The opening session at the 2004 APA Conference features U.S. Rep. Earl Blumenauer (D-Ore.) who emphasizes the role of planners as political advocates.
Blumenauer urged planners "to be united in every city, county, and state." Planners "need to be more aggressive in dealing with the news media" and "to reach out to the many business interests who rely on you doing your job for today and the future." Sophisticated business leaders, he said, are likely to listen to what planners say because they are people "whose lives you are enriching financially" and who recognize the value of well-crafted planning initiatives. The APA
Thanks to Chris Steins
FULL STORY: Planners Must be Political Advocates, Blumenauer Tells Conference Attendees

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