The Power Hidden in Plain Sight:

Why Local Boards and Zoning Meetings Deserve Your Voice

Let me let you in on one of the biggest secrets of local politics: most of the real decisions that shape our communities are not made on the campaign trail. They’re made in rooms you’ve probably never stepped into. By people you may not even know exist.

I’m talking about planning commissions, zoning boards, and local councils. The folks who quietly decide:

• What gets built in your town.

• Who can afford to live there.

• How your neighborhood will look - and who it will serve - for decades to come.

Want to shift the local agenda?

Start with the planning commission. These are not faceless bureaucrats - they are community members appointed by your city council or mayor. They have immense power to approve (or block) housing developments, retail projects, factories, and parks. If you’re wondering why your city has more luxury apartments than affordable housing, the answer starts here.

The public comment period is not just a box to check.

Too many people treat public comment like background noise. It isn’t. It’s the moment when your words, concerns, and values are entered into the official record. And here’s the kicker: when lawsuits inevitably happen over zoning decisions, lawyers and judges comb through that public record. Your three-minute statement could become part of the backbone of accountability.

That’s not symbolic. That’s power.

Zoning laws decide who gets opportunity.

Zoning doesn’t sound sexy. But let’s call it what it really is: a map of who gets access to jobs, good schools, clean air, and affordable housing. When neighborhoods are zoned to exclude apartments or duplexes, that’s not just an architectural choice - it’s a social one. It decides who belongs and who doesn’t.

If you care about racial equity, housing justice, or economic opportunity, zoning is ground zero. And the only way those maps change is if we show up to the meetings where they’re drawn.

Here’s what you can do this month:

1. Learn who sits on your planning commission. Their names are public. Look them up. Know who’s making the calls.

2. Show up and speak up. Find out when your next planning or zoning meeting is scheduled and commit to attending - even just to observe.

3. Use the public comment period. Even if you only say, “I want this decision to reflect equity and fairness for all residents,” your words matter.

4. Bring a friend. These meetings are often designed to feel intimidating. They’re less intimidating, and more effective, when you’re not alone.

Local power hides in plain sight. Developers and lobbyists already know this. That’s why they show up. But the truth is, you don’t need a lobbyist’s budget to make your voice matter. You just need to step into the room.

Because when you do, you’re not just shaping policy. You’re shaping the future of your community.