About Alicia Barber
Welcome to The Barber Brief!
Why do cities like Reno look and feel the way they do, and what can the average person do about it? The form and function of our urban landscapes are the products of countless decisions, made over time. For the most part, those decisions are in the hands of private property owners and our local governments, who together play an enormous role in shaping the communities in which we live.
I’m Alicia Barber, PhD—historian, writer, and educator. Through my decades of research, service, consulting, and public advocacy, I’ve learned a lot about the dynamics of city planning, policy, and promotion.