The Possible City

Coeo Media

Conversations about what's possible in America's cities. Hosted by Ben McAdams and Cate Ryba. read less
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Episodios

Rick Cole on Drivable, Walkable, Resilient Southern California
07-08-2023
Rick Cole on Drivable, Walkable, Resilient Southern California
Ben and Cate chat with a luminary from the worlds of planning and politics - Rick Cole, formerly the city manager of Azusa, Ventura, and Santa Monica, former Mayor of Pasadena, and currently Los Angeles' Chief Deputy City Controller. He also served as the executive director for the Congress For the New Urbanism for two years and right now is running for Pasadena City Council. The breadth and depth of his experience in fiscal policy, affordalbe housing, public transportation, and how the built environment shapes peoples' lives is practically unparalleled anywhere in the country, and is particularly important in the predominantly auto-centric communities of Southern California where he has lived and worked for decades. In this conversation, Rick talks about his views on the unappreciated amounts of walkabilty in Pasadena, what the heck a City Controller does and can do, and how democracy often means listening closely to people who disagree with you. Referenced in this episode: Pasadena Now, November 29, 2022: "Former Pasadena Mayor Rick Cole is returning to City Government – in Los Angeles." Spectrum News 1, January 6, 2023: "A unique pairing in the LA city’s controller’s office." Pasadena Star-News, January 7, 2023: "We can solve our toughest problems — if we find common-sense solutions: Rick Cole." Pasadena Star-News, May 10, 2023: "Former Pasadena Mayor Rick Cole announces bid for District 2 City Council seat."
Possible City Episode 13: Michele Martinez from Santa Ana, CA
22-05-2023
Possible City Episode 13: Michele Martinez from Santa Ana, CA
"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
Possible City Episode 11: Commissioner Ted Terry from DeKalb County, GA
24-04-2023
Possible City Episode 11: Commissioner Ted Terry from DeKalb County, GA
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”
Possible City Episode 10: Cate Irvin from Pittsburgh, PA
10-04-2023
Possible City Episode 10: Cate Irvin from Pittsburgh, PA
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”