How to Really Run a City powered by Accelerator for America

As mayor of Baltimore and then governor of Maryland, Martin O'Malley used transparency and statistics to drive his city and state forward into the Information Age. And then he  — literally — wrote the book on the subject.  His conclusion after more than a decade in public office? "We live in a time of enormous opportunity," O'Malley said on the latest episode of How To Really Run A City to our hosts, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter and Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt. "It's the dawning of the Third Industrial Revolution. People want to believe that tomorrow can be better than today." O'Malley, a former Social Security Administration Commissioner and Irish clan chieftain, knows the stakes of the current political moment. Yes, you have to lead with joy. But to get people back from the brink of political despair, you've got to get shit done at the local level, because if we can't deliver the goods of a republic – the services that make a republic worth having — then we can't blame people for not following us. "Over the last 20 years," O'Malley said, "trust in the federal government has fallen to an all-time low. But trust in local government – in city government – has held steady." Join us for a no-nonsense episode with a no-nonsense leader who knows how to get shit done at multiple governing levels — and whose prescription for both his Democratic party and the country write large are lessons we should learn to preserve what matters about living in America. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. Watch and follow new episodes on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

This special episode was recorded live at The Philadelphia Citizen's eighth annual Ideas We Should Steal Festival presented by Comcast NBCUniversal. Our hosts, former Philadelphia Mayor Michael Nutter, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and Citizen Media Group President and CEO Larry Platt were joined on stage by a return guest, five-term Rochester Hills, Michigan Mayor Bryan Barnett, a Republican. Barnett is a consummate showman, as evidenced by his increasingly elaborate State of the City addresses (full-scale musical productions). Here, Barnett and the hosts discuss the importance of leading a city with joy and finesse, and how the Democratic party is fumbling the ball — in messaging and in the recent government shutdown. As Mayor Barnett points out, there really is no Republican or Democrat way to fill a pothole. You just fill the pothole. "The moment you put your foot on the sidewalk," Nutter responded, "people are looking to see how's the mayor doing? Is the city upbeat? Is it grumpy? There's a public impact to this job." Join us as we dive back into Rochester Hills with Mayor Barnett and explore how to really run a city with style and good humor. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. Watch and follow new episodes on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

"I don't care if you live in urban America or rural America, everyone wants the same thing," Cleveland Mayor Justin Bibb said on the latest episode of How To Really Run A City. "They want a job they can get to in 15 minutes, they want a hospital or pharmacy within 15 minutes, they want a park or a grocery store or bars or restaurants, all within 15 minutes." Bibb went on to explain to our hosts, former Philly mayor Michael Nutter and former Atlanta mayor Kasim Reed, how he is turning his Ohio city into a convenient, accessible, bona fide 15-minute city — and what is needed to sustain that work. "People really want walkability," Bibb said. "They want safety and thriving neighborhoods and overall thriving cities. But we as mayors can't do this by ourselves. We need a federal government that's actually working. It has to be working with our governors and mayors." Bibb, a charismatic 38-year-old (and cousin to the first Black primetime newscaster in Ohio), will almost certainly be reelected next week, and both Reed and Nutter quickly picked up on his "get sh*t done" vibe. "A mayor is a reflection of their city," Reed said, "how it feels and how it will be there [for its people]."  "Absolutely," Nutter said. Join us for an episode about a mayor who is laser-focused on making the lives of his constituents better in ways that anyone taking a stroll to the park can feel. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. Watch and follow new episodes on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

On this episode of How To Really Run A City, innovation in cities takes a backseat to a more pressing question: How do we find our way back to recognizing the humanity in one another? Our guest: Joe Walsh, a former Representative from Illinois. He was a self-described Tea Party arsonist, right-wing radio provocateur and mentor to Turning Point USA's Charlie Kirk. All of that changed when Donald Trump rode down an escalator and completely captured the Republican Party.  "It was never this way with Reagan, with Bush, with old-man Bush, this is something completely different," Walsh told our hosts, former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter and Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt. (Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed was unable to attend.) Walsh's public split from his party made him a target of MAGA loyalists, who to this day threaten him and his family. Still, he's not backing down. "I helped to divide this country," Walsh said. "People like me helped put us on this road. I have to live with that." As a newly-minted Democrat, Walsh tours the country connecting with people from across the political spectrum. "Do you leave these conversations hopeful or less hopeful?" Platt asked. "I'm right down the middle," Walsh said. "Half the folk out there are ready for a national divorce. They tell me, 'Joe, I want it to be peaceful, but we just can't coexist anymore.'" Listen to this episode now for a passionate conversation about a return to civility and the true stakes of our national debate with a public figure who describes himself as a former "political asshole" trying to make amends. And for more from Walsh, join us at The Citizen's 8th annual Ideas We Should Steal Festival, presented by Comcast NBCUniversal, where he will talk with former foe-turned-friend Fred Guttenberg, a gun rights activist who lost his daughter in the Parkland school shooting.  Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. Watch and follow new episodes on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

When Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan took office in 2013, his city had just filed for the largest municipal bankruptcy in U.S. history.  Today, business is booming, crime has fallen to a 60-year low and it's no understatement to say that Detroit is back. Mayor Duggan, now running for governor of his state as an Independent, joins former Mayors Michael Nutter and Kasim Reed, along with Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt on this episode of How To Really Run A City to roll up their sleeves and lift the hood of Detroit's success. "The last time a [Detroit] City Council member was elected mayor was 1947," Mayor Duggan told our hosts. "For the last 75 years, the city was going so badly that nobody wanted to vote for anyone who had been associated with it. My successor, who won the primary in a landslide, is president of City Council. It shows how much politics has changed. People are proud of their city government now." "You decided to run as a White man for mayor of Detroit," Reed said. "What were the mechanics of that decision?" "Sometimes I was the only White person in the room for six blocks around," Duggan responded. "But I listened to very powerful stories. And it's a funny thing, when you sit in people's homes and break bread with them, what divides us fades to the background. The average Detroiter isn't interested in us vs. them, they just want a better quality of life." Join us for a powerful conversation about turning an entire city around, despite the challenges and barriers that had entrenched decades of decline. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. Watch and follow new episodes on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

When Denver, Colorado Mayor Mike Johnston isn't sparring with congressional Republicans over immigration (and being threatened with jail time), he's pushing his city to eliminate homelessness, continuing his crusade for high-quality, affordable education and inspiring Denverites to give five hours of volunteer service each month. "I love the Give5 Mile High program," said Citizen co-founder Larry Platt. "It's kind of the answer to Trumpism, right? All of us coming together in common purpose?" On this episode of How To Really Run A City, former Mayor Michael Nutter and former Mayor Kasim Reed, with Platt, join Mayor Johnston to dissect the initiatives that are making Denver a prosperous and communitarian city for all its citizens. "What I try to do is bind people," Johnston says. "I bind together people that are broken. I bind together people who have been pulled apart from each other. I feel like this is the work mayors are called to do." "And that's why we do this podcast," Reed says. "It is so important for people who care about this country to hear stories like yours." Join us for an energizing conversation about everyday citizens rising to meet the expectations of their city and charting a path out of the tribalism that grips the nation. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. Watch and follow new episodes on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

"Just keep doing the next right thing, even though it's hard." This mantra has become a political north star for Scranton mayor and recurring How To Really Run A City guest (and sometimes host), Paige Cognetti. She knows that what drives a city forward is everyone doing their parts at all levels. "It's the colleges and universities," former Mayor Michael Nutter interjects. "It's the corporate communities. It's the committee people. It's the block captains. Cities are living, breathing entities." Cognetti and Nutter recently joined Citizen co-founder Larry Platt for a special live taping of the podcast at Philadelphia's OpportUNITY Summit hosted by United Way of Greater Philadelphia and Southern New Jersey. It was a rousing conversation that included a lot of teasing of Nutter by Cognetti, but also included some high-minded reminders that the future of cities depends on practical local government reformers. "What can all of us do to move the [political] needle back to sanity?" Platt asked. "Tell the stories that reflect your reality," Cognetti said. "Vote," Nutter immediately answered. "Put down the phone, go to the voting booth and do your thing. Then you can get back to TikTok. Better yet, make a video about how you voted!" Join us for an uplifting live conversation about civic duty and the motivations of true city changemakers. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. Watch and follow new episodes on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

The AI revolution is upon us, and it will certainly have an impact on local governance. "Let's have an open conversation about its use," says this week's podcast guest, Rochelle Haynes, Managing Director of Bloomberg Philanthropies' What Works Cities initiative at Results for America.  Haynes, who previously served as Chief of Staff at New York City's Department of Homeless Services, saw firsthand what happens when policy and politics clash. "A lot of fears out there are about losing jobs," she continued. "But we need to show people that this is about making your job more effective. The human touch is still needed. AI is just the tool to [streamline] the data and priorities for cities." Join us for an episode about what local leaders are doing to take advantage of the coming technology and, as Mayor Reed says, "really move the needle" on focused, effective governing.  Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

