Planning for Equity & Underrepresented Communities

[thelakelander]

A historical timeline of the rise of Jacksonville's historic Black communities and how the field of planning has played an institutional role in their destruction.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/planning-for-equity-underrepresented-communities/

[Charles Hunter]

Excellent piece, I am sure the full presentation and discussion were riveting and enlightening.
On the highway side, the racist excesses of the highway placement in the 1960s let to reforms requiring more public input in transportation planning. Of course, the destruction of many communities had already occurred, and wasn't going to be undone. Government transportation agencies did not embrace involving the public in planning of "their" (the agency's) facilities, which are mostly highways.  Many still only give lip service to public involvement; by delaying involvement until it is "too late" to make changes, by making it difficult for the public to access information, and, since most highway projects are driven by developers, having the local political machine on the side of the proposed highway project.  As communities try to "right size" existing highways, it is important for the planning profession to listen to these communities and help them acheive their goals for where they live.