Gail Goldberg's Legacy

Despite her homespun manner -- or maybe because of it -- L.A.'s retiring planning director, Gail Goldberg, had a huge impact on planning in California.

1 minute read

July 2, 2010, 7:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur


It's not clear why Gail Goldberg is stepping down as L.A.'s planning director. Is she worn out? Did she tire of the endless budget-cutting, which has eviscerated her department more than anyone could have predicted only a couple of years ago? Did she clash with Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner, who was charged with reorganizing her department?

Who knows? But even for a planning director as skilled as Gail, Goldberg it's tough out there. In the end, San Diego has been unable to truly realize the "City of Villages" vision because of a lack of infrastructure money. And Los Angeles has been unable to realize the potential of a revived planning effort because of a budget meltdown that cost Gail her best senior people, who retired, and her most promising junior planners, who got laid off.

Thanks to Bill Fulton

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 in California Planning & Development Report

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