Report On Mississippi Renewal Forum

> The following is today's report from Emily Talen, who
> has just returned from being part of the Duany team. She
> this on the PLANET listserv.
>
> **********************
>
> I just returned from this event. At first I was skeptical about the
> seeming lack of widespread public participation and the near
> exclusive reliance on elected and appointed officials. But if you
> were to go down there you would realize how difficult it is to
> "engage" with anyone. This is not planning as usual. The population
> is scattered and worrying about a multitude of immediate problems,
> notably their insurance and FEMA problems. Many of the 11 cities we
> studied currently have no jobs, services, housing or anything.
> Communities are in complete disarray.
>
> The question of timing was on everyone's mind. The danger with
> waiting (on planning work) is that crucial decisions are being made
> now (like, where to position casinos, where to let condo development
> proceed, what roads to rebuild first), so there is an immediate need
> that can not wait for better public participation. Some mayors appear
> desperate and eager to accept any development proposals that come
> along. It's hard to blame them. They are desperate for an influx of
> capital.
>
> The plans being produced by the CNU are obviously advisory and
> visionary. They are being presented as options and tools to be used
> as the local citizenry sees fit. That is all. There is no New
> Urbanism being shoved down anyone's throat. I think that the local
> citizens that were able to travel to the charrette site did think of
> them as hopeful. Certainly the mayors did.
>
> I think everyone is really focused now on making sure the public
> engagement is successful from here on out. Jennifer Cowley's (she is
> a faculty member at Ohio SU) work is critical. The public will adopt,
> amend, or scrap the plans and tools produced by the CNU, as they see fit.
>
> Emily Talen