“Smart Growth for Conservatives” provides analysis of transportation and land use issues from a center-right perspective, with an emphasis on fiscal conservatism and market-based solutions.
While our authors reflect a wide range of views, they share the conviction that the pattern and density of development has a tremendous influence on the prosperity, livability, fiscal strength and environmental sustainability of American communities.
Editor James A. Bacon publishes the blog with financial support from Smart Growth America. A life-long journalist, Jim was publisher & editor-in-chief of Virginia Business magazine before launching Bacon’s Rebellion, a blog dedicated to building more prosperous, livable and sustainable communities in Virginia. He is the author of “Boomergeddon: How Runaway Deficits Will Bankrupt the Country and Ruin Retirement for Aging Baby Boomers — and What You Can Do About It.” Read Jim’s posts.
Our authors include:
Andy Boenau earns a living helping to make streets safer and more inviting for people of all ages and physical abilities. His libertarian disposition prompts him to advocate walkable, bike-friendly communities. He enjoys giving lectures and workshops, especially when the topics relate to disrupting the transportation infrastructure status quo. Andy produces Urbanism Speakeasy, an award-winning podcast about human-scale design. Read Andy’s posts.
Ron Beitler is local land use and smart growth blogger-advocate in Lower Macungie Township where he is an elected Twp. Commissioner. Lower Macungie is Pennsylvania’s second fastest growing township. Ron is also a member of Smart Growth America’s Local Leaders Council. Read Ron’s posts.
Jim Dalrymple II is a journalist and blogger based in Salt Lake City, Utah. When he isn’t exploring the Intermountain West — either for work or pleasure — he’s often traveling to new cities and trying to understand what makes them work. He loves Rome; he love-hates (but mostly hates) Brasilia. Read Jim’s posts.
Michael Lewyn is an associate professor at Touro Law Center. He has published numerous scholarly articles, mostly relating to land use, sprawl and smart growth. His scholarship may be found here. He participates regularly in the group blogs of Planetizen and the Congress for New Urbanism.
Emily Washington is a policy research manager for the Mercatus Center at George Mason University. Her writing has appeared in USA Today, The Christian Science Monitor, Economic Affairs, and The Daily Caller, and she blogs at Market Urbanism. Emily received a BA in Economics from Goucher College and an MA in Economics from George Mason University. Read Emily’s posts.
Rod Williams. Read Ron’s posts.
Other contributors
We also cross-post material from blogs that may not identify themselves either as conservative or part of the Smart Growth movement but do share our passion for market-oriented and fiscally sustainable solutions. Most prominent of these is the Strong Towns blog.
If you are interested in joining our community, or if you would like to submit content appropriate for this website, please contact Jim Bacon at jabacon[at]baconsrebellion.com.