John,

Pop quiz: about how many blocks of your community would you describe as "in decline"?

If you're struggling to count them all, you're not alone. Because in most North American cites and towns, that's the norm: practically every neighborhood has at least a few blocks that are struggling all the time.

And another thing that's become normalized? Debt for new roads on those declining blocks. Big, tax-increment-financed super-projects to juice economic development. Silver bullets.

But here's the thing: throughout human history, none of these things were considered typical.

Today, we're revisiting a classic Strong Towns essay that looks back on an age when cycles of decline weren't the status quo—they were a sign that something had gone terribly wrong

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. And then we look across the ocean to a city where decline is still considered abnormal today. (Hint: it might be time to brush up on your Italian.)

We can return to an era where every block gets a little stronger year after year. But first, we have to change a lot of minds. Will you help us do it?

-Kea and the rest of the Strong Towns Team

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1511 Northern Pacific Rd. Rm 206

Brainerd, MN 56401

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