Municipal Equation Podcast

Municipal Equation frames a Statesville data center proposal as one example of the approval, moratorium, and public-pushback debates cities in North Carolina are having.

Municipal Equation episode 104 turns ADA website compliance into a concrete municipal checklist, with deadlines of April 24, 2026 for cities and towns of 50,000 or more and April 26, 2027 for smaller municipalities.

Municipal Equation episode 103 focuses on North Carolina public records law, with Baxter Wells of the North Carolina League of Municipalities explaining why "documentary material" is the starting point.

Municipal Equation's conversation with Wilmington Mayor Bill Saffo centers on housing affordability in Wilmington, North Carolina, and the city tools he says are already in use.

Ben Brown uses Municipal Equation Episode 101, 'Tour of Takeaways '25,' to revisit the year's clearest local-government lessons, starting with Hurricane Helene recovery in western North Carolina.

This episode discusses the Shop with a Cop program in Davidson, North Carolina, which pairs police officers with children for holiday shopping to build community trust.

Municipal Equation's Episode 99 examines municipal clerks through interviews with Betsy Shores, Robbie Wagner, and Penny Spicer-Sidbury at the 2025 North Carolina Association of Municipal Clerks conference.

Municipal Equation host Ben Brown interviews Stephanie McGarrett, Deputy Secretary at North Carolina's Department of Commerce, about Renew NC one year after Hurricane Helene damaged western North Carolina.

Municipal Equation’s Episode 96 examines how Morrisville, North Carolina, is developing a 25-acre town center to create a downtown that never evolved organically.

Ben Brown interviews John Bonitz of NC State University’s NC Clean Energy Technology Center about whether electric vehicles fit municipal fleets.

Matt Lehrman of Social Prosperity Partners argues that local officials carry the responsibility for defending civic trust because residents depend on municipalities for daily services.

Municipal Equation’s Episode 93 examines how Marion’s GEM program and Sanford’s RISE program support locally owned businesses through eight-session training, business plans, and conditional grants.

Bill Hollingshead, former Waynesville police chief, explains how Hurricane Helene exposed continuity-of-operations failures across Western North Carolina.

Ben Brown interviews Durham Mayor Leonardo Williams about his participation in the Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative and its global network of mayors.

Municipal Equation Episode 90 examines North Carolina’s recovery from Hurricane Helene through a February 11, 2025 convening in Asheville.

Municipal Equation examines Greensboro, North Carolina’s goal of becoming car optional by 2045, meaning residents can travel safely without needing to own and operate a car.

Municipal Equation host Ben Brown interviews Eric Wells, a North Carolina League of Municipalities cybersecurity business advisor, about changing threats facing local governments.

Municipal Equation Episode 86 examines how North Carolina cities and towns used American Rescue Plan funds after the 2021 legislation allocated $1.9 trillion nationally and about $1.3 billion directly to municipalities in the state.

Ben Brown interviews Vicki Miller, Director of Learning and Development at the North Carolina League of Municipalities, about Commit to Civility, a municipal-board training program built around nine civility pillars.

Municipal Equation Episode 84 examines First Amendment audits, in which people record police officers and municipal employees in public spaces to test official responses.

Ben Brown discusses how the town of Weldon, NC leverages local assets and a World Transformation Grant for growth and staycation experiences.

This episode explains the importance, innovations, and implications of the 2020 census for local communities.