Reality and warnings
As someone with an Masters in Public Administration with an emphasis in Urban Planning and working in both transportation and land use planning, I have comments regarding the theory of planning and the reality.
If you are a city planner, your interest is the interest of the city. If not you won't make it through the probationary period. Theory goes out the window. This is the result of the fiscalization of planning. It is seen as a way to encourage economic development. Unless you are in a progressive city (read as liberal), the theory of planning when competing with economic development needs is tossed out. This is especially true in Southern California. The local elite are usually chamber of commerce types or in real estate industry. Since they have the ears of the City Council and Planning Commission their interests often supercede the "public good". If the city has lots of Council Gadflies and wannabe planners, the planning becomes all the more complex and a CYA attitude pervades the hallowed halls of City Hall. It becomes important to not upset the status quo or someone will get counseled behind closed doors and warned verbally. The next step is dismissal if you are under probationary status.
It is not always this way but more often than not you will run into this situation. As a new planner be prepared for double fisted fangs out politics. Blend in with the cultural norm of the city. Your survival depends on your ability to navigate through the hidden curriculum. Also, remember not all who act friendly are your friends. You will run into people who talk out of both sides of their mouths. You will run into people you wouldn't trust the slightest.
They may talk about teamwork, but only when it benefits their agenda. Following the company line is important. Unless it is clearly illegal and unethical, keep your concerns to yourself.
When you get out of your training, don't be enamored with the purity of planning. Remember as an Assistant Planner that is just starting out your job is to listen and learn. Learn the various actors and institutions within the city. Don't be too innovative. Innovation from junior level personnel is not often looked upon favorably. Learn the agendas. It is not your job to determine public good. By definition, the public good is determined by the City Council and the City's Management Team.
This is my experience. I wish I would have done a better job of listening and learning rather than transmitting in past jobs. I enjoy planning, especially working with the public but the realities put a pall on my positive outlook for the impacts of one person and about planning's impact on the well being of the public.
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I agree, although I have not
I agree, although I have not yet really experienced this myself. As an intern, I hear all about the clash between politics and planners, but am still protected from it. I think what you're saying points to the need for schools to regularly offer real-world studios, and conflict resolution or negotiation courses. And/or if they don't want to or aren't able to teach them, they should offer or require internships to start exposing students to the real challenges of the profession. I don't think it's fair for planning practice to squash our idealism or good intentions. Instead, we should be learning and developing much more skills to deal with the reality that humans are complicated.
What I wished I had learned
I have been finished with my masters in urban development for 6 years now and have been on the private (or dark) side of planning all 6 years in the mid west. As much as I enjoy the theory side of planning, I wish there had been a class dedicated to illustrating how the theory of planning (zoning, design standards, etc) relates to the market of a community from the point of view of the developer, real estate professional and end users (i.e. the market). A class that showed the good intentions of a particular policy or plan and then showed the end result of the project and why it ended up the way it did. I came out of school prepared to change the development community and use all of my new found knowledge to enact change in my community, only to find that between the politics, market, and my clients, that I was only along for the ride with really no idea of how to change course.
There is a huge difference between coming up with the idea and getting that idea implemented and then getting it sold to everyone (public and private) that need to buy off on it. In my experience so far, the market of a particular area really drives the policy that shapes the built environment. Because the private industry can get so much more done than the government, they often have a larger voice and the ears of the public decision makers. It takes a strong community and usually a private organization to really enact standards and plans that get done.
In addition I have also found that public planners rarely have any if at all private side experience or knowledge and don't understand, that what may be going on in one community does not necessarily apply to the every community. Even though it looks great on paper and is successful somewhere else, there are a lot of factors that make that happen. I have the pleasure of working with a few planners that came from the private industry and moved to the public side and because I know where they are coming from and they know where I'm coming from, together we get so much more accomplished in less time because we have that common planning background and understanding of how to work together to reach middle ground.
That being said, I also understand that some of the problem lies with some of my clients in that they only see the dollar signs and don't try to push the envelope or try something new because they are afraid they won't be able to sell it. They figure they are following the minimum standards set and therefore they are creating good plans ( I usually beg to differ silently as my job depends on having clients).
Politicians are the same way, they are usually only willing to take a chance if they already know the outcome, which really isn't taking a chance at all.
My advice if your relatively new to the profession, is not to get down about the reality of the planning world, planning is change, and most people are afraid of change, however if you believe in what you are doing, pick your battles carefully, and try to achieve small victories. This will give you confidence and credibility among your co-workers, politicians, and clients. Eventually, you will get to take on the really big fights. Don't try to change the world all at once, even a comprehensive plan is projected out 25 years!
That there is no planning
What I wish I knew is that there really is no planning. Planners spend their lives rubber-stamping ghastly suburban strip malls. I'm glad I fell out of the profession because of the reaction to my Taliban-like ranting and raving against suburbia. I happily work as an editor now, making about 100% more than I would as a planner (still not much).
Houston may have it right after all. Let Americans get what they deserve.