While Washington implodes and other cities resist, Riverside, CA Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson is moving ahead with an ambitious tech agenda — and battling youth homelessness in her city. "I feel positive about the direction California is taking," says Riverside, CA Mayor Patricia Lock Dawson, our guest this week on How To Really Run A City. In the wake of reduced support from Washington, D.C., she optimistically declares, "We'll find our way forward. We'll keep fighting." In this episode, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed joins guest host Scranton, PA Mayor Paige Cognetti, fresh off a stunning primary win.  "I think a local leader's superpower is empathy," Reed says. "You have to feel what they feel." "You can't ever lose that feeling of being a constituent yourself," Lock Dawson concurred.  Join us for a special episode about being a woman in office, mirroring the best qualities of your citizens and building a vibrant, growing city despite the politics in Washington. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

"Traditional license plate readers were developed in the 1950s and 60s," says this week's guest, Garrett Langley of Flock Safety. "But you can go into Flock and say I'm looking for a black Sedan with after-market tires and a dent on the left corner, and we will find that car." Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter, along with Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt, chat with Langley about his innovative and cost-saving approach to public safety, which made national headlines last year by promptly apprehending a would-be Trump assassin and an Atlanta mass shooter. After being the victim of a robbery in his own neighborhood, Langley reimagined vehicle surveillance and built a company that operates alongside thousands of law enforcement agencies across the country. "I love citizen entrepreneurs who are in the civic problem-solving business," Platt told the mayors. "That's who this guy is." Join us for a deep dive into an idea that keeps cities safer while avoiding the typical pitfalls of street surveillance. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

Donald Trump's tariff policies pose an economic threat to Rochester Hills, Michigan — and Republican Mayor Bryan Barnett has not been shy about speaking out. "More robots are made in my city than in any other city in North America," Barnett told Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter, along with Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt, in the latest episode of the podcast. "Our two biggest trading partners — and it's not even close — are Canada and Mexico." Barnett has held onto the mayoral office for an astounding 18 years — in no small part because of his unique style of "governtainment," as well as the realization that cities are firmly in the business of customer service. "Our competition isn't who you think: It's Amazon," Barnett says. "If you can get something delivered to your house from across the world in 24 hours, but it takes four or five visits to city hall to get a dog license, people say this just doesn't make any sense. Most mayors are more practical than political, so while I am Republican, most of my day-to-day work is solving problems for our community." "What you're doing is good for the soul of the country," Reed tells him. Join us for a conversation about getting shit done, all while entertaining your city along the way. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can watch highlights from this episode or view the full podcast right on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

In this episode, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter, along with Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt, bring Scranton Mayor Paige Cognetti onto the show. Cognetti is demonstrating how cities are blazing a way forward amidst the daily chaos spilling out of Washington, D.C. "This is where local matters," Cognetti says. "At the local level, we're nimble, we're able to try things that are harder at the state level, and definitely at the national level." "I think you're modeling a new way," says Platt. "You're in that mold of the efficient governing wing of the Democratic Party." Join us for this episode about "green shoots of encouragement" coming right from Scranton, PA. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!  

In our latest episode, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter, along with Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt,  invite an "elusive wizard" onto the show. Bruce Katz is the Founding Director of the Nowak Metro Finance Lab at Drexel University, and an architect of the National Housing Crisis Task Force at Accelerator For America. "Bruce has forgotten more about cities than I'll ever know," Larry tells our mayors before referencing the Trump Administration's gutting of federal agencies and funding. "Given your experience, Bruce, how scared should we be?" "This is a war on the poor," Katz says. "This is a war on science. This is abandoning our allies and the dismantling of the federal government. We should be very scared." That doesn't mean there is no hope, though. "The U.S. has always shown the power of the local," Katz tells the hosts. "We are really unlike any other place in the world. We have a long tradition of volunteerism, philanthropy and corporate engagement. It's local. People are committed to place. This will be our salvation."  Join us for this episode about how to really fix housing in this country. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

Years of acrimony and conflict in our national politics has unfortunately trickled down to cities, where disdain for civil servants — and each other — has had a chilling effect on the work needed to get things done. So what can we do about it? Former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter sat down with Diane Kalen-Sukra, a former city manager, current evangelist for political civility and author of Save Your City: How Toxic Culture Kills Community & What To Do About It — the perfect guest to explain how we can bring down the temperature of our political conversations … and what happens if we don't. "Incivility exists on a spectrum," Kalen-Sukra said, "but it leads to mobbing, harassment, then threats, then violence, and ultimately civil war." "Has there been an inflection point over the last 10, 15 years, where you saw an uptick in incivility?" Nutter asked. "And when we have a conversation about what happened," Reed interjected, "The President of the United States has traditionally been the exemplar of behavior and decorum. Donald Trump opened up a tear in the fabric of our society." "There's no question that our social fabric is unraveling right now," Kalen-Sukra responded. "And unless we address incivility intentionally, it is only going to escalate. It spreads like a contagion. Because civility is not about being nice. It's about having the backbone to boldly speak the truth, even in difficult situations." Also on this episode's Accelerator for America policy segment, the mayors discuss the role of bipartisanship in these times and the importance of "keeping the American team together." Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!  

