Louisiana Recovery and Rebuilding Conference

Statements from APA Leadership and Staff

APA is a cosponsor of the Louisiana Recovery and Rebuilding Conference. Opening statements were offered by President David Siegel, AICP, and Executive Director Paul Farmer, AICP:

Opening remarks of Paul Farmer, AICP, APA Executive Director and CEO:

As executive director and CEO of the American Planning Association, and on behalf of our members, particularly those here in Louisiana, I would like to join Norm Koonce and Doug Steidl in welcoming you to this conference.

We come together in this most unique American city — a national treasure — in a state with a natural environment that is fragile, ever changing, and sometimes abused.

As planners, we know that we accomplish little by ourselves but that we can accomplish much in collaboration with others. Thus, the collaboration among planners, architects, engineers and preservationists is a signal that we are ready to join together to assist the residents of the Gulf Coast in great accomplishments.

After the fire in 1871, Chicago emerged as a greater city, a city of stone with some of the world's great parks along Lake Michigan. After the Loma Prieta earthquake in 1989, San Francisco finally resolved a long-standing policy dispute. The elevated Embarcadero Freeway was demolished and mixed-use neighborhoods rapidly emerged, reconnecting the city to its historic waterfront.

We have the lessons. From disasters, communities can emerge more beautiful, more resilient, more just and more successful.

For New Orleans and the entire Louisiana Gulf Coast, what are the opportunities? What are the key decisions that must be made? And how will these decisions be made? And who will be at the table?

Building — and rebuilding — great communities requires investor confidence. Yes, investment of money, but also investment of time, thought and creativity. After disasters, confidence, however, is often in short supply.

People will invest, but only if they believe that others will also invest in ways that are mutually supportive. Plans create that confidence.

A couple of weeks ago, I had the privilege of testifying before Congress with Gov. Blanco, Lt. Gov. Landrieu, Mayor Nagin, and others. Gov. Blanco in her testimony stated that she wanted the Louisiana Recovery Authority to create a master plan for Louisianans. I applaud that commitment and believe that such a plan — a plan with the force of law — is critical in creating investor confidence that will lead to not just recovery but a greater future.

It's a future that I know is achievable for my native state of Louisiana.

And now I would like to introduce the 2005-2006 President of the American Planning Association, David Siegel, AICP. David ...

Opening remarks of APA President David Siegel, AICP:

Three words ... shock, sorrow and determination ... these are the three words that best describe the feelings America's planners have expressed to me, and to each other, since the devastation of our Gulf Coast communities by this summer's hurricanes. This was the largest natural disaster to face our nation in our lifetime. Most of us cannot begin to imagine the mixture and depth of feelings ... rage, despair, panic and hope ... Only those of you who are going through the loss and personal and professional displacement of this disaster can truly comprehend these feelings.

There has been a wide range of opinions regarding what America should do in the aftermath of this disaster, much of it swayed by emotion ... and we've all read them. But as a professional planner ... as a human being, I believe I speak for the America's planners when I say:

• We do not give up on our cities.
• We do not give up on our rural communities.
• We do not give up on our people.
• We do not give up on our culture(s).
• We do not discriminate in our efforts to help plan and rebuild.

To those of you who have been touched by this disaster, or whose family and friends have been affected, we want to express our sorrow at your losses. We want to express our determination to help you rebuild your communities.

We know that the first priorities are life, safety, and health ... and that once significant progress at meeting these immediate needs is achieved, the work of the professional and citizen planner can truly begin. The American Planning Association pledges our assistance in helping you meet these immediate and future needs.

Here's a short list of what APA views to be among the key issues facing the rebuilding of the Gulf Coast:

• Rebuilding communities to make them more disaster resistant through the use of good planning techniques, and effective disaster prevention and mitigation measures.

• Engaging residents and evacuees in a participatory planning process to ensure that everyone has a voice in the rebuilding process.

• Rebuilding communities that are safe and give residents choices on where to live and work, regardless of their income levels.

• Balancing the urgency to rebuild with informed decisions ... to ensure siting that respects the environment, and reduces the likelihood of repetitive risk to life and property.

Governor Blanco has directed the Louisiana Recovery authority to develop a master plan for recovery ... with short-term milestones and longer-term objectives. She has stated that: "We cannot simply recreate what the storms destroyed. We must make the new Louisiana smarter, safer and stronger." Governor Blanco is to be congratulated for her foresight and her commitment. It's the comprehensiveness of planning and the transparency and openness of an inclusive planning process that will be the keys to the successful recovery and rebirth of the Gulf Coast.

Great ideas and interesting designs can bring hope. The economic and regulatory tools, incentives and disincentives to enable desired outcomes to be achieved are critical. Without them, the vision runs the risk of becoming a mirage ... an unfulfilled dream, or a hallucination.

No single effort, no single gathering can solve the wicked problems presented by this disaster. This will require a lengthy succession of gatherings, brainstorming sessions and workshops. However, the effectiveness of these future efforts can be maximized if they are conducted in alignment with an overarching set of guiding principles.

Governor, the American Institute of Architects and the American Planning Association are here for you ... and we stand ready to help Louisiana build a lasting legacy for future generations.

Let's get to work.