The Smart Growth Conspiracy!

"Speakers criticized the plan for forcing residents into dense housing and impinging on suburban lifestyles. Speakers questioned the notion of regional planning, claiming that top-down planning would usurp local control. These and other objections at one meeting were captured on a two-hour video shot by a Tea Party supporter and posted on the Internet."

Saw this in a story in the California Planning & Development Report titled "SB 375 Draws Ire of Tea Party," which reminded me of the presentation I attended at the APA National Conference in Boston in April by Robin Rather, talking about the economic downturn and how it seems to have brought back out the naysayers to Smart Growth.

Robin will be here in Utah on September 15 to talk to planners and local elected officials about "Planners and the New Political Reality."  Jump over to the APA Utah website for details.

We've been fortunate in Utah, interestingly enough, given the strength of the Tea Party here, in not having the degree of rhetoric leveled against planning initiatives as has been happening in some other states.  Much of the "accusing" has been about Agenda 21 - ever heard of it?  According to some, it's a United Nations conspiracy that puts at risk

• Private Property ownership
• Single-Family homes
• Private car ownership and individual travel choices
• Privately owned farms

Take a look at some of the stuff on the internet here and here!

So join us on September 15, either at the APA Utah luncheon or at the Utah League of Cities and Towns conference, where Robin will also be speaking on Thursday morning, to get caught up on what's happening politically with planning in these economic tough times!