Synopses & Reviews
American communities are changing fast: ethnic minority populations are growing, home ownership is falling, the number of people per household is going up, and salaries are going down. According to Marc Brenman and Thomas W. Sanchez, the planning field is largely unprepared for these fundamental shifts. If planners are going to adequately serve residents of diverse ages, races, and income levels, they need to address basic issues of equity. Planning as if People Matter offers practical solutions to make our communities more livable and more equitable for all residents.
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While there are many books on environmental justice, relatively few go beyond theory to give real-world examples of how better planning can level inequities. In contrast, Planning as if People Matter is written expressly for planning practitioners, public administrators, policy-makers, activists, and students who must directly confront these challenges. It provides new insights about familiar topics such as stakeholder participation and civil rights. And it addresses emerging issues, including disaster response, new technologies, and equity metrics. Far from an academic treatment, Planning as if People Matter is rooted in hard data, on-the-ground experience, and current policy analysis.
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In this tumultuous period of economic change, there has never been a better time to reform the planning process. Brenman and Sanchez point the way toward a more just social landscape.
Review
andquot;This is a direct and accessible guide for present and future planners and policymakers who are deeply concerned about social equity. It is an ethical compass for those who face the complexities and dilemmas that arise when working within and confronting a system defined by deep racial and class divides.andquot;
Review
andquot;A clarion call to the planning profession to place social justice and equity at the center of our work. Rife with concrete recommendations regarding governance, public participation, technology and the promise represented by the nationand#39;s demographic shiftsandmdash;all within the context of a changing global context.andquot;
Review
andquot;Brenman and Sanchez present equity as both a critical social need and a complex intellectual puzzle when applied to policy. Their book is a clear treatment of equity in emerging policy settings like the internet, land use, gender and age politics and more.andquot;
Review
andquot;An incisive analysis of the most urgent issue facing America: how to build a nation in which all people can participate and prosper. This book is both a call to action and a practical guide for infusing equity principles into planning and governance.andquot;
Review
andquot;Brenman and Sanchez tackle the issues of social equity head on and continually remind the reader of the centrality of social issues in planning....The subjects covered in this book are unwieldy, complicated, fuzzy and controversial, but the authors manage to establish the right balance without the discussion becoming too ethereal....I would definitely recommend it for practicing planners, urbanists, within and outside of academia, and to be used in classes on urban planning, urban politics or public administration.andquot;
Review
andquot;Social justice is one of those topics that are more honored in theory than in practice. Planning as if People Matter is an attempt to change that....They take up a wide range of topicsandmdash;demographics, ethics, diversity, public participation, communications technologiesandmdash;and conclude by suggesting a number of and#39;interventionsand#39; for social justice.andquot;
Review
andquot;The authors nicely frame the book around key questions about how ethics, information, and equity shape everyday human lives. Readers, particularly practitioners, students, and faculty in professional programs, will appreciate the bookand#39;s engaging tone and style.andquot;
Review
"a compelling and accessible volume"
T.J. Vicino - Choice
Review
"a compelling and accessible volume"
Journal of Planning Literature
Review
"[...] this book is a challenge to the planning profession and a call for much needed examination of the underlying purpose of urban planning."
Angela Glover Blackwell - Founder and CEO, PolicyLink, and coauthor of Uncommon Common Ground
Review
andquot;a compelling and accessible volumeandquot;
Review
andquot;[...] this book is a challenge to the planning profession and a call for much needed examination of the underlying purpose of urban planning.andquot;
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Synopsis
American communities are changing fast: ethnic minority populations are growing, home ownership is falling, the number of people per household is going up, and salaries are going down. According to Marc Brenman and Thomas W. Sanchez, the planning field is largely unprepared for these fundamental shifts.
In Planning as if People Matter the authors provide practical solutions to make our communities more livable for residents of all races, ages, and income levels. The book addresses topics such as stakeholder participation, disaster response, new technologies, and equity metrics. Unlike many academic treatments, it offers real-world reforms to improve the planning process and promote social justice.
About the Author
Marc Brenman is Principal, Social Justice Consultancy. Thomas W. Sanchez is Chair and Professor of the Urban Affairs and Planning Program at Virginia Tech and Nonresident Senior Fellow at The Brookings Institution. Together they authored The Right to Transportation: Moving to Equity (2007).
Table of Contents
Preface
Acknowledgements
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Chapter 1. Governance and Equity: Planning As If People Mattered
Chapter 2. Changing Demographics and Social Justice
Chapter 3. Ethics in the Public Realm: The Role of the Planner
Chapter 4. Diversity and Inclusion
Chapter 5. Public Involvement and Participation
Chapter 6. Technology for Social Equity
Chapter 7. Social Equity Interventions
Chapter 8. Conclusions and Recommendations
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References