The Neighborhoods of Des Moines

00:00:00:04 – 00:00:03:38
David Martin
This is the good government show.

00:00:03:42 – 00:00:09:01
Connie Boesen
But you have to talk to your neighbors.

00:00:09:06 – 00:00:16:18
Connie Boesen
Like every dollar we’ve invested, $4 is being invested by other people.

00:00:16:23 – 00:00:24:53
Connie Boesen
Working collaborative. Together we are better when we are, as we say, better together.

00:00:24:58 – 00:00:34:08
Connie Boesen
Well, I think you have to be open. You have to be able to listen and understand that everybody has a perspective.

00:00:34:13 – 00:00:43:23
Connie Boesen
So I was on school board for 14 years because I believe education is the greatest equalizer for everyone.

00:00:43:28 – 00:00:49:18
Connie Boesen
Even if you lose, you can still make an impact.

00:00:49:23 – 00:01:03:22
Connie Boesen
But I think especially on local government, we are the closest to everyone. I think most people are trying to do the best job they can. People want to help people or you wouldn’t run.

00:01:03:27 – 00:01:22:16
David Martin
Since I began hosting that other podcast, Leading Iowa good government in Iowa cities. Im always interested in talking to folks from Iowa. On today’s show, I sit down with the mayor of Iowa’s largest city and the capital city, Des Moines. Welcome to the Good Government Show. First, help us show the message of good government by liking us and sharing us on your favorite social media.

00:01:22:19 – 00:01:37:58
David Martin
Make sure to leave a comment and join our good Government show community. Check out our website for the link. Connie Bosson is the mayor of Des Moines. She became mayor after serving on the school board and the city council. Now she’s in her second year of her first term as mayor. She’s also the first woman elected mayor of Des Moines.

00:01:38:01 – 00:01:57:16
David Martin
We talk a lot about Des Moines in the city’s neighborhoods and her plan to revitalize parts of her city. It seems to be a passion of hers. Housing is a complicated problem for mayors across the nation, and it won’t say she solved the problem, but she has made an impact in her city. She also talks about how the 12 counties in and around Des Moines partnering together to spread good government in the region.

00:01:57:21 – 00:02:20:17
David Martin
We also talk about the challenges of being mayor in the capital, with state government being so much a part of the fabric of the city. Recently, Mayor Bosson called for the state government to create a program for payment in lieu of taxes for state owned property. As the mayor explains, these properties are not subject to property taxes, but the mayor said the city is facing a budget shortfall, and the hope is that these payments can bridge the funding gap.

00:02:20:20 – 00:02:36:50
David Martin
While the state pays no taxes for the city in their in city properties, they still receive city services like road maintenance and emergency services. And of course, being Iowa, we talked about the Iowa State Fair coming up, Des Moines mayor, cannibalism.

00:02:36:55 – 00:03:00:38
David Martin
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00:03:00:39 – 00:03:12:02
David Martin
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00:03:12:07 – 00:03:40:34
David Martin
After you get done with this episode. Hear more good government stories with our friends at How to Really Run a City for members Kasim Reed of Atlanta and Michael Nutter of Philadelphia, and their co-host, journalist and author Larry Platt talk with guests and other mayors about how to really get stuff done in cities around the nation. Check them out where you’re listening now or through their nonprofit news site, The Philadelphia Citizens.

00:03:40:39 – 00:03:49:24
David Martin
Welcome to the Good Government Show. I’m happy to have with me yet another mayor from Iowa. I have become Mister Iowa in the last few years, Connie Bosson of Des Moines. Welcome. Glad to have you.

00:03:49:27 – 00:03:50:46
Connie Boesen
Yeah, well, thank you for having me.

00:03:50:48 – 00:03:59:38
David Martin
Thank you. I was just in your city this summer. Very nice city. It’s the capital. You’re the mayor of a capital city. What challenges does that bring with it being the capital?

