Urban Planning is Not Boring - Samantha Ellman and Natalie Ikhrata

Latest Episodes:

Sitting Down with Kristen Jeffers (@blackurbanist) Jan 30, 2023

Show notes

On this episode Sam and Nat sat down with Kristen Jeffers, MPA, who is an author, speaker, podcaster and analyst to talk about their experience in the field of Urban Planning. These experiences are what ultimately led to her authoring the book titled A Black Urbanist Journey to a Queer Feminist Future which will be published soon! Her insights are fascinating and touch upon the intersectionality of planning through the lens of lived experience. Listen to today’s episode to learn more!

View The Principles of Black Queer Feminist Urbansim on Kristen’s website and support their platform by joining Patreon on a monthly or annual basis, contributing to their 2022 capital campaign powered by GoFundMe, invest in the currency of your choice via PayPal or send a little something via Cash.App or Venmo.

Kristen Jeffers can be found at:

Instagram: @blackurbanist

Twitter: @blackurbanist

LinkedIn: Kristen Jeffers

Newsletter

Website

What is Critical Cartography? A Conversation with Dr. Annette Kim Jan 23, 2023

Show notes

Have you ever heard of critical cartography? After taking Dr. Kim’s course “Critical Cartography and Urban Spatial Ethnography”, Sam knew that we needed to have Dr. Kim on the show. In this course, USC students have the opportunity to consider mapping conventions and peoples, phenomena, patterns, behaviors, etc. that traditional mapping leaves out. Join us for an amazing conversation with Dr. Annette Kim about the importance of critical thinking and nuance in policy and planning as well as her background and research interests and experiences.

About Dr. Kim: Annette M. Kim, Ph.D., is Associate Professor at the Sol Price School of Public Policy. She is also the Director of SLAB, the newly formed spatial analysis laboratory at Price that advances the visualization of the social sciences for public service through teaching, research, and public engagement.

Her research experiments with ways to recover data of overlooked peoples and phenomenon by incorporating fieldwork and humanities knowledge into spatial analysis. She utilizes critical cartography and spatial ethnography to re-conceptualize contemporary urbanism and find more inclusive and humane ways to design and govern the 21st century city. She has also researched the development of real estate markets and the reformation of property rights in transition countries in Eastern Europe and Asia. Her books include Sidewalk City: Re-Mapping Public Space in Ho Chi Minh City (University of Chicago Press, 2015) and Learning to be Capitalists: Entrepreneurs in Vietnam’s Transition Economy (Oxford University Press, 2008).

Previously, Dr. Kim was Associate Professor at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning. She received her Ph.D. in city and regional planning and masters of visual studies from the University of California, Berkeley. She received her masters in public policy and urban planning from Harvard University and her B.A. in architecture and studio art from Wellesley College. She is a native of southern California.

Dr. Kim USC Profile

You Asked, We Answered Jan 16, 2023

Show notes

Since starting this podcast, we’ve received a lot of questions about various urban planning topics, careers in the field, ways to be involved without a degree, and our personal journeys. We decided to answer some of these questions that we got on Instagram - everything from how we feel about expanding Fastrak lanes to if we ride bikes! Listen to find out more!

For more information regarding professional opportunities in urban planning, listen to our episode with Kristy Kilbourne, aka @passionateplannning on Instagram!

To get involved in planning, consider joining your local APA Chapter!

Resolutions for the New Year! Jan 09, 2023

Show notes

Welcome back to Urban Planning is Not Boring! We are starting off the year with an episode that is a bit different from our typical content - a lighthearted discussion about our resolutions for 2023 and our goals for the podcast this upcoming year.

We have already started planning for amazing guests, new topics, and more listener/supporter engagement, so get ready for more urban planning knowledge!!

And last but not least, with the new year, we just wanted to say thank you so much to everyone who listens and supports the show. We are just two students who wanted to create a platform and community, and each new follower and listener makes this possible for us!

Let's talk about CEQA Dec 19, 2022

Show notes

If you live in California, you’ve probably heard of CEQA aka the California Environmental Quality Act. In this episode, Sam and Nat give a very high-level introduction of the CEQA process, its purpose, and opportunities for CEQA streamlining for various housing and multi-use developments.

