L.A. Department of City Planning Goes Remote

Los Angeles Department of City Planning Director Vince Bertoni shares the status of the planning department and the daily challenges of providing public-facing service and community meetings under social distancing orders.

1 minute read

April 9, 2020, 11:00 AM PDT

By Clare Letmon


Los Angeles Grand Park

Jon Bilous / Shutterstock

Governor Newsom's shelter-in-place order has spurred public agencies and private firms alike in California to transition to remote work. But with construction continuing as an essential service, TPR spoke with Vince Bertoni, director of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning, on the status of the city's planning department and the daily challenges to providing public-facing service and community meetings under social distancing orders.

Bertoni, while addressing in real-time how the Department of City Planning is maintaining its essential functions for the city, also informs readers on what might be the likely impacts of COVID-19 on future community plans, the valuing of public space, and notions of livability, commenting: "I've definitely seen more democratization of our streets, and our streets now are belonging to more people. My question is whether that trend going to continue and what can we in planning do to ensure that it does?"

For the full interview, visit The Planning Report at The Planning Report.

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