"There are two sayings that are familiar in every news room across the country: 1) sex sells; 2) if it bleeds it leads."- Armstrong Williams
The people in the news industry are in the business to sell lots and lots of newspapers. If they don't know what sells, nobody does.
There seems to be a disconnect in the general public's understanding of just how important the profession of Planning is to building a healthy municipality. The message has yet to get through to Joe Public; and we haven't done a very good job of selling it to them. When you finally realize exactly what it is we're selling, and what it is that's on the line, you have to wonder why we still have a job in this industry!
We need to sell the importance of Urban Planning.
A municipal entities decision "to plan" is a community commitment to consciously head in a certain direction. The path should lead to an increase in the public good, and that is what the taxpayers assume is being done. But what is the public good? The following types of benefits demonstrate what is meant by the public good, and how planning helps to increase it. (click here for the expanded rationale)
- Planning helps define the future character of communities by creating and maintaining a sense of place,
- Planning protects natural and agricultural resources,
- Planning provides predictability regarding future development,
- Planning saves money,
- Planning promotes economic development,
- Planning can promote sustainable development,
- Planning helps protect private property rights.
Planning is a science, and politics should not get in the way of that science being practised. Good urban planning can have a positive impact on Windsor's economic, ecological and social/cultural environments, just as much as bad or incomplete planning advocates the opposite. With such power in the hands of a select municipal department, one would feel that they would command the power and respect that accompanies their heavy responsibilities.
Yet, it is apparent that our planning professionals and the work they perform are underappreciated in our City Hall; and are therefore relegated to the role of mere administrators performing the will of our elected officials. These are not the jobs they were hired to do. They were hired for their ability to, through the examples of other municipalities and the "best practices" established by them, promote a vision of a better working Windsor and lay out the road map how to get there.
So what attributes would the city be looking for when it hires its new City Planner, as it is planning to do soon? Let me be the person who hires for this important position. I would employ the candidate who advocates for necessary planning reform in a manner that our non-planning elected officials (his/her bosses) understand and appreciate; all while leading their team to employ the knowledge they have accrued in actually making a city work.
Unfortunately, this is not likely to happen anytime soon. Our elected officials either do not understand just how much the planning departments role affects almost every aspect of city life, or they are putting "politics" over substance and not doing the job that they were hired to do.
So, we need to go over the politician's heads and make Windsor's electorate intimately aware of this important municipal department and how empowering them would put out many of the fires that are constantly erupting in our city before they even ignite. We need to "Sex It Up" and make it interesting to them, especially now with the planning department undergoing their 5 year Official Plan Review and the average resident holding the bulk of the power at this stage in shaping the vision they hold and the destiny that is possible in the city of Windsor.
23 comments:
Windsor is great at planning it is just that they can't implement a damn thing. All talk and no action so to speak.
I am sure we all know that the planning department is politicized anyone with even a inkling of IQ knows that. It is one of the reasons, amongst many, that this city continues to spin it's wheels on every project it tries to tackle.
the question I would like answered is why do we do so much planning but when we get the results the majority of time they are shelved, never to see the light of day again?
The job posting for Planning Boss which you link to is an absolute joke. It has been fudged up to make the position requirements so specific that the current interim boss will keep the job. This city needs fresh planning blood with, as you call it, "sexed up" perspective. Alas...the job description is so specific that even if there was someone in all of North America to fit that bill, they are already planted and doing just fine where they are. In the mean time, it's more home grown status quo for Windsor's future. If you are serious about what you say and advocate then you might link the job posting up to other urbanist blog mates around North America so that the posting gets as much exposure as possible. If you really want to score some points try that and let's see what you can net.
That is a FANTASTIC idea, JD. I am going to jump online and make sure that EVERY progressive planning website/blog/organization knows that we are hiring here in windsor and if they've ever dreamt about getting in on the ground floor and building a completely new city - this is the chance of a lifetime.
Now, you've got me excited!
See, I like the quality of work from our current planners.
The problem is that the city doesn't listen to them and the planners themselves do not assert themselves enough
Maybe the problem is that they are not in a permanent job. Maybe because they are vying for a new position or do not know who their next boss is the cause of them not asserting themselves.
I've never heard Jim or Thom say anything less than completely honest. They always list the pro's and cons accurately. My only criticism is that sometimes one side gets downplayed and one side gets emphasized due to political pressure.
Fill this position once and for all and ensure that they have the public confidence to assert their personal opinions more. I don't think it will matter if its filled internally or externally.
Git-R-Done
MArk I agree with you. The department is great and I too respect Jim greatly. He is always honest as you stated.
But you are also correct in that the city does not listen to the department. Why is that? They wre hired for a reason and obviously have the education to back up their plans so why does the city ignore the results?
I personally think Mr. Yanchula should ge tethe job. I like his vision and ideas if only they were allowed to flourish.
Holts recipe for the perfect planning boss:
- Take one part P. E. Trudeau for his ability to get along with virtually everyone and have them see, beyond a shadow of a doubt, the benefits to his way of thinking regardless of their preconceived notions on the topic, and whose appeal reaches beyond any generational gaps;
- Take another part James Howard Kunstler for his ability to cut through the crap and see things for what they really are. His lack of regard for "political correctness" means he is untainted in his ability to get straight to the point without mincing words, mixed with a self-confidence evident in the fact that he is not worried about "protecting" his current state of employment;
- then add one part Andres Duany for his pioneering spirit in the ways of New Urbanism and his ability to sell the concept to even the most dyed-in-the-wool suburban consumer.
- And finally, one part David Koresh for his ability to rally his "flock" to the degree that they are willing to lay down their professional life for their leaders vision of the future.
