April 27, 2023
After 40 years as a planner, Hanson Hom, AICP, looks back at a career shaped by his childhood experiences growing up the son of poor Chinese immigrants, the racism he endured, and his role model, Norman Mineta.
Hanson served for eight years as the director of community development and later, assistant city manager in Sunnyvale, California, and has worked in several other California communities. A longtime APA and AICP volunteer leader at the national level, California chapter, and local section, he now consults for Bay Area cities and serves on the Alameda Planning Board, where he lives.
He shared his story during a webinar on planning in the public sector hosted by APA's Asian and Pacific Islander Interest Group. His comments have been edited for length and clarity.
On developing personal values
I grew up in a segregated community. I was born in San Francisco's Chinatown and my parents moved to a predominately African American neighborhood to open up a "mom and pop" grocery store. My parents came from China with just two suitcases of clothes, family pictures, and little else. Like all Chinese immigrants, they sought a better life in America's "Gold Mountain." We later moved to be near Chinatown again — I was actually minimally exposed to white Americans until later in my life.
In those early days, what I saw with my young eyes was injustice that I really didn't comprehend until later. I heard the racial slurs — not just against Asians, but particularly against African Americans. I realize those experiences were foundational for me, as they shaped my personal life and values and ultimately attracted me to the planning profession.
In those early days, what I saw with my young eyes was injustice that I really didn't comprehend until later ... I realize those experiences were foundational for me, as they shaped my personal life and values and ultimately attracted me to the planning profession.
I also had a very strong environmental bent. In my early days, I read the book Silent Spring by Rachel Carson, which spurred my keen interest in social and environmental issues.
Although I didn't understand it at the time, I witnessed social injustice when the African American community where my parents operated their grocery store became the victim of mass clearance in the name of urban renewal. That, plus my parents' expectations that their children would have a better life than they had, are ingrained in my psyche. When I grew older, I realized these early impressions significantly influenced my life choices and core values as an adult.
On discovering planning
When I was young, I didn't know what planning was. I was interested in environmental and social justice causes and thought there might be a career that would allow me to pursue both interests. In high school, I mentioned this to the counselor and she suggested I take a career test that could point to possible professions based on my skills and interests.
What came up first, probably because I excelled in math — such a stereotypical thing, that Asians are good in math — was to be an accountant. No offense to accountants, but that didn't fit what I wanted to do, although it would have been a secure career.
The second career option was, surprisingly, city planning. I asked, "What the heck is city planning?" My counselor quite honestly didn't know either.
So, I went to the University of California, Berkeley, and majored first in civil engineering and later changed to landscape architecture, because it deals with improving the natural and built environment. But I didn't think it touched enough on communities in need. Then I took an urban planning course, and that opened up my eyes. I realized that urban design and planning was what I wanted to do. It was really an awakening — my first awakening.
On internalized racism and being a "perfect minority"
When my parents became more financially stable, we moved to a predominately white suburban community. It was a culture shock. I went from a strongly ethnic setting to an environment with very few Asians.
I didn't realize how I became programed to feel ashamed of being Asian. Assimilation meant adopting white values and role models and suppressing my cultural identity. It's a subtle form of racism that gets embedded in you as you grow up.
I see a new generation of impressive API planners and other professionals in leadership positions who are making greater inroads to raise the visibility of Asian Pacific Islanders in their respective fields.
So, my second awakening was at Berkeley, where I met a lot of Asians and we connected on our shared feelings and experiences. I saw how our history in America is overlooked and distorted. Due to racism, we're taught to be cautious and not "rock the boat," and we struggle with being called the "perfect minority." But at the same time, we're often treated unequally and racism against Asians was discounted.
It opened up my eyes to the fact that, as Asians, we have not advocated for ourselves as much as we should have, but I was glad that my generation was becoming more vocal. I'm really proud that the APA has formed the Asian and Pacific Islander Interest Group. It is long overdue.
On role models
Growing up, there were very few Asian role models. I had mentors in planning, of course, but few Asian role models.
Since childhood, though, one person I looked up to was Norman Mineta, who unfortunately passed away in May 2022. Growing up in in the Bay Area, I knew of him because he was prominent and highly respected in San Jose politics, and I lived in an adjacent community. He was a child when he and his parents were sent to a Wyoming internment camp. He came back to San Jose, and became a community leader, then Mayor, and ultimately represented his district in Congress. He was also appointed to cabinet positions by both Bill Clinton and George W. Bush.
Mineta spoke out against the racism that occurred in the aftermath of 9/11 and more recently the hate speech during the COVID-19 pandemic. Along with his many accomplishments, he reminded us that the racist targeting of Japanese Americans during World War II will resurface against other groups if we are complacent.
I felt so fortunate that I was able to interview him — probably his last interview before he passed away. He shared powerful messages with the APA API Interest Group in his March 2022 talk, challenging us to diligently preserve our democratic principles, a very timely message in these divisive times.
I see a new generation of impressive API planners and other professionals in leadership positions who are making greater inroads to raise the visibility of Asian Pacific Islanders in their respective fields. It is truly inspiring to see the next generation of planners of all colors who are questioning past norms, speaking out, and working to correct social inequities.
Hanson as a toddler and with his daughter, Stefanie Hom, at the 2015 APA California conference. Hanson was awarded the PEN Honors Award while Stefanie, who is also a planner, was honored for a project she was involved in at the Metropolitan Transportation Commission. Photos courtesy of Hanson Hom.
On inclusive community engagement
I've gravitated toward working for cities that have a large mix of different populations. Proactive and inclusive community outreach is critical for responsible planning, and yet it is often unbalanced in underrepresented communities. It's a strong value that goes back to my childhood and to my later realization of how underrepresented populations have been adversely affected by government decisions. As much as I can, I always seek to create a level playing field for all communities.
Adherence to the AICP Code of Ethics has also always been central. Serving the public interest has been a guiding principle in my career and it is embedded in every project I tackle.
Now that I'm retired, I'm able to pick what I do, and I'm very proud of some of the projects I've worked on. As a member of the Alameda Planning Board, I helped ensure the integration of equity and environmental justice into the general plan and housing element, which the city adopted in 2021 and 2022. Right now, I'm working with East Palo Alto, which is a predominately Latino and African American community. I am involved in workforce development, anti-displacement, rent arbitration, and tenant rights programs, and I enjoy applying my experience to initiatives that are not commonly associated with planning.
The passion that drives you as a planner is extremely important. It's satisfying when I feel I have made a difference. In planning you can easily get burnt out — we all work so hard and are facing greater pressures and challenges. Maintaining your passion and aspirational vision will motivate, energize, and sustain your everyday work.
On this moment, optimism, and lifting up Asian voices
Asians and Pacific Islanders have become more vocal about issues that affect them, which, quite honestly, have been buried and not honestly discussed in the past. We've been hesitant to bring these issues to the forefront of general discussion.
Today, I see us speaking out more forcefully. Despite the pessimism in this country and the divisiveness — and the recent hate crimes against Asians, other ethnic groups, and the LGBTQ community — I'm still very optimistic that, collectively, we can affect change by speaking out as an Asian and Pacific Islander group. In both the planning profession and in society in general, while there is more work ahead, our visibility and voices have become more prominent and that's really powerful and encouraging. Echoing Norman Mineta, I have faith in the promise of the next generation.
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