00:03:59:40 – 00:04:21:17
Connie Boesen
Well, I think probably the biggest. It’s an advantage and disadvantage that there’s a lot of government owned property. So between the federal government, county government, state government, we have a lot of property that we we can’t get any revenue from. And so that makes it more difficult for a city. We’re also the largest city in Iowa and probably within the metro area, the oldest.

00:04:21:17 – 00:04:30:56
Connie Boesen
So we have a lot of things that we need to do to rebuild and create opportunities to reinvest. And so some of that’s a bigger challenges.

00:04:30:58 – 00:04:34:09
David Martin
So this is a good government show. What are you reinvesting in.

00:04:34:12 – 00:04:55:18
Connie Boesen
We’re really reinvesting in our neighborhoods. We have that was one of the reasons I ran, is to bring back some of our neighborhoods and create more vitality, have people rehabilitate homes, stay in their neighborhood because the longer you have people within the neighborhood, you can then have more commandery and community.

00:04:55:20 – 00:05:00:05
David Martin
When you say rebuild our neighborhoods, are you looking at all neighborhoods across the city?

00:05:00:08 – 00:05:20:11
Connie Boesen
We targeted for neighborhoods to start with as a as this start and we’re taking we’re trying to expand it. But again, that gets back to the sources of revenue to be able to do that. We have seen some tremendous turnarounds in neighborhoods. The neighborhoods we did do. And we’re going to take that strategy and expand that.

00:05:20:14 – 00:05:22:52
David Martin
When you talk about turnarounds, like what actual things did you see?

00:05:22:55 – 00:05:30:34
Connie Boesen
We we had a neighborhood that had a small business node, and now they have 30 new businesses that have opened up housing.

00:05:30:38 – 00:05:31:28
David Martin
To 30 business.

00:05:31:30 – 00:05:41:49
Connie Boesen
Well, they had about 3 or 4, a few more, but it’s really expanded, more diverse type of restaurants opportunity that had not been there five years ago.

00:05:41:51 – 00:05:46:20
David Martin
And how can you expand that out across the state or across the city rather?

00:05:46:22 – 00:05:46:53
Connie Boesen
Well, what we.

00:05:46:53 – 00:05:48:12
David Martin
Do is responsible for the whole.

00:05:48:12 – 00:06:10:49
Connie Boesen
State, not the state. Can’t take care of all that. But what we are doing is targeting neighborhoods that we feel have opportunities for revitalization. And a lot of it was based on housing, and some of them have business, but giving people the opportunity. Like I said, forgivable loans to add on to their home. If they wanted to add that extra bathroom, add the new kitchen, but stay in your community.

00:06:10:54 – 00:06:15:56
Connie Boesen
Rehabilitate your home if you need new routes, new doors, new windows. We have a program for that too.

00:06:15:59 – 00:06:20:05
David Martin
What do you say to the communities that you aren’t targeting? Because that’s the challenge, isn’t it?

00:06:20:08 – 00:06:40:09
Connie Boesen
Well, it’s always a challenge, but I think that what we’re saying is this is what we can afford to do, and we look at all the support of the neighborhoods. If we have a strong neighborhood, community or neighborhood association, we look at that and say, how do we work together? Because there’s a very collaborative aspect of it, and it’s a year in preparation before the neighborhood goes online.

00:06:40:09 – 00:07:04:08
Connie Boesen
And so it’s a I think as more people learn about it, they want it. We’re doing some programs that hit the whole city. Okay. We have a program called Improving Our Neighborhoods, our Ion program, and that is for income base to rehabilitate your the outside of a home like the citing the steps anything that rust and we partner with other agencies that help do the insight was based.

00:07:04:08 – 00:07:08:51
Connie Boesen
So we are hitting all of the city on that and more intensive in certain neighborhoods.

00:07:08:55 – 00:07:11:43
David Martin
Explain how making it pretty on the outside makes a difference.

00:07:11:46 – 00:07:31:49
Connie Boesen
It’s not pretty. It’s making. If you have windows that are not in good order, it saves you on heating. If you have siding that’s falling off, it helps you put new siding. If you have a roof that’s been leaking, that fixes that, because what you want to do is secure the outside envelope so it doesn’t go and disrepair to the point that you would have to maybe be an abandoned home someday.

