On the Feb. 28 episode: City budgets and revenue tools with Terra Gillespie.
For some of us – okay, maybe just Matt – city budget debates are events of monumental occasions, on par with the Super Bowl. But they are also very, very frustrating, generally because services are expensive and city councils do not want to pay for them.
This week, in an attempt to make sense of all this, Matt and Luke are joined by Terra Gillespie, frequent commentator on city issues and the former creative director of Women in Toronto Politics. She tells us why gender equity must be a critical part of city budgeting.
We also nerd-out a bit and talk about our favourite revenue tools, along with the challenges that come with getting politicians to embrace them. Can we use social media to make things like vehicle registration taxes seem cooler? Are taxes that apply to certain behaviours fair and worthwhile. And what about cow farts – we should tax those, right?
Finally, Matt offers a thumbs up to Montreal’s plan to install heated sidewalks, while Luke’s thumb is pointed firmly downwards over a proposed Toronto policy to increase the licensing fee for restaurant patios.
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On the Feb. 28 episode: City budgets and revenue tools with Terra Gillespie.
For some of us – okay, maybe just Matt – city budget debates are events of monumental occasions, on par with the Super Bowl. But they are also very, very frustrating, generally because services are expensive and city councils do not want to pay for them.
This week, in an attempt to make sense of all this, Matt and Luke are joined by Terra Gillespie, frequent commentator on city issues and the former creative director of Women in Toronto Politics. She tells us why gender equity must be a critical part of city budgeting.
We also nerd-out a bit and talk about our favourite revenue tools, along with the challenges that come with getting politicians to embrace them. Can we use social media to make things like vehicle registration taxes seem cooler? Are taxes that apply to certain behaviours fair and worthwhile. And what about cow farts – we should tax those, right?
Finally, Matt offers a thumbs up to Montreal’s plan to install heated sidewalks, while Luke’s thumb is pointed firmly downwards over a proposed Toronto policy to increase the licensing fee for restaurant patios.
On the Jan. 10 episode: Urban Wildlife, Libraries and Youth Employment
Get ready to feel all the feels, as the first Metropolis of the new year starts with a pair of major announcements.
But dry your eyes, listeners. There’s still a show to get through.
In the first segment, Luke raises our spirits by talking about urban wildlife, and our connection with animals in the big city, and also how animals are cute are stuff. Matt recounts the story of a time a squirrel broke into his house and ruined his whole summer, while Vass tells us about the time she threw a bunch of poison and rocks down a mysterious hole.
In segment two, Matt wonders why libraries – despite being awesome – are always on the budget chopping block. We talk about the design of libraries and their role as community spaces now and into the future. We also remember reading challenges and the influential works of R.L. Stine.
And in her last Metropolis segment ever, Vass tells us about her work chairing a Government of Canada panel on youth employment. What role do cities have to play in helping young people find work? And what does Starbucks have to do with any of this?
Finally, Vass gives a thumbs down to the man who may have killed her shipping container dream, Matt gives various thumbs in various directions to Vancouver’s “salt-apocalypse” and Luke gives a thumbs up to an important judicial decision in New York.
Metropolis: A Livable Cities Podcast
On the Feb. 28 episode: City budgets and revenue tools with Terra Gillespie.
For some of us – okay, maybe just Matt – city budget debates are events of monumental occasions, on par with the Super Bowl. But they are also very, very frustrating, generally because services are expensive and city councils do not want to pay for them.
This week, in an attempt to make sense of all this, Matt and Luke are joined by Terra Gillespie, frequent commentator on city issues and the former creative director of Women in Toronto Politics. She tells us why gender equity must be a critical part of city budgeting.
We also nerd-out a bit and talk about our favourite revenue tools, along with the challenges that come with getting politicians to embrace them. Can we use social media to make things like vehicle registration taxes seem cooler? Are taxes that apply to certain behaviours fair and worthwhile. And what about cow farts – we should tax those, right?
Finally, Matt offers a thumbs up to Montreal’s plan to install heated sidewalks, while Luke’s thumb is pointed firmly downwards over a proposed Toronto policy to increase the licensing fee for restaurant patios.
