Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, and Citizen co-founder Larry Platt talk about what it really takes to get sh*t done in cities on The Citizen’s newest podcast, How to Really Run a City. New episodes, with a special guest joining, each month. To learn more, read Larry Platt’s article on the birth of the podcast.
LATEST RELEASE: EPISODE 9
You can dream up the most well-intentioned policy in the world for your constituents, but if you fail to provide those who are tasked with executing your policy with the right training, tools, or decision-making power, chances are your policy rollout will be a hot mess and citizens will feel unseen, unheard, disillusioned — and less likely to vote for you next time.
This installment features two guests. First, there’s Jennifer Pahlka, founder of Code for America and author of Recoding America: Why Government Is Failing in the Digital Age and How We Can Do Better, which Ezra Klein touted in The New York Times as “the book I wish every policymaker would read.”
Next, there’s Little Rock, AK, Mayor Frank Scott, Jr., that city’s first African American Mayor. Now in his second term, Scott has brought some 10,000 jobs to the city, overseen an increase in population from 185,000 to 205,000, and led a 13 percent year over year reduction in violent crime.
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ALL EPISODES
Is L.A. Modeling the Way Forward for Cities?
with LA Mayor Karen Bass
The Secret to Being a Good Mayor? Swagger.
with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser
Building Black Business Density
with Newark, NJ Mayor Ras Baraka
Overcoming Partisan Politics
with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt
Solving Gun Violence
with David Muhammad, Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform
Making Cities Greener
with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego
The Secret Leadership Skill You Need to Solve Problems
with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
Is L.A. Modeling the Way Forward for Cities?
with LA Mayor Karen Bass
Within the first six months of her term, L.A. Mayor Karen Bass has faced the Hollywood writers’ and actors’ strike and the teachers’ strike. She moved more than 14,000 unhoused Angelenos inside, relocating people from encampment tents into motels.
She’s also taken the helm of the city’s Metro system, and she pledges to make the 2028 Olympics car-free. How has she been so productive – and remained so passionate? To find out, listen to the latest episode.
The Secret to Being a Good Mayor? Swagger.
with DC Mayor Muriel Bowser
“You know about the handshake, right?” Mayor Michael Nutter says. “You gotta get up in that web. You gotta own the handshake.” Mayor Kasim Reed agrees, saying that Nutter once also taught him an ancillary move: One hand on the shoulder while the other clasps the hand.
Get insider tips, like the anatomy of the mayoral handshake, from these former two-term mayors. They also compare notes on how to lead with swagger, and on the mentors who convinced them they really could lead their respective cities.
Your hosts then welcome current third-term D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser who shares what it takes to navigate the many obstacles to smart policy and governing in a city that is also (effectively) a county and state — and how she keeps focused on her goal of fueling economic prosperity without leaving anyone behind.
Building Black Business Density
with Newark, NJ Mayor Ras Baraka
Part 1:
Part 2:
Alarmingly, in a city that is 44 percent Black, Black-owned businesses with payroll represent less than 3 percent of the businesses in Philadelphia. This episode has our hosts sit down with Newark, NJ Mayor Ras Baraka and Nowak Metro Finance Lab’s Bruce Katz — two experts who have a litany of solutions to address one of the most pressing issues of our time: creating and supporting the success of Black businesses.
Sign up to keep up with The Philadelphia Citizen’s Black business spotlights.
Overcoming Partisan Politics
with Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt
For all of the seeming division in our country, there really are leaders who are committed to bringing people together to achieve real change. Helming that charge? Oklahoma City Mayor David Holt, an anti-Trump, tax-increasing Republican who joined this episode of the podcast. Whatever political party you ascribe to, meeting in the middle may be easier than you think.
Sign up to stay informed on balanced solutions to city problems at The Philadelphia Citizen.
Solving Gun Violence
with David Muhammad, Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform
In this episode, Nutter, Reed and Platt turned to one of the architects behind Oakland’s 50 percent reduction in gun violence over seven years: David Muhammad, Executive Director of the National Institute for Criminal Justice Reform. Gun violence has taken a toll in cities across America. Muhammad’s game plan will leave you with a sense that this problem is one thing: solvable.
Making Cities Greener
with Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego
Did you know that changing the color of roads could lower their temperature by more than 10 degrees? Or that strategically planting trees could lower air temperature by up to 40 degrees? Neither did we, until we heard this episode, featuring Phoenix Mayor Kate Gallego. Learn the ways she has made her city’s focus on sustainability pay off for its citizens.
The Secret Leadership Skill You Need to Solve Problems
with Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf
There’s a secret leadership skill you can’t gain from a Harvard MBA or Stanford education: It’s connecting with the people. In this episode, hosts Reed, Nutter, and Platt explore the power of relationship to make positive changes, then welcome Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf to share the replicable ways she’s made a difference in Oakland, CA, about problems ranging from gun violence to potholes.
How to Really Run a City is made possible thanks to the generous support of Comcast NBCUniversal and Diversified Search Group.