00:07:31:52 – 00:07:37:03
David Martin
Doesn’t that also make people more invested in their town, in their street though?

00:07:37:06 – 00:07:56:09
Connie Boesen
Yes. The core is really what we’ve seen out of this. The neighborhoods where we’ve touched with like these, we also have these block challenge grants where you have to get ten or more neighbors together, and you get a 2500 or a 1500 stipend to do whatever you want. But you have to talk to your neighbors. And so we have seen.

00:07:56:19 – 00:07:57:16
David Martin
Are they are they doing it?

00:07:57:19 – 00:08:01:23
Connie Boesen
They are doing it. You have to be able to see your neighbor from your front porch. So it could be down to blocks.

00:08:01:26 – 00:08:01:55
David Martin
Okay.

00:08:01:57 – 00:08:14:51
Connie Boesen
People are having block parties afterwards. We have had great ideas come up where they bring neighbor the neighborhood together, activities within their neighborhood. So it is bringing again that connection to your city and to your neighborhood.

00:08:14:54 – 00:08:25:00
David Martin
This is really good government, where the city is encouraging neighbors to man together to improve their neighborhood. Right? How much does it cost? A lot.

00:08:25:05 – 00:08:34:05
Connie Boesen
We we’ve invested from the city 5 million a year, and we’ve had our Polk County government give us 5 million. So it’s a $10 million investment it’s been for the last five years.

00:08:34:07 – 00:08:41:11
David Martin
Okay, so that’s 10 million out of the county and ten minutes. Five, 5 million out of the county. 5 million out of the city. You have ten, $10 million altogether.

00:08:41:14 – 00:08:54:32
Connie Boesen
Well, we have invested we have had about $100 million in projects of being done. Yeah, we are the seed money for a lot. And then people, they match it. So like every dollar we’ve invested, $4 is being invested by other people.

00:08:54:35 – 00:08:59:54
David Martin
My point is, without getting into the math, that’s a lot of money. How is this money well spent?

00:08:59:56 – 00:09:14:26
Connie Boesen
We’re seeing the return on the values of the properties coming up empty lots. There have been homes have been built. We have taken two lots of made three homes, brand new homes. So not only are we increasing density, but we’re increasing values for people.

00:09:14:29 – 00:09:25:30
David Martin
Are you increasing density in the city, Des Moines? And that’s really, you know, from what I understand, a direction a lot of cities need to go to is not is kind of changing the model of what is a home.

00:09:25:33 – 00:09:41:46
Connie Boesen
Well, I think I think. I mean, I think in today’s world, how big a house do some people want, you know, to it’s a more maintenance cost, but you want the opportunity to have a home ownership, to build equity and to economic well-being.

00:09:41:49 – 00:09:48:43
David Martin
You talked a little bit before we turn the mix on about housing. What are some of the programs that you’ve come up with that have, you know, helped?

00:09:48:46 – 00:09:58:02
Connie Boesen
Well, I think the whole strategy of the investigation that we said the Ion program, those are the two strategies, and we’re hoping to expand those into more neighborhoods within the next year or two.

00:09:58:02 – 00:10:00:00
David Martin
And are people excited about this?

00:10:00:02 – 00:10:01:31
Connie Boesen
Yes, yes, they have been.

00:10:01:33 – 00:10:01:55
David Martin
Yeah.

00:10:01:57 – 00:10:19:42
Connie Boesen
Because once now because like I said, you work with a neighborhood almost a year in advance, getting them geared up on what they need to do and how they could match or whatever. And so the applicant, once we opened up the new neighborhoods that we just opened up, we’ve had a tremendous amount of applications for the grants.

00:10:19:44 – 00:10:32:55
David Martin
As the biggest city in the state of Iowa to other cities, look to you. And is there sort of a pressure to be a shining example for the rest of the state? You’re shrugging your shoulders? I don’t know, I’m just asking a question.

