Smart growth, regionalism and equity: what is the nexus?

Special presentation on May 16 at SDSU.

by Nico Calavita

he San Diego region is facing a pro- jected growth of one million people over the next 20 years. What effect will this have on the quality of life we have always taken for granted? How can we accommodate this population increase? Can we afford to maintain the status quo? Prevailing assumptions and policies seem to encourage the balkanization of land use decisions, the serious lag in housing production in relation to job creation, the increase in poverty side by side with new prosperity, and the growing deficit in basic public facilities in our urban neighborhoods.

It has become increasing apparent that success in balancing economic growth with quality of life will require a shift in our perspective a new vision defined by cooperative regional responses addressing equity and changes in regional governance.

On Tuesday, May 16, 2000 at 7pm, the San Diego State University Graduate Program in City Planning presents Norman Krumholz, one of the most prominent figures in the nation on regional cooperation, equity, and smart growth.

Norman Krumholz is a Professor in the Levin College of Urban Affairs at Cleveland State University. He is also President of the American Institute of Certified Planners (1999-2001), and past President of the American Planning Association. Prior to his joining the faculty at CSU, Krumholz served as a planning practitioner in Ithaca, Pittsburgh and Cleveland where he was planning director for ten years under Mayors Carl B. Stokes, Ralph J. Perk and Dennis J. Kucinich.

Professor Krumholz has written or edited several books on planning and urban neighborhoods and has published in many professional journals. His book Making Equity Planning Work (with Professor John Forrester) won the Paul Davidoff award for best progressive book of the year from the Associated Collegiate Schools of Planning.

Krumholz's equity planning practice on behalf of the poor and working class people of Cleveland has become a national model for planners in other large cities who are struggling to retain their industrial and economic base while making their neighborhoods more livable.

Norman Krumholz's talk, "Smart Growth, Regionalism and Equity," will take place on Tuesday, May 16 at 7pm at Hardy Tower 140 (under the Bell Tower) on the SDSU Campus. Free parking has been reserved on the last two floors of parking structure #4. The lecture will be followed by ample opportunity for comments, questions and answers.

The San Diego Region is at a crossroad and the future is cloudy. Come and learn about what opportunities exist that can lead us toward a sustainable San Diego.

Nico Calavita is a Professor at SDSU's School of Public Administration and Urban Studies, graduate program in City Planning.