THE AMERICAN PLANNING ASSOCIATION HAS BECOME MORE THAN THE PRACTICE OF PLANNING OUR LAND USE AND INFRASTRUCTURE - IT HAS BECOME A TOOL FOR SOCIAL CHANGE.
Because the practice of municipal planning is primarily a government function, it has grown in much the same way that all government has, more statist than about the individual character of the community for which it plans. Government cannot constrain itself from seeing its function as the solution to all of man's problems, and as with all governmental organizations, the American Planning Association has grown to see itself as "setting the course" of how we live. Traditionally, it was the community that did the shaping, but no more.
It is not our intent here to demonstrate that the APA was on this course before or after they endorsed and then implemented the principles that are the framework and function of the United Nations today. The simple fact is, they are now a full partner in the implementation of all of the primary elements of Agenda 21 and the regionalism movement.
The welcoming statement by Mitchell J. Silver, president of APA, which appears in the front of the program for the APA's 2012 National Planning Conference held in Los Angeles, California, April 14 thru 17, emphasizes this fact rather eloquently. "Planners have a unique viewpoint - one that envisions the big picture and sets the course for our communities for present and future generations. We are responsible for understanding long-term consequences of present actions. We are the profession of those who are not only looking at the long-term consequences of present actions, but working on solutions to reduce the uncertainty about the future while enhancing the economy and quality of life. Communities are looking for innovative solutions to address the emerging trends and new economic reality.... The time has come for planners to step up and lead, inspire and innovate." (We have added emphasis to key phrases which echo the UN's own language.) See a copy of the page HERE.
It is not just a coincidence, therefore, that the keynote speakers for the 2012 Planning Conference were representatives from the United Nations (see their biographical information HERE), who spoke passionately about the need for all planners to join in the effort to implement and promote sustainable development and regionalism principles in their professional practice. In other words, your local planners are bringing the program and the changes to your local communities.
It is not our intent here to demonstrate that the APA was on this course before or after they endorsed and then implemented the principles that are the framework and function of the United Nations today. The simple fact is, they are now a full partner in the implementation of all of the primary elements of Agenda 21 and the regionalism movement.
The welcoming statement by Mitchell J. Silver, president of APA, which appears in the front of the program for the APA's 2012 National Planning Conference held in Los Angeles, California, April 14 thru 17, emphasizes this fact rather eloquently. "Planners have a unique viewpoint - one that envisions the big picture and sets the course for our communities for present and future generations. We are responsible for understanding long-term consequences of present actions. We are the profession of those who are not only looking at the long-term consequences of present actions, but working on solutions to reduce the uncertainty about the future while enhancing the economy and quality of life. Communities are looking for innovative solutions to address the emerging trends and new economic reality.... The time has come for planners to step up and lead, inspire and innovate." (We have added emphasis to key phrases which echo the UN's own language.) See a copy of the page HERE.
It is not just a coincidence, therefore, that the keynote speakers for the 2012 Planning Conference were representatives from the United Nations (see their biographical information HERE), who spoke passionately about the need for all planners to join in the effort to implement and promote sustainable development and regionalism principles in their professional practice. In other words, your local planners are bringing the program and the changes to your local communities.