This article from Strong Towns examines the financial struggles faced by typical American cities, using Lafayette, Louisiana, as a case study. Through a detailed analysis of revenue and expenses, the piece reveals that many cities have accumulated unsustainable infrastructure liabilities exceeding their tax base. This predicament, termed the “Growth Ponzi Scheme,” stems from a development pattern prioritizing rapid expansion and immediate revenue over long-term maintenance costs. The author argues that this model has led to a situation where infrastructure burdens outweigh the wealth it generates, suggesting a need for a fundamental shift in urban growth strategies. https://www.strongtowns.org/ https://thinkandactlocally.com/donate/ https://thinkandactlocally.myshopify.com/ Youtube - @ThinkandActLocally www.youtube.com/@ThinkandActLocally Facebook - @thinkandactlocally www.facebook.com/thinkandactlocally TikTok - @thinkandactlocally www.tiktok.com/@thinkandactlocally Instagram - @thinkandactlocally www.instagram.com/thinkandactlocally Truth Social - @thinkandactlocally Rumble - @ThinkandActLocally X- @ThinkActLocally www.twitter.com/ThinkActLocally LinkedIn - @think-and-act-locally www.linkedin.com/company/think-and-act-locally https://open.spotify.com/show/601vtPzxdHl82EM42Hsulf?si=05017b5b0ace4edc