APA Interact January 31, 2018

APA's 2018 legislative priorities

This year, as part of our advocacy for policies and legislation that support members' efforts and promote good planning, APA calls on Congress to advance four policies that will lead to stronger, more inclusive communities nationwide. Our agenda, adopted last week by APA's Board of Directors, also identifies strategies for advancing legislation grounded in principles of good planning. 

Members of APA's grassroots Planners' Advocacy Network shared our legislative priorities with more than 100 congressional offices prior to last evening's State of the Union address. We can do more! Please stand with APA as we advocate for smarter investment in infrastructure, expanded housing choice and affordability, greater support for federal data programs, and more investment in healthy and safe communities.

State of the Union

In his first such address, President Trump called on Congress to pass major legislation in 2018 to modernize America's crumbling infrastructure. Although his remarks were met with applause, many in Washington, including APA, are raising important questions that Congress and the administration must tackle in order to strike a deal. In our blog, APA's Director of Policy Jason Jordan outlines what the president's comments mean for infrastructure legislation and other planning issues on APA's radar.

As Congress prepares to take on infrastructure in the days and weeks ahead, we call on planning advocates to share with their representatives APA's infrastructure principles — nine policy ideas that will lead to smarter investment.

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New! February 7 – "Engaging Planners as Livable Community Allies," part of the Livable Communities for ALL Ages project co-sponsored by the APA International Division, and a follow-up to last year's Summit on Livable Communities. (free; register)

New! February 13 – "Introducing the Fourth Regional Plan for the New York Metropolitan Region," hosted by the Regional Plan Association CM | 1 (free; register)

New! February 20 – "Responding to the Opioid Epidemic," second in a series hosted by APA's Planning and Community Health Center and Healthy Communities Collaborative CM | 1 (free; register)

February 22 – "Public Speaking Communication and Leadership," first of the Planning Supervisor's Playbook Webinars. Sign up now for this six-part series CM | 8 (including CM | 1.5 I Law and CM | 1.5 | Ethics) (APA members $200)

March 5–7, Portland, Oregon – National Urbanism Next Conference

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Tools for teachers

APA now offers a bigger and better suite of resources to help teachers introduce planning into their classrooms. Use our Educator Materials to acquaint youth with planning principles, explore the No Small Plans graphic novel, meet planners and teachers in lively interviews, and much more.

From our blog

Esther Greenhouse, co-author of APA's Aging in Community Policy Guide, outlines the principles of Universal Design, a framework for housing that meets the needs of community residents of all ages and abilities.

Greenhouse also co-authored "Planners and aging professionals collaborate for livable communities" in the journal Working with Older People. The article is available for free download through February 26.

Recent graduate Gisla Bush draws on her own early-career experience to urge planning students to take advantage of internship opportunities.

Join the Urban Climate Action Network

Do you work with high school students in a disadvantaged urban community? APA and partners formed the Urban Climate Action Network to empower teens to address climate change locally. The program includes three years of leadership training, expert scientific assistance, and the resources of a national network. Spread the word and submit applications by February 15.

Act soon

Apply by February 9 for the Planning and the Black Community Division scholarship.

Enter the New Urbanism Division Gina Tirinnanzi Memorial Scholarship competition by February 28.

Submit entries for the County Planning Division Project Awards by March 2.