In this paper I will summarize the assigned readings that mainly focus on part 3, chapters 11, 13, and 16 from John M. Levy’s contemporary urban planning, along with the solicitation of a few outside sources.

Implementing GIS for Planning Lessons from the History of Technological Innovation

According to Judith Innes and David Simpson (1993), we should get some lessons from the history of technological improvements. In that respect, taking the Geographic information systems (GIS) that are already used within the state, local authorities can bring about benefits for the policy makers, given that the ideas they present are ideal for planning. They should take advantage of these advancements as they become available, seeing that there are many groups currently competing for them.

The article goes on to say that planners should understand GIS as an innovative technology created socially. This system includes not only software and hardware, but also the laws, practices, organizational agreements and skills that are necessary for its use. In order to maximize its utility, a strategic approach to the GIS implementation would involve both technical as well as human systems. On giving an opportunity to improve planning, GIS recognizes the need for information accuracy. It is made to store, analyze, interrelate and display a huge range of spatially referenced information[1].

The technology used in GIS helps in the recording of new kinds of information, and also linking the relation of data from sources that are dispersed. This advancement, which would otherwise be a much more time consuming task, presents new possibilities to better understand environments and communities.[2] Though the technical abilities and user friendliness of GIS has increased and the preliminary costs for the system has decreased, many of the communications and organizational difficulties that hindered efforts in the past continue to this day[3].

Making GIS meet their potential for planning is a challenge that most proponents recognize. The duty will require a meticulous strategic approach that will first engage planners in the most basic manner. This article reveals the organizational planning needs, and examines the nature of technological advancements. The authors’ detailed case studies of the systems plan for insights into the problem of implementing GIS. In conclusion it finds that organizations must keep up with these advancements, or risk being left behind in the race of organizational sovereignty. Implementing GIS will aide in preventing such an occurrence and support planners in their quest for successful communities.

The Failures of Economic Development Incentives

In the midst of the on-going controversy over American economic Development, Allan Peters and Peter Fishers article focuses on three major effective issues. The first issue examines the failure of economic development incentives as a way to encourage new employments and investments. The second issue looks into how the incentives target economically depressed people. The third and final issue discusses how costly the incentives really are. The article concludes with a view that goes against traditional economic development incentives by suggesting that there is a need for radical transformation of economic development policy in America[4].

The study documented in the article finds it possible for the incentives to induce a considerable amount of new growth, in which the growth’s beneficiaries are in most cases the ones with the greatest difficulty in the labor market. The study also finds it possible for both the state and local governments to benefit financially from that growth. However, the study reveals that after many years of studies and experiments, none have found any substantial evidence to that effect. There is only a good probability, but no proof that the incentive claims are true.

For policy makers, it would be important that radical transformation ideas on policies also concern the achievement of local economic growth. The basic justifications given for incentive policy by local politicians and the respective state are not supported by evidence in this study. Therefore, the preferred alternatives to traditional incentives for economic developments are the ones that have the chance to capture the attention of policymakers over the next decade. In other words, would the radical transformation of policies really create new jobs, increase the labor force, and get people to spend?

 

The politicians and policy makers must face the crucial problem of lowering the anticipations concerning their ability to micromanage growth of the economy. Many public officials seem to think that they can influence their state’s course or localized economies by using incentives and subsidies, when in fact they may achieve this by using a more level headed approach. Reevaluating the Government’s role to provide the growth foundation through sound monetary practices, quality public infrastructure and good education systems may be the most efficient solution. The Government, through its policy makers, will need to focus more attention on worker mobility as well as employability in the efforts for improved community development[5].

 

Citizen Participation in Planning: the Relationship between Objectives and Techniques

James J. Glass’ article describes how citizen participation has become an ordinary element in several planning efforts, contrary to the belief that both planners and citizens often assess the participatory elements as being substandard. Glass claims that inadequate attention is being given to the design of participatory programs and that they have failed in matching the objectives with the techniques.

The five objectives of participatory programs that have been identified are; the exchange of information, the support of building, education, supplemental decision making, and representational input6 The development of the participatory mechanism and technique is then matched with their most ideal objective. It concludes by suggesting that if the relationship between objectives and techniques are not taken seriously within the design of participatory programs, it will decrease the probability of creating a program that works. This relationship can be essential to policy makers in the production of successful programs.

 

Of the many fields of planning, it is my opinion that technological advancement, citizen participation, and recognizing the success as well as failures of programs ranks in the top five. The key elements of planning have a substantial effect on urban renewal, community development, and economic planning for rural, suburban, and metropolitan regions alike. I believe that policy makers who are in touch with this notion have a better chance at creating successful policies and programs that aid in the support of planners. The extensive knowledge and flexibility amongst these fields will prove to produce the most efficient outcomes for communities.

 

 

 

 

 

Bibliography

 

• Judith E. Innes and David M. Simpson; “of the American Planning Association”, Vol. 59, No. 2, Spring American Planning Association, Chicago, IL, 1993
• Allan Peter and Peter Fisher, the Failures of Economic Development Incentives Journal of the American Planning Association, winter 2004, Vol. 70, No. I
• James J. Glass, Citizen Participation in Planning: the Relationship Between Objectives and Techniques 2000
• Richard Riley, “Intricacies of political Short Sightedness” Journal of Political Planning, 2007, pp 243
• Voith, R., & Cravkford, D. Smart growth and affordable housing. In A. Downs (Ed.), Growth management and affordable housing: Do they conflict? {Pp. 82-101).  Washington, DC: Brookings Institution Press 2004.
• Whoriskey, P. Space for employers, not for homes: Residents driven farther out as D.C. suburbs lure business and limit housing; Washington Post, p 2004 (August 8)

 

Correlation of Articles and Chapters

 

• Glass article – Chapter 11
• Peters article – Chapter 13
• Innes Article – Chapter 16