Urban planning is an interesting field, one in which it is hard to see society but through the lens of the planner. This is a good and a bad thing; for example, it means that I am staunchly liberal because there is no means by which to shape good cities but by a liberal (i.e. socialist, not the weak stuff of the "Democratic Party" which is only liberal in that it is one degree separated from center) agenda. Likewise, I am forced to realize that the goals and aspirations of our cities--say, more sustainable development or better transit networks--are slow processes to come into being, processes which run into major funding hurdles, community opposition, and, of course, political heckling.
Now that I am just about done with my first semester in planning school, though, I thought it might be fun to take a (somewhat humorous) look back on the lessons I've learned this semester. So, without further ado...
5 Lessons I Have Learned in Planning School...
- Democracy is the enemy of the equitable city. Now, I know, experts will often tell you it is important as a planner to consider all voices when planning for a neighborhood, and citizen participation is probably one of the greatest innovations of the Jane Jacobs era. But, let's be honest, we've taken the principle a bit to far. There is a difference between hearing all sides and giving each side time for a three hour diatribe on why allowing dogs to run free in your local park will ruin the fabric of the neighborhood, or why the data (thoroughly researched and quadruple checked) on economic impact is actually wrong because you didn't consider Sally Smith's 75 year old Victorian awning. Point is, democratic principles can be obtained through other means. And most planners today have been trained to obsessively worry about every interest group, so maybe we should just leave the planning to the experts? Sure, physical space affects us all, but we're also not all qualified to understand the economic, ecological and equitable impacts of a proposed development. Sometimes a little dictatorship goes a long way (cases in point: Curitiba, Bogota).
- Money ruins everything. Once you realize how much it costs to pave new roads, plot new parks, or develop a new school, it becomes clear that cities should all be running into huge debt (and in fact, most of them are). But here's the problem: their ONLY source of revenue (in the US) is local taxes--i.e. sales taxes, utility taxes, and most importantly property taxes. That doesn't amount to very much money. Unfortunately, since the 80s (and, go figure, the predominantly Republican administrations and Congressional leadership along with the period) federal funding for local development has decreased markedly. Certainly I'll admit that this country was built on decentralized government, so there is reason for this--but at what cost? As cities face greater competition for business investment on the international stage, New York and LA need not only compete with their suburbs, but they also need to be competitive with Dubai, Hong Kong and London to stay ahead and attract the talent they count on.
- Planners are salesman, first and foremost. While having visionary ideas and innovative approaches to development is certainly laudable, ultimately it takes a great deal of political support and public backing (not to mention, money...see above) to get a plan implemented. So having the ability to make a great presentation, learning graphical conventions, and understanding the intricacies of the political process is an invaluable skill. Of course, it doesn't hurt to actually believe in your plan if you want to sell it well.
- Life is an endless cycle of ebbs and flows. Planning, especially, needs to be aware of this. For example, what one day may be the hottest thing may tomorrow result in very undesirable consequences (see: Urban Renewal, Public Housing). Likewise, economic markets shift endlessly, and plans that are proposed with 80-100 year build outs (like most district plans) have to face many downturns as well as frenzied activity in boom years. It's hard to predict what will happen, and a big question is how to incorporate flexibility and shifting tastes into plans aimed, say, at sustainability (a temporary, albeit very important, goal).
- The most important skill in life is an ability to fudge a little and improvise. Planners are expected to be proficient in too many fields to count (including geography, economics, ecology and biology, architecture, graphic design, sociology/anthropology, and the list goes on...), so of course there is not enough time to learn them all. As such, it becomes really handy to pick up a skill on the fly--say, to read and understand an econometric analysis of existing conditions in downtown Boston. Oh yeah, I'll get right on that. Not. It's a skill much mocked, but frankly it's probably the most important one there is, in any field. No one is an expert on everything, and admitting that will at least get rid of that personal expectation of perfection, and ultimately that is the key to success.
Alright, so what have we learned today class? Basically, planning, like any field, is not about picking up a specific skill set, but about learning to become a certain type of person. I guess in the end being a professional is always about learning to fit the profession (unless, of course, you are Willy Loman and were born to be a salesman). It's certainly fun to see the person I am becoming, but sometimes I wonder--what am I losing? It's all a part of specializing, something we all have to do at some point. Good thing I've chosen just about the least specific field there is!