00:10:32:58 – 00:10:53:23
Connie Boesen
I think everybody likes as the capital city, the largest, we, you know, we have to say government in the city. So a lot of people get to see what we’re doing. And, you know, we again, we are the largest city where the older city, we have the suburban cities around us. So we have that makeup of how we all work together in a regional collaborative effort.

00:10:53:25 – 00:11:05:10
David Martin
A lot of people hear about Iowa every four years when there’s, you know, the Iowa caucuses. What should people know about Iowa the other three years when I was not necessarily right directly in the spotlight?

00:11:05:15 – 00:11:25:45
Connie Boesen
I think that we have a great state where we have more diversity than most people think we are. You know, the agricultural capital. We are a huge insurance capital. Two major companies are based out of Des Moines in Iowa. So, you know, we are small, but I say mighty.

00:11:25:50 – 00:11:28:22
David Martin
All right. What makes Des Moines a true Iowa City?

00:11:28:23 – 00:11:54:57
Connie Boesen
I think it’s the work that we we work together. And it’s the impact that, you know, whether it be the private sector or the public sector, we work together to collaborate and solve problems. We I think no, are known for that since I’ve been involved in the politics. It’s it’s our business community is very supportive of making sure the city and the metro area is strong.

00:11:55:12 – 00:12:05:23
Connie Boesen
Now we have the Greater Des Moines Partnership now that is got 12 counties. So working collaborative together we are better and we are, as we say, better together.

00:12:05:26 – 00:12:06:42
David Martin
What’s your favorite place in Des Moines?

00:12:06:45 – 00:12:10:56
Connie Boesen
I would have to say the Iowa State Fair only because I have a concession business.

00:12:11:01 – 00:12:12:18
David Martin
What is your concession business at.

00:12:12:18 – 00:12:13:18
Connie Boesen
The station?

00:12:13:23 – 00:12:14:13
David Martin
What is that?

00:12:14:15 – 00:12:17:44
Connie Boesen
It is sliced apples and caramel apple slushies. All apple products.

00:12:17:46 – 00:12:19:42
David Martin
Gotcha. All right. Do you have an apple? Apple orchard?

00:12:19:44 – 00:12:24:00
Connie Boesen
No, I just like slice caramel. I love caramel apples, and that’s why I started it.

00:12:24:03 – 00:12:26:22
David Martin
Okay. All right, well, those are I.

00:12:26:27 – 00:12:28:10
Connie Boesen
And the fair is the icon to.

00:12:28:19 – 00:12:29:46
David Martin
I certainly.

00:12:29:48 – 00:12:37:24
Connie Boesen
Is based in Des Moines. There’s 400 acres and over a million people come every year in 11 days.

00:12:37:26 – 00:12:53:27
David Martin
So in my spare time, I host the podcast Leading Iowa Good Government, Iowa Cities with the Dubuque mayor, Brad Cavanaugh. So you just answered some of the questions we asked on that. So I’ve been lucky. I’ve gotten to know a lot of folks in Iowa and got to visit there, including Des Moines. What is the biggest challenges you facing?

00:12:53:30 – 00:13:12:43
Connie Boesen
I think when we’re looking at some of the most current or because of Des Moines being the center we have trying to handle our homeless population, we have all the services in Des Moines. But how do we and we’ve implemented some policies and things to help move the needle on how we can help people in a better way.

00:13:12:55 – 00:13:35:37
Connie Boesen
We’re also dealing with a regional transit system. We’re trying to re-implement a new route system. And just in general, how do we cover all the expenses that we need, you know, repairing roads and bridges and all those things. And sometimes some of the legislation that comes has been difficult to be able to cover those with a property tax reduction that was implemented.

00:13:35:39 – 00:13:47:43
Connie Boesen
So it’s really how do we provide the services? Because we know the public safety is the number one thing people want, and they want a safe, clean community. They want the parks, they want the amenities. That really makes a rich, diverse community.

