her City, She Had A Radical Idea: Sue Us

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Fritz Kaegi took over an office that was literally legendary for being opaque, outdated, and at times, downright hostile to the constituents its meant to serve: the Cook County Assessor's Office. At the time of his election in 2018, the office was under federal monitoring and politically-connected downtown landlords seemed to be running roughshod over homeowners. This in episode, Fritz - fresh off relection to his second term - takes us behind the scenes to talk about how he found the technology, talent, and tenacity to reform a massive, inert bureaucracy. Along the way, we learn why a transaparent, ethical property tax system matters to Chicagoland's future.

Referenced in this episode:

Route Fifty, February 21, 2023: How One County Fixed Its Broken Property Tax System - Route Fifty

Axios, February 16, 2023: Cook County Assessor Fritz Kaegi pushes back against tax appeals

WTTW-FM, May 16, 2022: New Chicago Property Assessment Pushes Tax Burden from Homeowners to Businesses, Assessor Fritz Kaegi Says

ProPublica, December 7, 2017: How the Cook County Assessor Failed Taxpayers

In the eyes of the court, Commissioner Ted Terry may technically call himself "aggreived," but you wouldn't know it to speak with him. A dedicated environmentalist in the sprawling Atlanta suburbs and a committed progressive in the American southeast, Terry is used to being a bit of a contrarian, albeit a highly productive one. As a two-term Mayor of Clarkston, Georgia, Terry made headway on issues from LBGTQ+ and immigrant rights to adaptive reuse of a local mall. Now that he's on the DeKalb County Commission, he finds himself squarely in the middle of one of the most contentious and high-profile political stories in the country: the proposed Atlanta Police Training Facility in the South River Forest. On this episode of The Possible City, Commissioner Terry talks with Cate and Kerry about his entry into politics working on pedestrian safety issues and how we weaves housing, economic stability, the environment, and public safety - all hot button issues! - into a coherent and practical political worldview.

Referenced in this episode:

Decaturish.com, May 26, 2022: "DeKalb County Commission approves North DeKalb Mall redevelopment described as 'generational' project"

Saporta Report, August 7, 2022: "Creating middle housing in DeKalb County"

WABE, February 2, 2023: "Commissioner Ted Terry on Cop City; Atlanta's Chief Operating Officer discusses her role; Journalist Josie Duffy discusses new investigative podcast"

Atlanta Community Press Collective, February 13, 2023: "Work Continues at Cop City Site, Injunctive Relief Filed with Ted Terry and Watershed Alliance"

Media outlets from coast to coast have been sounding the alarm about how downtowns are dying since the beginning of the pandemic, most infamously in the New York Times' essay about the coming "urban doom loop." Luckily, nobody's told Cate Irvin that downtowns are dying. As the director of economic development for the Pittsburgh Downtown Partnership, Cate is fervent in her belief that your city's downtown not only isn't dying, but is poised for a terrific and sustainable comeback. Specifically, Cate is drawing on her background as a public health specialist and sociologist to lead their efforts to convert some office towers into residential use, while also making sure downtown stays vibrant through a series of placemaking projects, market analyses, unique live events, and lots and lots of pickles.  "Downtown is a neighborhood," Cate insists, "and it's a neighborhood that needs to be alive 24 hours a day." In this episode, she tells us how she's making that happen in Pittsburgh's famed golden triangle. Referenced in this episode: The Pitt News, August 25, 2022: "'The power of art in everyday spaces': Local poets celebrate Oakland's past, present and future in new OBID sidewalk poetry project - The Pitt News"

Planetizen, December 4, 2022: "From 'Urban Exodus' to 'Urban Doom Loop'" Smart Cities Dive, February 8, 2023: "Pittsburgh office-to-residential conversion fund begins to accept bids | Smart Cities Dive"

Real talk and absolutely honesty and transparency. Good communication and math. Chickens as public art. In this fun and funny conversation with Megan Sladek, mayor of Oviedo, Florida, Ben and Cate heard about the connections between historic preservation and smart growth, better ways that local government and the free market can work together, and the trade-offs between more density and higher taxes. As a small-government conservative in a rapidly growing suburb, Mayor Sladek has developed an uncommonly canny abiliyt of how to communicate the values of walkabilty and sound planning principles - often when people are most reluctant to hear about them. Come for the shrewd and candid chat about fiscal responsiblity, stay for the funerals for Oviedo's most famous free roaming rooster.

"A city that works for everyone - and a city that works." Mayor Leirion Gaylor Baird's vision for Lincoln sounds simple enough, but as her conversation with us demonstrated, actually requires a tremendous amount of hard work to implement. We caught up with Mayor Gaylor Baird at a uniquely busy time for her and her administration -- in addition to being a wife and mom, she's in the midst of a re-election campaign while also managing the affairs of a community going through a dizzying population boom. In every respect, Mayor Gaylor Baird is intentional about positioning Lincoln as a welcoming place and a city where all residents - natives and newcomers alike - get to benefit from their growth. 

One of eight children and the mother of five - Christina Brooks knows more than a little bit about multi-tasking, finding your own voice, and getting things done. As the Fort Worth's first Chief Equity Officer and Director of the Diversity & Inclusion, she's had a front row seat to this thriving Texas city's efforts to repair community-police relationships and ensure that the benefits of its rapid growth reach all neighborhoods equitably. As DEI roles in City Halls around the country have expanded in both number and influence, she's taking a unique, place-based approach to her work, rooted in research about how the city itself is funded, who is and isn't paying their fair share, and how more targeted investments may unlock even more value for Fort Worth's residents.  Referenced in this episode: 

CBS DFW: "Christina Brooks Hired As First Diversity And Inclusion Director For City Of Fort Worth." November 14, 2019. Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "Police relations, economic development priorities for Fort Worth's diversity director." November 14, 2019. Fort Worth Star-Telegram: "Many of Fort Worth's most dangerous roads are in minority areas. Here's a possible fix." July 18, 2022.

"Perfection isn't possible but progress always is." After a career as one of the of the country's most innovative and progressive law enforcement officials, Adrian Garcia is now a member of the Harris County Commission, where he represents one of the most diverse and fastet growing districts in the greater Houston area. During our conversation, Commissioner Garcia spoke at length about his personal discontent with bureacracy and the status quo, the importance of collaboration, and his unique approach to improving community safety, mental health, and economic mobilty at the same time.  Referenced in this episode:

Houston Chronicle, October 23, 2022: "Editorial: We recommend Adrian Garcia for Harris County Commissioner, Precinct 2" Community Impact, January 3, 2023: "Harris County Jail population, deaths swell in 2022" KHOU-11, January 24, 2023: "Harris County Pct 2 Commissioner Adrian Garcia speaks on damage from severe weather, tornado"