Politics and Urban Planning: A Symbiotic Relationship
I see where this is comming from, even though more times than not planning practices seems to butt heads with urban politics, it is not fair to say that these two forces should always be seen as dichotomicaly opposing each other. I am going to sugest that urban politics and urban planning share a very uniquie relationship. It might be bennificial to look at the relationship as maybe symbiotic in nature, in that while differing in theories and agendas, in most cases planning needs politics to survive.
Just as a disclaimer, this is all just info that I have learned being involved in planning agencies, economic development, and city politics in a city like Charlotte, NC. I know that Charlotte is not the same as every other city, it just serves as the basis for my discussion.
How does planning need politics to survive, what exatcly do I mean by that? For instance, while planners may come up with many theories and practices to implement in real-world situations, without the backing of city council members, civic leaders, and community stakeholders, their plans and practices will not turn into reality. And while it might be true to say that community planners work on the community's agenda, they can still use politics to advise civic leaders and and citizens on the best way to implement the community's plans with town meetings, holding workshops and charrettes. While planners are actively trying to sell their ideas to the community, they need to be aware of the community's expectations as well as other prominent forces such as developers and market forces, which is why planners need to have a muli-disciplinary education and background so they can look at implementing community plans with a mult-faceted approach.
This brings up another topic between developers and planners. While most developers are more inclined to care about their bottom line and their potiential profit, and most planners(depending on their concentration) might care more about the actual land use and sustainablity of a site that the potential money to be made it is clear that there is a distinct and more times that not, a more pronounced rift between these two different but equally important disciplines.
Planners need to understand that while that making sure that a new development is LEED certified might make it more sustainable in the long run, if all of these sustainable features costs so much that it means cutting the number of housing or office units in half or decreasing the size of each unit, that it just is not economically benificial. While the statement in the original post that economic development takes a higher priority in most cities than sustainablity issues and other planning practices is for the most part true(depends on which city you are talking about)there are ways in which this can be surmounted. Don't get me wrong, I firmly believe that economic development is a vital force in comprohensive good of the city, there needs to be a mixture of development and good planning practices in the city, even a point or line that says for every new major development, a certain amount of sustainability or better planning guidelines has to be met. With the guidence of community planners, commmunities can request or mandate what I have said above, the unfortunate fact is that hardly any community has the balls to implement ploicies with any real teeth, and instead of a mandate, it is usally a feable request that goes for the mostpart unheard by the developers.
I guess the whole point to this rambiling is just help aspiring planners escape from their morose mood when they begin to realize that most of the planning ideology they have been force-fed is not applicable in the real world. Just don't worry, with the help of politics, you can still save the world, or at least your little piece of it.
Reality vs Theory Making it Happen
William, I must agree with your assessment of theory vs reality. I've had that point hammered home by my prof repeatedly.
I'm a non traditional student having spent the last 25 yrs operating a popular service business. I have been involved with development issues out of a humanistic interest for many years. I'm well known for telling it the way I see it and as a result I've run into conflicts with the local elite(I went from a shoe in for mayor to persona non gratis in about the time it took to write a letter to the editor).
I weathered that event and worked with some very skilled (and patient) professionals on develping and impilmenting a program at the U to address these issues.
I guess what I am saying is...
It's not impossible to change the world its just not going to happen overnight. It took 15 yrs of solid business managment to be asked to step up to being the mayor of a small town and one letter to the editor to end it but I still stand behind what I said and time has proved what I said was true. It's taken 5 yrs to regroup, rebuild and move forward, not to mention 5 yrs for folks to realise I knew what I was talking about.
Sincd then, a 60 bed residential treatment center for emotionally troubled kids became a reality and several other sustainable development projects have moved forward. If I were dependant on my income as a planner to move these projects forward I'd be living under a bridge near you.
My advice to graduating planners is:
1) Build your credability and longevity, keep personal politics out of the equation until you understand how things work, remember this is an inexact science that is dependant on politicians to actually do something (impliment the plan)and that requires more than simple planning skills to pull off.
2) Establish working relationships with professionals in other fields. Study the earth sciences and learn GIS. Maps and charts make great conversation starters and can dazzle or confound depending on how its presented.
3) Listen
4) Watch
5) Test
6) Listen
7) Watch
Thanks
Thanks for responding. I appreciate your input. Sounds like you have an interesting story to tell. I would love to learn more. If anyone would like to talk about his subject please send me an Email at wchandler@dc.rr.com
Planning: Reality vs. Politics
My planning professor sent me this blog, I'm sure, because he knows how conflicted I've become studying planning theory as compaired to my real life experiences (undergrad degree in business admin, 30 years in construction business managment along with 12 years as a local elected official). My advice to anyone going into planning without some real life experience is to go work in sales or politics (they are the same thing) for a couple of years before you start trying to change the world with your newly aquired knowledge.
Progressive, liberal ideas can be "sold" to your elected officials and their constituents but only if you understand the sales process and/or local politics. Just being right isn't enough and being the smartest guy in the room (at least concerning planning) doesn't get you many points. Being a good salesman/politician is critical, especially if you want to change the world as a planner.
Being a good salesman is about making people feel good about a decision. It takes empathy,communication skills (listening is more important than talking) and an understanding of the issue that includes all of the pros you use to sell your ideas and an even better understanding of the cons that your opposition will use to shoot them down.
Steve Blount