The Strong Towns Podcast A Congressman Makes the Case for Local Power
19 snips
May 11, 2026 
Jake Auchincloss, U.S. Representative and former Marine and city council member, champions pragmatic localism and civic problem-solving. He discusses why local power matters politically and constitutionally. Conversations cover fixing highways by prioritizing maintenance, rethinking housing and starter-home finance, reclaiming the curb for cities, and the threat of digital life to face-to-face community.
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Programs Create Constituencies That Perpetuate Expansion
- Transportation politics persist because agencies and construction industries form self-perpetuating constituencies.
- Jake notes state DOTs and contractors lobby for expansion, and federal incentives often bias toward highway projects.
Leverage Autonomous Vehicles To Fund Local Mobility
- Use the AV transition to create state-level revenue tools (levies on deadheading, parking, curb fees) that fund transit and walkability without direct motorist taxes.
- Jake says states can tax autonomous vehicle operators and manage the curb for dynamic pricing and delivery slots.
Pair Maintenance Focus With A Rural Funding Floor
- When reforming the Highway Trust Fund, create a rural floor so low-density states remain solvent while refocusing funds toward maintenance.
- Jake suggests a political unlock: subsidize rural miles while sunsetting expansion-era missions.