democratizing the recast city
TRANSCRIPT
Democratizing the RECAST City
Our Reality: Every week, 1.4 million people move into cities
across the globe.
The Global Crisis
As the World Economic Forum has noted, “Cities are evolving faster than at any point in our history, putting them on the cusp of major transformation which, if managed well, could lead to unprecedented economic growth and prosperity for all, but if managed in an uncoordinated manner could drive social, economic and environmental decline.”
UrbanizationRising InequalityHousingAffordabilityClimate ChangeMobilityUrban Systems
Global Democratic Crisis
We need to change our orientation to the public
• Most of our biggest challenges as professionals relate to democracy & scale, not technical issues. Process vs. Math
The field has a 50-yr tradition to build upon…
The citizen architect
“To get to the future from where we are now, we must make room for, and nurture, what I call the “citizen architect.” What does this citizen architect look like? This person is committed to universal enfranchisement, and works to see that everyone in the community is given a meaningful stake in, and a part in directing, the future. The citizen architect is committed to seeing that, at the drafting table, the public’s hand exerts at least as much force as the developer’s or banker’s. The practice of architecture must no longer be seen as a luxury that only the wealthy can afford. The public must be a vital part of the process. Architecture is the most public of the arts. It should be collaborative.” - Ted Pappas, President of the AIA, 1988, at the Remaking Cities Conference
The Whitney Young Challenge
“you are not a profession that has distinguished itself by your social and civic contributions to the cause of civil rights, and I am sure this has not come to you as any shock. You are most
distinguished by your thunderous silence and your complete irrelevance.”
– Whitney Young, Jr., to the 1968 AIA Convention, Portland, Oregon
“The biggest problem is the understanding of what urban design is… the urban community has become lost in strategic planning, masterplanning, zoning and landscaping … All these have their own purposes, of course – but they don’t address the principal question, which is the relationship in a city between public space and buildable space. This is the art and science of building cities – and until we recover this basic knowledge, we will continue to make huge mistakes … Huge mistakes.” – Joan Clos, UNHABITAT
It’s a simple truth, and this is so important: The world needs design leadership, now more than ever. The world needs architects. Your time is
now.
Sao Paulo, Brazil
There is no top-down solution here
“Zoning, along with other NIMBY-inspired housing and land-use regulations, might be the great invisible problem of modern America.”
Federal Inadequacy
“Local leaders who need help no longer have any business traveling to Washington. The
nation’s capital has become the site of photo ops, pep talks, news conferences and little else. As Washington fades into the background, the
rest of the nation is engaging in a great experiment — can a country successfully invest in its future without the national government being a relevant player?” – Bruce Katz, 2014
Professionals vs. the Public
“This seems obvious enough—new development faces less neighborhood resistance when the neighborhood is included in the process from the git-go. But this means more than just holding public hearings, which are dominated by organized neighborhood groups as opposed to average residents.”
It doesn’t have to be that way…
“They had ideas that we will incorporate on the waterfront and the park. We give them credit for working hard and diligently on the site. We’re going to look at it strongly and we think the job will be a tremendous success.” –Donald Trump, 1990s, following an AIA project
Dialogue educates and informs
Jim Fishkin & the Science of P2
The real issue: The Expectations Gap
What Government/Organizations Want
What the Public Wants
Example – NYC World Trade Center
• Listening to the City brought more than 4,300 people together on July 2, 2002
• Key problem: Sponsoring agencies (Lower Manhattan Development Corporation and the Port Authority)wanted feedback on designs, and public wanted input on design. (Consult vs. Collaborate) Outcome: Public rejected all of existing designs and sent the entire initiative back to the drawing board.
• National League of Cities survey of U.S. Cities (2010) - 81
percent use public engagement processes "often" (60 percent) or "sometimes" (21 percent)
• American Planning Association (2012) – “More than 50 percent
want to personally be involved in community planning efforts,
including more than half of Democrats, Republicans, and
independents as well as majorities of urban, suburban, and rural
respondents.”
• Center for Public Interest Design (2013) – 75% of AIA members
think that architects should advocate for underrepresented
groups, engage local stakeholders in decision-making, and
conserve resources.
