Calgary is transparent about it’s finances. Now it’s time to uncover where value is being created—and where resources are being drained.
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In January 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice sued six of the nation’s largest landlords, accusing them of artificially inflating apartment rents. But the lawsuit reveals an even deeper problem.
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Steven Zittergruen is a city council member from Decorah, Iowa. He joins Norm today to discuss the ways he’s making his community stronger, including revamping the city’s budgeting process. (Transcript included.)
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If you’ve ever seen an underused property and thought, “Why doesn’t someone do something with that?”—take a look at this church in Texas.
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Ohio realtors and community advocates have created a practical toolkit to help communities across the state enable infill development.
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Cities slide into insolvency not with a dramatic collapse, but with a slow, steady drift into financial fragility.
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A Japanese study is the first to quantitatively measure the economic impact of tactical urbanism. Spoiler alert: it’s good for business.
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Will McCollum is the president and co-founder of Citymakers Collective, a nonprofit that teaches aspiring architects and planners how to design resilient, beautiful and prosperous places. (Transcript included.)
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Every few years, the American Society of Civil Engineers releases its Infrastructure Report Card. Let’s be clear about what this report card actually is: industry propaganda, not unbiased analysis.
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In this episode, Chuck and Abby discuss President Trump’s proposal to privatize Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, organizations that back the majority of mortgages in the U.S. and have been under a government conservatorship since the 2008 financial crisis. (Transcript included.)
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The dollar store invasion has hit rural Maine. Banning the retailer is one way to stave it off, but how can locals guarantee long-term financial resilience?
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Amy Emery is a community leader focused on fostering sustainable growth and smart development in Warrenville, Illinois. She joins Norm to discuss several ways the city is working to build a core downtown. (Transcript included.)
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Texas isn’t exactly known for its housing shortage, but continued affordability isn't guaranteed. That's why lawmakers across the aisle are trying to get ahead with a new bill.
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Today, Chuck is joined by Mark Moses, author of “The Municipal Financial Crisis.” They cover everything from the dangers of relying on “balanced budgets” to the difference between city and business finances. (Transcript included.)
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Most cities impose strict parking regulations, which hurt local businesses, stifle development, and drain city resources. Minnesota is considering a bill that would change that.
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Despite assertions to the contrary, a city's budget is almost exactly like a family budget.
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Cities need more entry-level homes, but efforts to increase supply are often met with resistance. Iowa is considering a way around that issue: legalizing backyard cottages to increase housing supply without radically changing neighborhoods.
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North Carolina lawmakers have joined forces across party lines to make housing easier to build—here’s what they’re proposing.
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Sarah Rose is an artist and advocate from Washington. She joins Tiffany on this episode of The Bottom-Up Revolution to talk about how the intersection of advocacy and art is driving change in her city. (Transcript included.)
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Soaring home prices and tight housing supply are pushing local leaders to find creative solutions. Seattle’s embrace of backyard cottages has quietly delivered thousands of new homes right where they’re needed most.
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