Essays

Essays on the deeper patterns shaping cities, culture, and civic life. Written for those who know there’s more at stake than policy and planning alone.

All Essays

Historic stone archway with detailed ironwork above a doorway in downtown Boise, reflecting craftsmanship and civic dignity.

Where Our Fire Belongs

Walk into any contentious city meeting and listen carefully. Behind the debates...

Aerial view of Boise, Idaho at sunrise showing cars on the connector overpass over the river with the downtown skyline and foothills in the distance.

Refugees from a Broken Story

The anger over growth in Boise is real, but it is misdirected....

Aerial view of the Friendship Bridge glowing in the morning light, spanning the Boise River with trees and trails on either side — a quiet moment that captures the city’s warmth and clarity.

When the City Speaks

One Saturday morning, a man was walking down the Greenbelt. He looked...