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Reformers are the future of cities
07/10/2025
Reformers are the future of cities
“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. As cities go, so goes the nation!
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