This feature explores how cities can move beyond technical compliance toward moral clarity—one sidewalk, signal, and crosswalk at a time.
“A quarter-inch difference in ramp grade or transit-shelter panel placement can mean the difference between access and exclusion.”
— Larry M. Summers, PE
Infrastructure doesn’t just move people or water. It tells a story—about who matters and who’s left out. My article in Governing explores how cities can move beyond compliance toward care, and why the smallest design choices often carry the greatest ethical weight.
If you’ve ever felt like your agency was doing everything “by the book” but still missing the human point, this piece is for you.
This piece builds on themes from my forthcoming books:
Forthcoming
This foundational volume shows how public systems shape belonging—and how to build them with integrity. Ideal for planners, engineers, policymakers, and civic-minded citizens.
Foreword by Jeff Speck
Forthcoming
A toolkit featuring the CIVIC6 model, CivicPulse, CivicInsight, and CivicAtlas—built for civic professionals, leadership programs, and public sector changemakers.
If this article resonated, I’d love to keep you connected. I share occasional essays, tools, and behind-the-scenes updates on how we’re rethinking infrastructure—not just for compliance, but for care. You’ll also be the first to hear when the Ethical Infrastructure books and training tools are ready for pre-order or pilot use.
No spam. Just thought-provoking insights, practical resources, and a front-row seat to the ethical rebuild of public systems.