Civic Plaza Where neighbors talk policy

Civic Plaza

Where neighbors talk policy

Latest Articles

The Empty Chair at City Hall Has Your Name on It
Local Government

The Empty Chair at City Hall Has Your Name on It

The 2026 midterms are settled, but the seats that decide your library hours, your zoning code, and your neighborhood park are still open. A plain-English tour of five local boards, what they actually vote on, and how ordinary residents end up in the chair.

Two Minutes at the Microphone: A Field Guide to Public Comment That Actually Lands
Opinion

Two Minutes at the Microphone: A Field Guide to Public Comment That Actually Lands

A council dais is not a debate podium, and the clerk is not keeping score. Here is how local officials really use public testimony, what a strong two minutes sounds like, and why the person who stays until the end usually beats the person who shouts.