00:13:47:46 – 00:13:54:21
David Martin
So that was the hard part. Now we’re going to get to the easy part.

00:13:54:26 – 00:14:19:46
Narrator
Across America, there is a growing demand for leadership that delivers results over rhetoric. The Good Government Institute brings together proven ideas, principled leaders and real world solutions to strengthen how we govern not by reinventing the system, but by advancing what already works. On our flagship podcast, The Good Government Show, we highlight the leaders behind that progress, demonstrating how effective governance begins with listening, respect and a commitment to serve.

00:14:19:49 – 00:14:24:27
Narrator
Visit Good Gov Institute to learn more.

00:14:24:32 – 00:14:42:23
David Martin
Want to hear more about good government? Check out another show I host leading Iowa good Government in Iowa cities. I host the show with Brad Cavanaugh, mayor of Dubuque, Iowa, and the immediate past president of the Iowa League of Cities. Together, we talked to leaders in Iowa cities. We talk about what works and what good government looks like in Iowa.

00:14:42:26 – 00:14:49:13
David Martin
Join us right here. We’re listening. Now that’s leading Iowa, good government in Iowa cities.

00:14:49:18 – 00:14:55:47
David Martin
We have a series of questions I ask all mayors. You’ve been mayor for how many years? You said two years. What is good government?

00:14:55:47 – 00:15:00:08
Connie Boesen
I think understanding what your role is in providing for the people you serve.

00:15:00:13 – 00:15:02:25
David Martin
That’s it. That’s simple. Is that easy to do?

00:15:02:27 – 00:15:04:58
Connie Boesen
Sometimes it depends.

00:15:04:58 – 00:15:06:20
David Martin
What do you do when it’s not easy?

00:15:06:22 – 00:15:21:40
Connie Boesen
Well, I think you have to be open. You have to be able to listen and understand that everybody has a perspective. Not everybody’s going to get everything they want, but there’s aspects of it. And compromise is the biggest thing. You’ve got to be able to work through a situation that’s going to benefit the most people.

00:15:21:43 – 00:15:26:26
David Martin
If people are frustrated with government, especially, you know, your administration, what should they do?

00:15:26:28 – 00:15:44:32
Connie Boesen
I try to be as open as I can. They should let us know so we can have an open conversation, and so that we can explain why we maybe made a decision. We did. But what we’re going to do going forward, and it might be that maybe today I can’t make all the changes everybody wants, but we can work towards some of those things.

00:15:44:34 – 00:15:47:17
David Martin
What can individuals do to make an impact, to make a difference?

00:15:47:17 – 00:15:56:36
Connie Boesen
I think be involved and understand what’s going on and be good neighbors to your neighbor. Enjoy the city and the amenities that it has and support the city.

00:15:56:38 – 00:16:02:32
David Martin
Be good neighbors to your neighbors. That’s good, I like that. What drew you to public service? What drew you to want to run for office?

00:16:02:33 – 00:16:06:47
Connie Boesen
I got involved, I was at PTA president at my kids high school.

00:16:06:49 – 00:16:08:01
David Martin
Okay, that’s how it started.

00:16:08:01 – 00:16:29:24
Connie Boesen
And there was a local sales tax effort, and I got involved in the campaign. Yeah. And the first campaign lost by 43 votes. Okay. A county wide referendum. And I knew then that every vote mattered. And I have always carried that through every election. And so then I saw, you know, somebody asked, well, why don’t you run for school board a couple of years later?

00:16:29:24 – 00:16:47:25
Connie Boesen
And so I did. So I was on school board for 14 years because I believe education is the greatest equalizer for everyone, and then saw what was going on in the city and lack of development, the neighborhoods. And so I ran for city council. So one thing led to another. It was more just trying to say, how can I be of help?

00:16:47:35 – 00:16:48:23
David Martin
Who inspires you?

