While L.A. searched for a new planning director to help implement Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa's vision of a new L.A., one based on smart growth and higher densities, longtime area planner Mark Winogrond did more than keep the seat warm as City Planning director.
"When I arrived in September, I committed to the mayor that I would do three things: first, help him find the best possible candidate in the United States; second, keep the department stable in the interim; and third, draft my own personal assessment that I will leave for the mayor and the new director of the department - not a big, thick report, but a very synthesized set of strategic observations."
"When I arrived I saw that I had to add a couple of things. One was to re-instill hope, belief, and excitement in the department about what planning is and can be. Simultaneously, I recognized the need to begin building the bridges from the department to the various places where the bridges might have been weakened or damaged in prior periods, including City Council offices, or other places where the department credibility was struggling."
"I’ll be happy to go back to doing what I was doing, but I’m completely envious of the new director, particularly because of this atmosphere. This is the most unique opportunity I’ve witnessed since I’ve known Los Angeles: a passionate, strong mayor who gets it. He is instructing the departments to work together and holding them accountable. We have a City Council that is supportive and a council president, a Council PLUM committee chair, and a new Planning Commission who really get planning and the importance of planning."
Thanks to Josh Stephens
FULL STORY: Winogrond Prepares the Stage for Gail Goldberg at L.A. Planning Dept.
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