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Does Obama's Office of Urban Affairs Make Sense?

Posted by: Tim Halbur

4 June 2010 - 12:00pm

With the departure of department head Adolpho Carrion, the role of the new Office of Urban Affairs is in question. With a small budget and a staff of four, can Urban Affairs make an impact?

Matt Chaban talks to Harry Moroz, a policy analyst at the Drum Major Institute, about the Department of Urban Affairs. Moroz believes that the successes of other agencies like HUD and DOT on the urban front has undercut the work of the newer department:

"I know there are people very committed to urban affairs in the White House," Moroz said. "Attention will be paid to urban policy, but will it be in this office? I think that’s an open question."

Chaban also talked with Aaron Naparstek, founder of Streetsblog:

"I do actually think Carrión was a problem,"Naparstek said. “He just didn’t seem to be able to articulate a vision for the office or a vision for what cities could or should be.”

Full Story: Can Obama's Office of Urban Affairs Carrion?
Source: The Architect's Newspaper, June 3, 2010
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If hundreds of people in your community raised reasonable concerns about a planning program you developed, how would you respond? Perhaps you might call a community meeting, or ask community elected officials to reach out to community leaders.
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