00:16:48:25 – 00:17:15:31
Connie Boesen
Probably my father. My, actually, my father was the manager of the Iowa State Fair. And so then he decided to run for public office, okay, for the US House of Representatives. And he lost. But it showed me that, you know, even if you lose, you can still make an impact. It’s never been about yes, everybody loves to win, but it’s really I have always held the the people want me to help serve and want me to serve.

00:17:15:31 – 00:17:22:04
Connie Boesen
I will do it. But but it’s really all it’s not about the next election. It’s about what I can do in the time that I’m in the office.

00:17:22:07 – 00:17:25:40
David Martin
Did you ever see yourself running for office? No, no.

00:17:25:40 – 00:17:33:18
Connie Boesen
No, I was my career. I was a retail buyer at a department store, so I was never. I just saw.

00:17:33:30 – 00:17:35:54
David Martin
The president of your senior class. Not a politics major.

00:17:35:56 – 00:17:52:24
Connie Boesen
Well, I was, yeah, I was on my senior board, and I was doing that, but it was really more just. I thought I could help. Yeah, it’s really about seeing what you can do and try to make a difference. And it’s like I said, it’s never been about that next election. It’s about what I’m doing right now.

00:17:52:26 – 00:18:00:35
David Martin
From the school board to city council to mayor, you are now a official government insider. What would you like people to know about government that they don’t know?

00:18:00:38 – 00:18:19:46
Connie Boesen
Well, I think that the majority, you know, I think, you know, there’s so much going on right now. But I think especially on local government, we have the closest to everyone. I think most people are trying to do the best job they can. People want to help people or you wouldn’t run good. So I think that’s I think you can’t cast everybody in one light.

00:18:19:46 – 00:18:32:43
Connie Boesen
You have to be able to get involved with the community, understand the people that are overseeing the city or whether school board, city council, legislators get to know the people that are doing that.

00:18:32:46 – 00:18:37:03
David Martin
What are you doing? Or what can you do as mayor to restore people’s faith in government?

00:18:37:04 – 00:18:46:47
Connie Boesen
I think it would be present for me. I you know, we have a lot of neighborhoods. I should just be there, show up and answer questions and respond to people and honest way.

00:18:46:49 – 00:18:48:37
David Martin
How long does it take you to go to the grocery store?

00:18:48:37 – 00:18:57:54
Connie Boesen
Sometimes not that long, actually. It’s not that bad. It’s not that bad. But I really I think you just, you know, we’re all people. And how do you relate to people?

00:18:57:58 – 00:19:04:58
David Martin
Well, you’re out in the street. I mean, you’re that’s what one of the things I’ve noticed about mayors is that you go to the grocery store or the hardware store.

00:19:05:00 – 00:19:09:48
Connie Boesen
Yeah. I think, you know, I my people have my number and I answer my phone.

00:19:09:51 – 00:19:12:48
David Martin
What reaction do you get in the street when you when you run into folks?

00:19:12:53 – 00:19:32:54
Connie Boesen
People are really very kind. I mean, I all have people say, are you the mayor? I oh, yes. People recognize me a lot more than I used to be. Okay, when I answer my phone, they go, I’m here to talk to the mayor’s office. Says, well, this is the mayor. And they’re like, shocked. So I think that it’s really just being accessible and really try to answer their questions.

00:19:32:56 – 00:19:49:17
Connie Boesen
Like I said, the city of Des Moines, we have like 49 neighborhood associations, and I try to go to as many as I can, and sometimes they’re well attended, sometimes not so many, but it really doesn’t matter. I I’ve always said that even if it’s ten people, it’s ten people that are making a difference. They’re taking the time.

00:19:49:22 – 00:19:57:04
Connie Boesen
So it’s to talk with them. And sometimes you have even better conversations with being there to answer whatever their concerns are.

00:19:57:14 – 00:19:58:40
David Martin
What’s the best part of being there?

00:19:58:43 – 00:20:06:59
Connie Boesen
I think saying that you’re making a difference and that you see some change and that people appreciate what we’re doing as a city.

00:20:07:01 – 00:20:07:52
David Martin
What keeps you up at.