The Data: 3 Compelling Points
2014 Survey on IAP2 Spectrum
A Failure of Democracy
2014 International City/County Management Association (ICMA) Survey
Stakeholder Identification
Successful p2 includes identifying ALL of the stakeholders on the bell and involving them.
How Planning Conflicts Get Framed
The Fight for Urban Democracy
autocrats: Public Relations
• Sponsors decide on a course of action and then attempt to sell it to the public.
• people can feel manipulated and suspicious
• often hinders them from thinking effectively about problems and challenges because it avoids exposing them to the full dialogue.
• PR seeks “buy-in”
democrats: Public Participation
• Sponsors engage public on the front end in dialogue to help understand the pros and cons of different actions and seek input, consultation, involvement, collaboration
• Builds common understanding of the issue and decision by hearing and understanding all viewpoints and information
• P2 seeks meaningful involvement
“Paradoxically, what is most needed to achieve Jane Jacobs’s vision is to deploy a Robert Moses strategy—redesigning our streets quickly and decisively for an increasingly urban age, this time committed to accommodating population growth and offering residents more options for getting around without a car.”
The Highline: A Citizen Idea
Trickle-down Urbanism won’t work
“nothing for us without us. We want to know more about the governance of the cities, because we want to be part of
how cities are governed.” - Rose Molokoane, Slum/Shack Dwellers International/South Africa
Demand is rising everywhere
Fremont Troll, Seattle
When urban democracy expands, cities flourish. The placemaking outcomes – and the impact on people –
are nothing short of remarkable.
Playing the NIMBY card
We need to go back to our roots…our grassroots
Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are
created by everybody-- Jane Jacobs
Applying democratic methodology to city building
Grassroots Engagement:Making a Plan You Care About
Cheryl Morgan, FAIAEmerita Professor and Director Auburn University Urban Studio
PLACE
Matters
THISPLACEMatters
Get a
PLAN
“It’s not the will to win that matters… everyone
has that.”
“It’s the will to prepare to win that matters.”
– Paul “Bear” Bryant
Get a
PLAN
START WITH WHAT’s
GOOD
PLACE
Matters
Get a
PLAN
PLACE
Matters
Andrea takes notes
Lauren & Heather get feedback
Town Hall Meeting – Fairfield
5 minute
walk
What we build
Where we build
How we build
shows what we VALUE
What we build
Where we build
How we build
shows what we VALUE
THISPLACEMatters
What is a Design Assistance Team?The DAT program brings together multidisciplinary teams of professionals to work with community stakeholders and decision-makers in an intensive 3-5 day planning process.
Since 1967…Collectively the DAT program, a public service of the AIA, represents over 1000 professionals from more than 30 disciplines providing millions of dollars in professional pro bono services to more than 200 communities across the country, ultimately catalyzing over one billion dollars in new investment…
Objectivity
Multi-disciplinary Expertise
Community Participation
What distinguishes it?
• We are NOT:– Another Consultant Team
– A process to produce a planning document
• “Please don’t give us another plan. We have plenty – they all sit on the shelves. We need implementation strategies.” – Almost Every community
– Government-focused
– “Green”-focused
– Building-focused
• We ARE:– Public Service in the Public
Interest• “Consultants work for
somebody. Design Assistance Teams work for everybody.”
– Action-Oriented
– Community-focused
– Holistic, Customized, Integrated
“This opportunity for our community was a catalyst for action, implementation and improvement. A primary outcome has been that the process awakened community pride and inspired a ‘together we can’ attitude.” – Nathan West, Community Development Director
Portland Pearl District R/UDAT (1983)
“Viewed from today, it is hard to believe the sense of risk that the first developers in the Northwest Triangle felt as they challenged a complete lack of interest in downtown living when the R/UDAT came to town in 1983. The R/UDAT team had demonstrated sound opportunity. Daring developers, good planning and a favorable economy turned opportunity to reality and ushered in metropolitan living in the Pearl District on a scale unimaginable in 1983.” –
Paddy Tillett, FAIA
Santa Fe Railyard R/UDAT (1997)
“It was an experiment in deep democracy. That is the beauty of it –a true community effort, we were all in it together. It was not created through a hierarchy of controlling leadership.” – Steve Robinson, Santa Fe Railyard Community Corporation
Birmingham R/UDAT (2011)
“No one thought we could get this much done in just 3 years. We have done it together. We are a community on the move! Ain’t no stopping us now! I can’t wait to see what we will have done in ten years.” – Neighborhood Assc. Leader
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING
CHICAGO
THEA CRUM
DIRECTOR OF NEIGHBORHOODS INITIATIVE
OUR MONEY, OUR DECISION
AGENDA
• What is participatory budgeting?
