Why subscribe?
Subscribe to "We Can Have Nice Things" for evidence-based analysis on how abundance principles can transform communities. While most urbanist publications focus on big cities or the entire nation, I explore how these ideas work in towns and smaller cities—starting with my own. This, I hope, will create a practical roadmap that local advocates anywhere can adapt to their own communities.
What you'll get
Each article bridges the gap between big-picture “make cities work” thinking and local implementation. Drawing from my planning commission experience (though I speak only for myself), I translate abstract policy concepts into concrete strategies that work in real communities with real constraints. You'll get evidence-based analysis on housing, transportation, road safety, economic vitality, downtown vibrancy, local governance, and community building that goes beyond identifying problems to advancing practical solutions. My aim is to get us unstuck from “this can’t be done” or “it’s always been this way” thinking.
Join our growing movement
While this is a Los Alamos-focused publication, it’s also a resource for YIMBY advocates, abundance thinkers, and urbanists across New Mexico and beyond. Connect with a diverse community of readers who believe that even small towns deserve vibrant public spaces, affordable housing options, and responsive governance. Share insights, build coalitions, and help create momentum for positive change in your own community.
About Stephanie
My background as both a local journalist and planning commissioner gives me a unique perspective on how policy shapes daily life in small towns. Although I was raised in Los Alamos and have returned here, I’ve also lived in big cities and small towns in this country and others. After co-founding and leading Boomtown Media, I'm now focused on what I'm most passionate about: applying outcomes-based thinking to local challenges. I bring both reporting skills and policy knowledge to complex community issues, focusing on how we can create the places we want to live in through practical, incremental change.
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