Join the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR) on Friday, February 13th, 2026, for a virtual briefing on Amazon’s growing capture of your local public dollars — and what you can do about it. ILSR’s investigation exposed how Amazon is using dubious contract terms, algorithmic pricing, and other problematic tactics to eliminate competing local suppliers and drive up costs for basic supplies used by cities and school districts.

From how to file a public records request to sharing the rationale for why Amazon harms our communities, this hands-on session is geared toward procurement professionals, community advocates, and local/state policymakers. It will provide guidance on the WHY and HOW of shifting your community’s public purchasing to local providers, utilizing ILSR’s Citizen Guide: How to Break Up With Amazon and case studies.

Join leading experts, local policymakers, and small businesses to learn:

Lauren Kuby served on the Tempe City Council from 2014-2022, leading the way when the city strengthened its policies to reduce purchasing with Amazon. Lauren currently serves as a Senator in the Arizona State Legislature, where her unique blend of local government experience, subject matter expertise, and policy advocacy makes her a powerful voice in the Legislature.

Gayle Shanks is the founder of Changing Hands Bookstore — Arizona’s “leading independent bookstore” operating in Tempe, AZ since 1974. They also operate a second location in Phoenix. As a local business leader, Gayle advocated to the Tempe City Council about the harms purchasing contracts with Amazon would have on local small businesses and the local economy. Changing Hands has been awarded Publisher’s Weekly Best Bookstore of the Year and the Governor’s Arts Award for Small Business, among others. 

Named among the Top 100 most influential urbanists, past and present, Kennedy Smith is one of the nation’s foremost experts on commercial district revitalization and independent business development. Kennedy co-authored Turning Public Money Into Amazon’s Profits and is a senior researcher with the Institute for Local Self-Reliance (ILSR).

Thomas Barr is the Vice President of Strategic Initiatives for Local First Arizona — a statewide nonprofit network to strengthen local businesses and communities by establishing equitable systems that level the playing field for a thriving, inclusive, and lasting Arizona economy. As the vice president of strategic initiatives, Thomas works with community leaders and local businesses to drive Local First’s campaigns and partnerships forward, including collaboration with small businesses and local elected officials on strengthening public purchasing policy.