Episode 106: Youth in Local Government
Municipal Equation Podcast
Helping your community's young people feel connected with their local government can go a long way, according to multiple local government leaders we talk with on this episode. Gibsonville Mayor Bryant Crisp, Dallas Mayor Hayley Beaty, Albemarle Mayor Pro Tem Martha Sue Hall (NCLM's 2025-26 president) and more share perspectives and personal stories of programs, initiatives and mentoring efforts that link youths and city halls for rippling mutual benefit. The "Mayor For a Day" concept, municipal youth councils and more are in focus here. PLUS: An update on the ADA digital-government deadlines...
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Episode 105: Data Center Dialogue
Municipal Equation Podcast
Data centers have made frequent headlines as communities have taken varying positions on them. For some, concerns about environmental impact, energy consumption, noise, property values and other angles have led to leaders to say their town is not the place for them, while other communities have worked with data center developers and granted approvals for their development after exploring the essentials. On this episode, we talk with Statesville City Manager Ron Smith about the conversation and steps taken in his community with regard to a data center slated for a near-future groundbreaking and...
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Episode 104: Digital Government & ADA Compliance
Municipal Equation Podcast
The Americans with Disabilities Act, or ADA, is the federal legislation requiring equal access to jobs and public places for people with disabilities. It also applies to the public digital realm, like with government websites and apps -- and deadlines are coming up for local governments to get into compliance. The League has been putting out info to help municipalities understand and meet the federal requirements . For this episode, we've put it into conversational form with an expert answering common questions and offering tips to understand the why, how and when.
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Episode 103: Basics & Quirks of Public Records Law
Municipal Equation Podcast
North Carolina's public records law is one of the most valued on the state books, but there's a lot to know about it between the basics and the interesting quirks. NCLM Assistant General Counsel Baxter Wells, our guest on this episode, knows the gamut of questions that come up about public records law -- what constitutes a public record, what does not, how direct messages on government social media and other newer forms of communication are treated, what responsibilities exist with old records, what happens when government agencies run afoul of the law, and so on. Let's dig in.
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Episode 102: Housing Affordability and Local Efforts (with Mayor Saffo)
Municipal Equation Podcast
Like in other fast-growing states or regions, housing affordability can be a difficult, sometimes persistent, issue for North Carolina communities. Wilmington, in the southeast, is no exception, but it's among cities working on the issue with priority and results that are expanding local options. On this episode, we ask Mayor Bill Saffo, chairman of the NC Metropolitan Mayors Coalition, about the nature of the issue in his area and how local efforts and partnerships have made a difference.
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Episode 101: Tour of Takeaways '25
Municipal Equation Podcast
The League’s Municipal Equation podcast closes out 2025 with a through-line on the year, with takeaways from monthly episodes and their common feature of people working as one to advance all. Since its inception, Municipal Equation has been about idea-sharing and exploration of local government’s many interesting stories. We’d like to thank all of our expert guests and you for being such a supportive and responsive audience with great feedback and ideas for future content. Together, we released our 100th episode this year! Municipal Equation is available through your preferred podcast...
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Episode 100: Shop With A Cop
Municipal Equation Podcast
We've had many great occasions on this podcast to highlight different ways local governments maintain warmth and trust with the community. For our 100th episode, coinciding with Thanksgiving week, we chat with the Town of Davidson about its Shop With A Cop program underway right now, in which local police officers give children from economically disadvantaged families an unforgettable holiday experience. Other towns have similiar initiatives; Davidson walks us through how theirs works, how its supported, and the community ripple effects that show it's more than just a holiday feelgood...
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Episode 99: Clerks
Municipal Equation Podcast
This historic, fascinating and expansive world of municipal clerks is the focus our latest episode. Folks who believe clerks mostly just serve to prepare agenda packets and record council vote outcomes might be surprised by how far and wide the job goes. It’s one of the most public-facing roles in town hall; generally, the clerk is the one employee that law requires municipal governments to have. Municipal Equation traveled to Cherokee recently for the annual conference and 50th anniversary of the NC Association of Municipal Clerks to record perspectives, wisdom and nuance that people might...
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Episode 97: Renew NC, Rebuilding from Helene (One Year Since the Storm)
Municipal Equation Podcast
We're joined by Stephanie McGarrah of the NC Department of Commerce for a discussion of resources to rebuild homes that Hurricane Helene damaged or destroyed in the North Carolina mountains exactly one year ago. We cover the Renew NC initiative, its Single-Family Housing Program (https://renewnc.org/), and other relief, including free assistance that NCLM offers, for the people of western NC.
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Episode 96: Building a Town Center
Municipal Equation Podcast
As with other episodes of Municipal Equation, this one originated from a casual, hallway conversation with a local government official. In this instance, podcast host Ben Brown was chatting at a League event with Mayor TJ Cawley of Morrisville, who'd noted the progress there in a major project to essentially build a downtown from scratch, as Morrisville up to this point hasn't had one. The idea is to create that convergence of residence, business variety, fun and identity that can bring locals together and give outsiders a new destination. Several years ago, we'd looked at how Kannapolis...
info_outlineWhen you think of downtown alleys, what comes to mind? Bad associations, maybe? The place to avoid at night? Ever since childhood, Americans have had the general impression that alleyways are dark, dirty, dangerous -- the right setting for noir crime stories. And that might sometimes be the case. But some U.S. cities are starting to embrace their alleys like assets -- as places to be -- with art, lighting, planters, seating and cleanliness. This is a classic episode of Municipal Equation from 2017, loaded with interesting voices and ideas.