Empowering L.A.'s Next Planning Director

"In the past, the selection of a planning director has barely registered as a blip on the public's radar. This time around, however, community stakeholders have seized on the opportunity to voice their concerns and ideas. A coalition of nearly four dozen community groups, individuals and planners led by Occidental College drafted a letter to the next planning director called "Planning for a Liveable City." It contains a litany of requests, from creating transit-friendly development to exploring innovative planning approaches to creating a master plan for developing the Los Angeles River and adjacent Cornfield State Park at the northern tip of Downtown.

...Last week the city began vetting about a dozen strong applicants for the job out of 30 resumes received. Some candidates have been recruited internally, while others came from national posts; there is at least one international resume, according to Mayor Jim Hahn's office. Insiders say the final choice will likely come from out of state, someone with a fresh approach to planning and management far removed from the current department."