Mix gently in a blender for 3 months, allowing the more liquid ingrediants to rise to the top for easy removal. Allow a further 3 months to sit at room temperature to coagulate. Finally, unleash you creation upon the residents and politicians in Windsor and watch many of the major problems in this city disappear
Playing these guys against each other is wrong. One will eventually have to split. Hopefully it's not the most qualified candidate (by formal training and years on the job). I disagree with Mr. Boscariols comment about the administration wrist locking this department. If there was any talent or personality there, things would get done. That is what differentiates good management from bad. No matter what the obstacles and challenges, a will always creates a way. Being open and honest is nice but it does not a good manager make. Wheres the scharff?
I disagree with Mark as well. I like most of the planners in our City but I don't believe any have stepped up when needed. Most of the successful City's have a very vocal planner. Planners have an obligation to stand being true planning principals. I have not seen any in this City do that. We also need to bring in someone who has experience and has tasted success. Unfortunately the idea of hiring within in this instance will not work. We need someone to come in and make a change. Hopefully the City Council will see this.
Our current box o' planners definitely have their heads on straight and hearts in the right place, but for Windsor to trulymove forward, we really need someone to come in from outside of our council's poisonous reach, and take the reigns!
I hope that Holt has posted the job on the various blogs/publications like he said he would. I like Jim Yanchula, but honestly - he's too nice. We need a take-no-prisoners, this-is-the-shit-you're-going-to-be-dealing-with-unless-you-follow-my-advice kind of guy.
Bring in some new, untainted blood!
Chris, you forgot Baron Georges-Eugène Haussmann, he was Napoleon III's planner. His work established the ideal of mixed-use, mixed-income urban development. Wide tree-lined streets with commercial use on the first floor, and residential above. He was also ruthless about adherance to HIS plans.
James
LOVE IT, James. Anyone else? Who else can we through into the blender that will Windsor's Planning Department?
Add a whole lot of Jane Jacobs and a dash of Richard Florida.
Yes, yes...David Koresh. Waco Texas. My hero next to Lance Parish. But what about Jim Jones. He was all about recipes wasn't he? Grape cool-aide if memory serves well. What are you guys trying to cook up here? A new DWBIA?
Florida is only regurgitating what has been said for years but with new expressions and euphymisms.
As for Trudeau. He only got olong wth those who agreed with him. His legacy for Canada is the debt we allowd him to accumulate. If it werent' forteh boomer generation looking for a cult of personality he would be regarded as the true person he was. Smug, arrogant and completly off the mark on most occasions.
Who was it that designed Washington D.C? For the life of me I can't remember his name. As for Haussmann, one of the best city planners to ever live.
Ah, but Dave, you are now arguing my point exactly. Whether Trudeau knew anything or not, he was a politician par excellence! He knew how to play the game, knew whose string to pull and certainly knew how to play the media. Remember seeing that footage of his approach up the House of commons? That throng of teenage worshippers who literally chased up the stairs? Or him with Lennon and Ono? We need a planner who posesses those political traits to get the necessary reform the status quo would consider "damaging" pushed through.
DC's planner was the French architect and engineer Pierre L'Enfant, who merely planned Washington based upon the principals of Versailles and Rome. He did a good job in interpretting those lessons for their modern era, but wasn't a visionary himself. However, that is all we are looking for in a planner ourselves, isn't it? Someone who would take the "best practices" established elsewhere and have the power to reinterpret them for Windsor?
Hey Gourmet - no need for any new DWBIA. I feel that they are doing a great job, so no need to replace them.
We are re-envisioning a new Windsor proper - those core areas of the city (not just downtown, but Walkerville, Sandwich, Riverside, etc.) which have all the infrastructure and culture in place, but just need a little love.
That's what we are here. Love, Baby!
I have a brilliant idea! What about removing the politics from the planner position? Make them accountable to the electorate, not to council. I'm not saying an elected position, but some other way to release them from the political muzzle they are burdened with.
I don't have all the details sorted out in my head, but I believe the talent in Windsor is there to make the changes. We just need to have the courage to demand the changes that will make Windsor more livable.
When the DWBIA scores a couple of good retail anchors you can boast. Until then, fewer are coming downtown because there is nothing there.
Nonsense. Downtown needs a "major" anchor like it needs a hole in the head. Lots of vibrant downtowns exist because of hundreds of interesting independent shops, restaurants, stores, etc. Those who want Sears or the Bay will continue to go to the Mall regardless.
Anon - Who's boasting? I just stated a fact. The DWBIA is doing a good job.
After years of neglect and a bevy of misguided municipal decisions regarding prioritizing our retail environment, Larry Horwitz and the rest of the DWBIA finally have their priorities straight: clean up the downtown enough to encourage residential investment and those residents will in turn bring the critical mass of 24/7 shoppers to merit the businesses moving in. That was a rather simplistic way of stating it, but in essence that is what they are doing.
They are simply at the beginning of the journey. And a journey it will be, as it has taken years to dismantle downtowns across this continent and billions of ad-men's $$$ to sell the American Dream. It's going to take a while before we get back to the glory days of indies spread across the core area.
Just look at what John wrote right above me. He is bang on in his assessment!
Thanks Chris. Pierre L'Enfant! I agree 100%. You are also correct that Trudeau was a good politician. Too bad we are suffering from it. :)
Great post John. That is why I question the mayor runing all over the world trying to get big busines in Windsor. Cut the taxes and make it a business friendly environment. Instead we go after companie that may offer 50 jobs when we can make a climate that would offer hundreds of jobs and great property taxes.
To John above...
Have it your way. Bring in hundreds of interesting independent shops, restaurants, stores, etc. Bring one quarter of that and we'll give you kudos. Until then everybody's gone shopping.
We shoulda grabbed L'Enfant when we had the chance! He was over in Detroit a few hundred years ago laying out that town too!
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