Are Planners Socialists for Trying To Encourage 'Livability'?

Conservative commentators criticize the Obama administration for supporting 'livability' programs, calling them social engineering. Neal Pierce argues that 'livability' is shorthand for a strategy that tackles a number of serious problems.

1 minute read

June 7, 2010, 11:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


Pierce argues that the concept of livability is as American as apple pie, and that it is hardly a dictat for Americans to be forced out of their cars and onto buses.

He writes, "A federal finger on the scale in favor of compact, economical, resource-conserving development doesn't need to be as heavy as safety regulation. Key words in the administration's initiative are affordability, access, choices, connection, character of place, collaboration - hardly some kind of ruthless dictation. "

Monday, June 7, 2010 in Citiwire.net

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I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching. Mary G., Urban Planner

I love the variety of courses, many practical, and all richly illustrated. They have inspired many ideas that I've applied in practice, and in my own teaching.

Mary G., Urban Planner

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