00:20:07:52 – 00:20:30:38
Connie Boesen
Night not being able to do enough fast enough? I mean, one thing is, is, you know, coming out of retail, I’m used to moving pretty fast. You have to be, I guess, more patient because you have to understand that one thing impacts another thing. So it’s trying to move government forward. And a lot of times as financial limitations, if we could do all these projects tomorrow, that’d be great.

00:20:30:38 – 00:20:32:43
David Martin
But does government fast or slow?

00:20:32:46 – 00:20:34:53
Connie Boesen
I would say it’s fairly slow.

00:20:35:00 – 00:20:36:45
David Martin
Okay. Is there a way to speed it up?

00:20:36:48 – 00:20:48:11
Connie Boesen
Oh, I think there could be. I mean, again, if if we had all the money in the world, we could do a lot more projects. But then you also have to have all the people that could do this project. So we know we have a lot of need. It’s just how do you get it all done?

00:20:48:13 – 00:20:53:16
David Martin
So I’ve been to Des Moines once. My favorite spot was the High Life Bar.

00:20:53:20 – 00:20:54:13
Connie Boesen
Oh my goodness.

00:20:54:15 – 00:21:02:22
David Martin
Yes, yes, I went there. If I’m coming back and we’re meeting up, where are you going to take me. Where are we going? What? What’s the place in Des Moines? What’s the dish of Des Moines?

00:21:02:25 – 00:21:07:24
Connie Boesen
Well, I call my my. Cheers. Places. Chuck’s restaurant in Highland Park area on sixth Avenue.

00:21:07:27 – 00:21:09:34
David Martin
Chuck’s restaurant. And what’s. What’s it famous for.

00:21:09:36 – 00:21:10:00
Connie Boesen
Its there.

00:21:10:14 – 00:21:11:12
David Martin
Was okay.

00:21:11:14 – 00:21:15:19
Connie Boesen
And it was a local restaurant started in the 50s. And it’s still going.

00:21:15:21 – 00:21:19:21
David Martin
And is that anywhere near downtown? Did I run bar across.

00:21:19:26 – 00:21:25:18
Connie Boesen
It’s not. Well, it’s not that far off of downtown by probably a couple of miles.

00:21:25:18 – 00:21:29:33
David Martin
So I’m from Brooklyn. You’re taking me to get pizza in Des Moines? That’s a that’s a big risk.

00:21:29:35 – 00:21:31:11
Connie Boesen
Hey, you can get some other things, too.

00:21:31:18 – 00:21:32:11
David Martin
Well, all.

00:21:32:13 – 00:21:42:34
Connie Boesen
Right, I mean, actually, the food scene in Des Moines has been phenomenal. The change and turnover of from 20 years ago. We do have a really I think a good food scene.

00:21:42:37 – 00:21:44:48
David Martin
Do you read about yourself through the papers?

00:21:44:51 – 00:21:46:20
Connie Boesen
Yes, I read about myself.

00:21:46:22 – 00:21:49:07
David Martin
And what’s your how do you react to what you see?

00:21:49:10 – 00:21:51:14
Connie Boesen
Hopefully. Well in most cases I get it right.

00:21:51:17 – 00:22:02:09
David Martin
Okay. All right. Well good. I’m glad to hear the press is getting it right in Des Moines. This is the good government show. We always try to bring it back to good government. Tell me about a good government project that you’re working on that you’re really excited about. Maybe something we haven’t talked about yet.

00:22:02:11 – 00:22:22:51
Connie Boesen
Well, we have formed a lot of things we’re doing regionally. And as I brought up the homelessness, we had the Housing Solution Alliance, and I’m on that committee. And it’s really to how do you do not just homelessness, but how do you handle all this? You know, it’s kind of coordinating all the efforts. So working on that. We are in the process of developing a pro soccer stadium.

00:22:22:56 – 00:22:30:14
Connie Boesen
So we’re getting close to that. That’s been in the works for about five years. So that’s an exciting development for downtown Des Moines.

00:22:30:17 – 00:22:30:50
David Martin
Sure.

