How StandLocal works

Local decisions — a warehouse, a data center, a rezoning, a demolition — rarely happen in one meeting. They unfold over months or years of filings, hearings, studies, appeals and court dates. StandLocal keeps that whole story in one place.

Case files

Every case has a neutral file: what’s proposed and by whom, where it is, who decides, the full timeline, public documents, upcoming hearings, officials involved and news coverage. Members add to the file; additions from new members are reviewed by moderators, and every fact should link to a source.

Status, not scorekeeping

The map colors describe where a case is in the process — proposed, under review, approved, blocked, withdrawn or resolved — with a separate marker when a case is in court. StandLocal doesn’t label outcomes as wins or losses.

Positions

Residents who want to oppose a project, support it, or push for an alternative can start a position. Positions belong to the members who run them. Each member can back one position per case and can change their mind at any time.

Petitions

A petition asks a specific decision-maker — a council, board, agency, official or company — for something specific. Petitions can be tied to a case, hosted by a position, or stand on their own for issues that don’t have a case file yet. Anyone can sign with a name and email; no account is needed. Organizers can post updates, record when the petition was delivered and what response came back, and download the signature list to deliver it.

Forums

Each case has its own boards for general discussion, news, hearings and research, plus an organizing board for each position. Everyone is welcome as long as they follow the community guidelines.

Add a case

Know about a decision people should be able to follow? Suggest a case with a source, and a moderator will add it to the map.