Zoning, Banks and Goat Rodeos: What it takes to lead a Big Town

In this third and final part of our Big Towns conversation between Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly and journalist Dean Baquet, we take more audience questions about the economic challenges faced by Chattanooga and how they're making progress. Kelly discusses the impact of losing Chattanooga's manufacturing base, which led to diversification efforts starting in the 1990s. He talks about the importance of local control and the differences between council-manager and strong mayor forms of city government. Kelly explores community banks, the need for more localized capital, challenges around affordable housing and how zoning reform is a double-edged sword. This final part of our Big Towns conversation emphasizes the need for creative local leadership to solve the problems that confound most mid-sized cities.