APA Interact November 15, 2017

APA Interact
POLICY AND ADVOCACY
Tax reform: House proposal would constrain economic growth

Earlier this week, APA President Cynthia Bowen, AICP, issued a statement opposing provisions in proposed House tax reform legislation (H.R. 1) that would impede local investment in infrastructure, housing, and economic development. The bill undermines critical financing tools and eliminates Private Activity Bonds, Historic Tax Credits, Rehabilitation Tax Credits, and New Market Tax Credits. APA shared Bowen's statement with every member of Congress and asks members to bolster her message by sharing it with their representatives.

APA stands ready to work with Congress on tax reform that expands local economies, strengthens communities, and increase opportunities for all.
Tax reform: What's in the Senate proposal?

The Senate Finance Committee released its version of tax reform legislation last Thursday. The committee's rendering of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act differs from the House bill in several key areas. APA's Jason Jordan and Tess Hembree unpacked the nuances and outlined the road ahead for both bills. Read their analysis.

APA has joined with 34 other national organizations representing a range of local government, community development, and public finance organizations on a letter urging Congress to maintain vital bond financing tools.
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NATIONAL PLANNING CONFERENCE
Strong roots. Big plans.

Get ready! Members-only registration for NPC18 in New Orleans opens on December 19. Take advantage of APA members' exclusive access to reserve your spot at popular workshops and events before they sell out.
Help build the conference

Also opening on December 19 are two opportunities to share your planning knowledge.
  • Move APA to the forefront of planning by proposing a session in the all-new Emerging Planning Issues track.
  • Submit a poster on a topic that aligns with members' interests and other NPC18 educational tracks and topics.
APA will accept proposals for posters and Emerging Planning Issues sessions through January 10.
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EVENTS
November 16 – "Reed Analysis – Tips and Traps" webinar hosted by APA's County Planning Division (registration required) CM | 1.5 | Law

New! December 12, Washington – Tuesdays at APA–DC, "The Wildland-Urban Interface and Rebuilding after Wildfire" (free, registration requested)

December 13 – "Getting Started to Get Ahead; From Interview to First Days at a New Job," next in APA's Career Reality Webinar series (free; registration required) 
CM | 1
APA NEWS
Planning communities for all ages

In March, at the America Society on Aging's annual conference, planners and experts on aging issues initiated a conversation about cooperating to create all-age livable communities. Now, the first in a series of blog posts that will present key findings focuses on three successful projects that address the overlapping agendas of transportation, public health, and aging-in-community.

Tune in to APA's free webinar that continues the conference discussion, "Planning Livable Communities for All Ages."
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Successful Plan4Health project highlighted

Through an APA Plan4Health grant, Trenton, New Jersey, developed a Health and Food Systems Master Plan that includes a strategic action to "Improve walking, biking and transit access to healthy food outlets." The Safe Routes to Schools National Partnership recognized the project in its Safe Routes to Healthy Food: Strategies for Local Governments fact sheet.
RESOURCES
New guidance for plan production

The latest PAS Report, Creating Planning Documents, offers field-tested tools and strategies to help planners manage the creation of planning documents from concept to delivery. This new report and all current and archived Planning Advisory Service publications are freely available to all APA members.
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OPPORTUNITIES
Contribute to planning research

APA and NOAA's Office for Coastal Management are assessing planners' needs for water-related decision-support tools. NOAA will develop a water-related DST that responds to identified needs. Please help develop this new tool by taking a survey by November 22. Join APA's Water and Planning Network to receive regular updates on water planning research and technology.

APA's International Division and AARP ask APA members to take a brief survey as part of an international research effort to determine how to incorporate planning livable communities for all ages in planners' day-to-day work. The survey closes on November 30.

Grants and awards

The International Division invites grant applications from undergraduate and graduate students who are pursuing study abroad programs, doing international research, or participating in international internship programs. Apply by December 11.

APA is accepting nominations for the AICP Student Project Awards and Outstanding PSO Awards through December 12.

Nominations are open for the APA Sustainable Community Division's Fifth Annual Awards for Excellence in Sustainability. Winners will be announced at NPC18 in New Orleans. Submit nominations by January 19.
AICP
Ethics Committee revokes planner's certification

In August, the AICP Ethics Committee revoked the certification of a Florida planner who pleaded "no contest" to three counts of perjury that were related to a prior job as a county planning director.
The Trust for Public Land
Chicago, IL
City of Costa Mesa
Costa Mesa, CA
Atlanta Regional Commission
Atlanta, GA
City of Durham
Durham, NC
City of Pittsburgh, Department of City Planning
Pittsburgh, PA
City of Eugene
Eugene, OR
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FROM THE WEB
LAST CALL
November 16 – "Reed Analysis – Tips and Traps" webinar

November 22 – Take the APA/NOAA survey on water-related planning tools.

NPC17 photo by Joe Szurszewski.
Send questions or comments about Interact to interact@planning.org.

Interact is a member e-newsletter of the American Planning Association and its professional institute, the American Institute of Certified Planners.
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