GOP Platform Takes Aim at Community Planning

Despite the fact that the 1992 United Nations resolution (Agenda 21) that encourages sustainable development globally "is nonbinding and has no force of law in the United States," fringe elements of the Republican party who are convinced that the resolution is a conspiracy to deny Americans their property rights have managed to push the item to the mainstream.  

"...the inclusion of language for Agenda 21 in the Republican Party platform could mark a turning point, said Tom Madrecki, a spokesman for Smart Growth America, an advocacy group that works to limit sprawl," writes Kaufman. 

"Though the actual language of the platform does not say anything besides ‘we oppose Agenda 21,' the fact that it's in the platform gives credence to something that just shouldn't get any," he said.

He said he's concerned that formalizing opposition to Agenda 21 will bring more disruption and will "continue halting beneficial conversations about community planning."