Marketplace All-in-One What if you got to choose where your tax dollars went?
Nov 24, 2025
Explore the intriguing concept of participatory budgeting, where residents vote on local projects for public funding. Travel insights reveal record forecasts for Thanksgiving journeys, spurred by changing work patterns and fare sensitivities. G20 discussions highlight crucial economic priorities like disaster recovery and renewable energy, while Nashville's park upgrades show the impact of community involvement, despite challenges with engagement and equity that raised questions about the future of the initiative.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Nashville's Participatory Budgeting Story
- Nashville ran a participatory budgeting program that funded two dozen local projects like park renovations and instruments for libraries.
- Mayor Freddie O'Connell phased it out after low engagement despite broad eligibility, and many residents never knew it existed.
Scale Without Outreach Fails
- Scaling participatory budgeting citywide can dilute awareness and participation if outreach is weak.
- Dr. Selena Su argues it needs more money and stronger outreach to actually change how government operates.
Participation Unevenly Shapes Outcomes
- Low turnout can make participatory budgeting feel less legitimate and like extra work for officials.
- Well-resourced neighborhoods risk dominating votes, skewing benefits toward those with better organizing capacity.