Brooklyn Town Hall Meeting for PlaNYC 2030

The Mayor's Office of Long Term Planning and Sustainability is hosting a town hall meeting open to the public to get some response and feedback on its framework for planning for the City's growth over the next 25 years. More information on PlaNYC 2030 is on the City's website.

Brooklyn Town Hall Meeting
6:30pm, Tuesday, March 6, 2007
Long Island University, Metcalfe Building, Paramount Gymnasium
1 University Plaza, at intersection of Flatbush and DeKalb Avenue (across from Juniors)
Directions: 2,3,4,5 at Nevins Street, and Q,B,N,R at DeKalb

The City's framework focuses on three major issues: Housing (we need more of it), Infrastructure (it's getting very old), and Environmental Sustainability (the city's at risk due to global climate change, and could use some major greening to improve access to parks and enhance quality of life).

Our initial thought: it's a good start, but what about JOBS? Economic Development? Small Businesses? Sure, all of this housing construction and infrastructure improvement will create jobs, but we feel strongly that adopting a proactive strategy to retaining living wage jobs in the city, be it through small business development, retention of the manufacturing sector, etc., is key to keeping a healthy and growing middle class in New York.

But we applaud the administration for asking some hard questions, and for pushing the city to think long-term. I'm sure everyone has an opinion on how you'd change the city, and what would ensure you don't move out, so hopefully that's part of the reason for these town hall meetings. We encourage everyone to be part of the discussion. If you can't attend the meeting, you can provide feedback online at PlaNYC's vision page.

If you're interested in broader efforts at improving community-based planning in New York City, check out the Community-Based Planning Task Force, housed at The Planning Center at the Municipal Art Society.