City chambers assemble 'concierge' teams to shepherd megaprojects through permits and public opinion, acting as de facto industrial‑policy arms without formal accountability. This privatizes growth decisions while externalizing risks to residents.
— It reveals who actually steers where AI and energy infrastructure land, complicating accountability and consent.
Sarah Ditum
2025.10.15
40% relevant
Like city chambers steering local economies without formal accountability, the Fitzwilliam Estate (owning ~60% of Malton’s commercial property) made strategic decisions to create, then withdraw, the town’s food economy by canceling the Food Lovers Festival, monthly markets, and Christmas market.
by Lauren McGaughy, The Texas Newsroom, and Yilun Cheng, Houston Chronicle
2025.08.28
55% relevant
Instead of a city chamber, a U.S. congressman (Wesley Hunt) is quietly shepherding a megaproject toward a specific private vendor (Musk’s Boring Co.) and vendor‑aligned specs (12‑ft tunnels vs 30–40‑ft studied), illustrating how extra‑formal actors coordinate permitting, scoping, and narrative to steer major infrastructure.
by Wendi C. Thomas, MLK50: Justice Through Journalism
2025.08.22
100% relevant
Greater Memphis Chamber created a five‑member operations team dedicated to xAI to position Memphis as a global tech hub.