• PB Chicago
• How is PB different?
• Challenges and Successes
WHAT IS PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING?
A democratic process in which
community members directly
decide how to spend part of a
public budget.
PARTICIPATORY BUDGETING IN
NORTH AMERICA
Sources: Map, Public Agenda, 2016
North America Data, Participatory Budgeting Project, 2017
• Broad Impacts Since
2009:
• 22 Cities
• 300,000 people engaged
• $238,000,000 public
dollars
• 1,530+ community
projects
WHAT IS PB CHICAGO?
PB Chicago is a collaborative effort of UIC
Great Cities Institute, the Participatory
Budgeting Project, and over 30 other
nonprofits and community organizations and
participating Aldermen and city agencies.
PB CHICAGO GOALS
EQUITY
INCLUSION
COMMUNITY &
COALITION BUILDING
SUSTAINABILITY
HOW DOES PB WORK IN CHICAGO?
1. Idea Collection
2. Proposal Development
3. Project Expos4. Community Vote
5. Implementation& Monitoring
of projects
PB CHICAGO BUDGETS
Three Different Budgets:
• Ward Capital
Infrastructure
• Tax Increment Financing
District
• Chicago Public Schools
WARD (DISTRICT) BASED PB PROCESSES
5 – Ald. Hairston, 2012-2013
10 – Ald. Garza, 2015-now
17 – Ald. D. Moore, 2015 - now
22 – Ald. Muñoz, 2013 - 2015
29 – Ald. Taliaferro, 2015 - now
31 – Ald. Santiago, 2015 - now
35 – Ald. Rosa, 2015 - now
36 – Ald. Villegas, 2015 - now
41 – Ald. Napolitano, 2016 - now
45 – Ald. Arena, 2012 – now
46 – Ald. Cappleman, 2012 - 2013
49 – Ald. J. Moore, 2009 - now109
41
8
4
7
3
6
5
19
18
34
39
38
27
11
14
23
28
21
1
20
29
45
25
13
12
17
2
22
24
16
37
40
36
47
32
50
30
42
26
33
31
15
43
35
46
49
44
48
PB in Chicago - Participating Wards
Previous PB Wards
PB Wards
WINNING PROJECTS
• Park improvements
• Pedestrian Safety Projects
• Street crossing lights & pedestrian
Islands
• Sidewalk improvements
• Street resurfacing
• Murals and artistic bike racks
• Community gardens
• Bike lanes and street lighting
• Improvements to public schools
• TIF: Culinary workforce training
program, green roofs, skate park
• School: Recreational/game lunch room
HOW IS PARTICIPATORY
BUDGETING DIFFERENT?
• Starts with a pot of money
• Projects are developed based upon the
allowable uses of that pot of money
• Projects are developed by community
members with support from experts and
vetted by the city before making the ballot
• Projects that win the community wide vote
are implemented
• Role of the expert(s) – facilitator, trainer,
educator, TA provider, evaluator
CHALLENGES
• Resources
• Uneven capacity
• Mismatch between
community identified
boundaries and
political boundaries
CHALLENGES
• Mismatch between
community needs and
restrictions/regulations on
public dollars
• Deep lack of trust around
public engagement
• Implementation challenges
SUCCESSES
•Each year, more youth,
people of color and low-
income individuals participate
in PB.
•PB leverages additional
resources and funding for
community projects.
•Active PB Participants report
a significant increase in
citizenship knowledge and
skills.
SUCCESSES
•PB creates spaces for innovation around
community organizing and public
engagement
•Youth engagement and PB in Schools
"Throughout the whole PB project I have learned that
you have to be a great leader, show respect and be
proud of whatever it is you're doing…An advice that I
would give to any students that are participating in the
project is to make good decisions and be mature and
to always remember YOUR VOICE MATTERS."
Youth School Participant
THANK YOU!
Thea Crum
Director of Neighborhoods Initiative
@UICGCI
@PB_Chicago
Facebook.com/PBChi
www.pbchicago.org