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#P023: Flashlights

#P023: Flashlights

Update: 2025-09-24

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Description

This week on The Reflective Urbanist, Peter shares the story of his first big procurement challenge in city government: getting three simple flashlights for his staff. What followed was a months-long lesson in bureaucracy, trust, and why you should never underestimate civil servants.

Episode music: Snoopy Loopy by Simon Folwar

License code: FVSW6US4LYR27YGG

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In Channel

#P029: 22 different kinds of lightbulbs?

#P029: 22 different kinds of lightbulbs?

2025-11-0511:32

#P028: Why do developers do such sh***y design?

#P028: Why do developers do such sh***y design?

2025-10-2913:01

#P027 The Name is Bond, Muni Bond

#P027 The Name is Bond, Muni Bond

2025-10-2214:58

#P026: What is a "public authority?"

#P026: What is a "public authority?"

2025-10-1411:59

#P025: Jane Jacobs and Me

#P025: Jane Jacobs and Me

2025-10-0813:13

#P024: The Architect Sketch

#P024: The Architect Sketch

2025-10-0111:45

#P023: Flashlights

#P023: Flashlights

2025-09-2409:42

#P021: Let's eat

#P021: Let's eat

2025-09-0909:20

#P020: Back To School

#P020: Back To School

2025-09-0316:56

#P022: Police cars and firetrucks

#P022: Police cars and firetrucks

2025-09-1711:42

#P018: What's your endgame?

#P018: What's your endgame?

2025-06-0410:52

#P017: Follow the instructions

#P017: Follow the instructions

2025-05-2810:34

#P016: Take 2 - What do we have to do to get those darned private sector developers to build more affordable housing?!

#P016: Take 2 - What do we have to do to get those darned private sector developers to build more affordable housing?!

2025-05-2112:20

#P015: What do we have to do to get those darned private sector developers to build more affordable housing?

#P015: What do we have to do to get those darned private sector developers to build more affordable housing?

2025-05-1412:38

#P014: They called us "tourists"

#P014: They called us "tourists"

2025-05-0711:07

#P013: Your hourly rate seems a little high

#P013: Your hourly rate seems a little high

2025-04-3007:27

#P012: Because we have always done it that way

#P012: Because we have always done it that way

2025-04-2314:19

#P010: Don't overplay your hand

#P010: Don't overplay your hand

2025-04-0907:13

#P009: Definitely don't publish it

#P009: Definitely don't publish it

2025-04-0207:37

#P008: The Mayor is a person of no importance

#P008: The Mayor is a person of no importance

2025-03-2606:27

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#P023: Flashlights

#P023: Flashlights

Peter Hendee Brown