00:22:31:05 – 00:22:45:16
Connie Boesen
We it’s not necessarily a government project, but there’s a foundation set up and it’s going on a site that we will we own. And it was a super fun site that will be turned into a pro soccer stadium site.

00:22:45:18 – 00:22:46:09
David Martin
That is good government.

00:22:46:11 – 00:22:46:47
Connie Boesen
Great, right?

00:22:46:49 – 00:22:47:28
David Martin
That is very good.

00:22:47:30 – 00:23:02:08
Connie Boesen
Great opportunity to redevelop a whole neighborhood that had been really a lot of development, had gone around it, but this site was in particularly difficult. And so hopefully we’ll see great stimulus for the whole area.

00:23:02:13 – 00:23:10:00
David Martin
Connie Bosson, the mayor of Des Moines, a place I’ve been to visit once and come back, hopefully I will come back and get a pizza and.

00:23:10:01 – 00:23:12:19
Connie Boesen
And come to the Or. You should come to the Iowa State Fair.

00:23:12:22 – 00:23:25:35
David Martin
Come to the Iowa State Fair. Yes. Lots to do. As I said, Brad Cavanaugh, every time we talk, he gives me a longer list of places I must go at Iowa. So I will put that on my list. A pleasure to have you on. Thank you very much. Always good to talk about Iowa.

00:23:25:38 – 00:23:25:54
Connie Boesen
Okay.

00:23:25:54 – 00:23:26:21
Connie Boesen
Thank you.

00:23:26:23 – 00:23:30:56
David Martin
Thank you.

00:23:31:01 – 00:23:52:29
David Martin
The Good Government Institute has a new partner, the Charles F Kettering Foundation. I really like their podcast, The Context, and I bet you will too. They have a new series called Democracy Under Construction. The show is hosted by historian Alex Lovett, and he looks back at the first 250 years of U.S. history. Alex digs into the moments that have pushed us towards an inclusive democracy.

00:23:52:31 – 00:23:56:50
David Martin
You can find it where you’re listening right now, or visit Kettering and give them a.

00:23:56:50 – 00:23:59:33
David Martin
Follow a.

00:23:59:38 – 00:24:19:32
David Martin
What if Lincoln hadn’t been shot? What if World War One hadn’t happened? Jim Ludlow, Good Government show executive producer, explores both those ideas in two books in Lincoln Beyond the Bullet, he imagines that Lincoln lives and royal cousins. He imagines what would have happened if three kings, all cousins, hadn’t blundered their way into war. What if? Think about it.

00:24:19:34 – 00:24:28:17
David Martin
Go to Good Govt Institute and order a copy.

00:24:28:22 – 00:24:48:06
David Martin
She said, quote, be good neighbors to your neighbors. That’s a good idea and support your city. Good advice. I like that you can call the mayor’s office in Des Moines and Mayor Connie Bosma will answer. Being out there, being responsive, that’s good government. That’s what she said. Apple’s caramel and a booth at the Iowa State Fair. I think I have to add that to my Iowa list.

00:24:48:09 – 00:25:09:17
David Martin
Well, that’s our show. Thanks for listening. Please like us and share with your friends and review us right here where you’re listening. Check out our website. Good Government show for extras. Help us keep telling stories of good government and action everywhere. Join us again for another episode right here. I’m Dave Martin and this is the Good Government show.

00:25:09:22 – 00:25:31:11
David Martin
The Good Government show is a Valley Park production. Jim Ludlow, Dave Martin, that’s me and David Snyder are the executive producers. Our show is edited and produced by Jason Stershic. Please subscribe, then share us and like us and review us. That’s the best way to make sure we’re able to keep telling these stories of our government working for all of us.

00:25:31:13 – 00:25:43:41
David Martin
Then listen to the next episode of The Good Government Show.

00:25:43:46 – 00:25:46:51
Narrator
This podcast is part of the democracy Group.

**This transcription was created using digital tools and has not been edited by a live person. We apologize for any discrepancies or errors.