On our latest episode, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter invite onto the show Tom Henkey, who served for six years as Chicago's Senior Emergency Management Coordinator. Henkey is currently the Director of Emergency Management for Titan Security Group, and adjunct faculty at DePaul University. In the wake of weather-related emergencies all across the countries, not the least of which being the horrific fires that have devastated L.A., Henkey is a timely and knowledgeable guest for this moment.  Emergencies like these, Reed said, show why being a mayor is one of the three toughest jobs in government. "During every mayoralty, there is something unforeseen that happens." "Yes," Henkey said, "and two former mayors of Chicago were voted out of office because they botched … or were perceived to have botched a major response to a weather event."  "We thank our first responders for their service," our hosts noted, "but most people aren't aware of the service of city emergency managers. So, thank you."  And in our first-ever policy segment from our partners at Accelerator for America, we hear about the National Housing Crisis Task Force, which is currently tackling one of the thorniest issues of our time. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!  

On the latest episode of our podcast with esteemed former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter, we are joined by two special guests. First, Mary Ellen Wiederwohl, President and CEO of Accelerator for America, the nation's preeminent city "do tank," and our dynamic new partner on this podcast. Second, Kansas City, Missouri Mayor Quinton Lucas, known affectionately to Kansas Citians as "Mayor Q." Lucas rose from experiencing homelessness to running Kansas City and he came into office with ambitious, fresh ideas. "I think good mayors find a way to remove barriers," Lucas told our hosts. Join us for this episode of hope that American cities can move the needle on economic mobility forward. And also a little discussion about the age-old rivalries of sports teams and BBQ recipes. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

On our closing episode of 2024, we thought listeners could use a good laugh. Larry Platt takes us through the year's funniest moments, from how former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed gets his gangsta lean on to former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter's "drugged up" call-in from his car. This year we had randy guests, mayors incognito and a dead tree in Wilmington, Delaware that just won't be removed.   "It's all good! This is the podcast, this is what we do," Larry said, chuckling after guest Devin Cotten of Cleveland's Universal Basic Employment pilot called our hosts..."old." Join us for this special episode that tries not to take 2024 too seriously. Remember to subscribe to the show to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

Chicago's late, legendary first African-American mayor, Harold Washington propelled his charisma and grassroots support to topple his city's legendary machine and remake its government — a story brilliantly told in Punch 9 For Harold Washington, which The Citizen screened on the opening night of the Ideas We Should Steal Festival last month.   What can Philadelphia today take away from Washington's political courage in decades past? How to Really Run A City hosts former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter, along with The Citizen's Larry Platt, spoke with filmmaker Joe Winston and New Yorker writer/Macarthur "genius" Keeanga-Yamahtta Taylor explored that question in a live taping of the podcast.  "Fairer is harder," Reed told the audience, "if you want a bold, inclusive form of politics, it's just harder…all of us have got to show up." Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!  

"Well, guys," Citizen Co-founder Larry Platt starts, "let's have a little therapy session. What the hell just happened?" On this special episode of How To Really Run A City, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter get together just days after the election to hash out how they're feeling and what they think turned the tide to President-elect Donald Trump. Despite a "painful, painful map" and impending federal policies that target vulnerable communities, Reed and Nutter offer a few rays of hope. "Presidents have very little power to reach into cities," Nutter observed.  "Make [the president] staff these efforts," Reed agreed. "It would take four years just to staff up."  Join us for this episode about the power of good leaders in our cities — something needed with increasing urgency in this country. Remember to subscribe to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!

On this episode of How To Really Run A City, former Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed and former Philly Mayor Michael Nutter speak with Delaware Governor John Carney. Carney is doing something that almost no other governor has done--turned his sights from the highest executive office in the state to the role of mayor (in this case, the mayoralty of Wilmington, DE). Reed and Nutter offer some sage advice and everyone on the show reminisces about what it really takes to get shit done in a city. There's a dead tree that soon-to-be Mayor Carney has been obsessing over that illustrates this point perfectly. "Be impatient," Nutter told Carney. "Everyday. Be impatient in doing good for your constituents." "Here, here," Reed responded. Join us for this episode about the power of good leaders in our cities--something needed with increasing urgency in this country. Remember to subscribe to the podcast to keep up on all the latest episodes. You can even watch the conversation play out on YouTube. As cities go, so goes the nation!