For more info:

Other Sources:

Introduction:

The US Is Gently Discouraging States From Building New Highways

CEQA:

What are Exemptions Under CEQA and How Are They Used?.

Want to save nature? Get to know CEQA

CEQA Streamlining Opportunities

Freeway Expansion: It Won’t Solve Traffic Congestion! Dec 13, 2022

Show notes

Sam and Nat provided you with some historical information regarding freeway development and eminent domain in the last episode. Today they are bringing you the topic of freeway expansion and why it does not work to solve traffic congestion. Referencing a report written by Transportation for America, Sam and Nat give you an overview of what induced demand actually is and what it means when it comes to highway expansion and traffic congestion. Not only will you learn about induced demand and the nuances associated with urban sprawl and traffic related challenges, but you will also hear about what can possibly be done about it! Listen to hear more. For more information regarding the complete report by Transportation for America visit the link below!

The Congestion Con

Other Resources:

How highways make traffic worse

What's Up With That: Building Bigger Roads Actually Makes Traffic Worse

Expanding highways and building more roads actually makes traffic worse

What the Freeway (WTF): Eminent Domain and the Interstate Highway System Nov 21, 2022

Show notes

Sam and Nat are beginning a mini-series to discuss all things freeway! Today they begin the series by diving into the history of the interstate highway system and provide some information regarding eminent domain and the role it played in freeway development across the country. Sam also provides some insights on a related case study in Santa Monica that she has been reviewing across this semester. This episode is anything but boring!

Sources:

A Brief History Of How Racism Shaped Interstate Highways

Beneath The Santa Monica Freeway Lies The Erasure Of Sugar Hill

Below Market Housing Pilot

Santa Monica tries to repay historically displaced families

Santa Monica’s message to people evicted long ago for the 10 Freeway: Come home

What is Builder's Remedy? Nov 14, 2022

Show notes

Welcome back to another episode of Urban Planning is Not Boring! Sam and Nat took a couple of weeks off to focus on school, work, travel, etc., but we are BACK!

In this episode, we are talking about a relatively new phenomenon - builder's remedy. If you're from LA or living in LA currently, you've probably heard of the 4500 proposed units of housing in Santa Monica in response to builder's remedy. Why is there a sudden push to propose so much housing? Does builder's remedy have the potential to help us solve the housing crisis? We explore these questions and more in this week's episode!

For more information, check out these resources:

A Primer on California’s “Builder’s Remedy” for Housing-Element Noncompliance

Builder’s remedy could allow thousands of new homes in California

Santa Monica’s ‘builder’s remedy’ experiment holds lessons for the region

City leaders still hope to block 15 of 16 builder’s remedy projects

Career Coaching with Kristy Kilbourne Oct 24, 2022

Show notes

Sam and Natalie sit down with Kristy Kilbourne, also know as @passionateplanning on Instagram, to bring listeners advice on how to navigate a career in planning. Covering topics from what employers are looking for in a potential new hire to what a career in planning actually looks like, this episode is one you won’t want to miss!

If you’re an aspiring planner or an early-career planner, make sure you check out the free World Town Planning Day Student Event that the Canadian Institute of Planners is hosting online! Kristy will be delivering a keynote at the end of the day with her colleague Natalie Persaud RPP, MCIP. This event will be helpful for planners outside of Canada, as well!

Where to find Kristy:

Instagram

Your Planning Career

About Kristy:

Kristy Kilbourne, MCIP, RPP, AICP (she/her) is a passionate urban planner, instructor, and career coach and mentor to planners.

Her professional background includes working in a variety of roles in the local government and non-profit sectors, as well as an independent consultant. She is an active member and volunteer with organizations including the Canadian Institute of Planners, the American Planning Association, and the Urban Land Institute. As passionate about "the Planner" as the practice of planning, Kristy is also the founder of Your Planning Career, an organization that supports career development for planners. As a career coach, she cares deeply for planners and has had the privilege of supporting hundreds of planners and aspiring planners at all stages of their careers from across Canada, the U.S. and other parts of the world.

Kristy holds a Master's of Environmental Studies (Urban and Regional Planning) Degree and is currently a Ph.D student in the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo, Canada. She is a military spouse and mom of 3 amazing sons.

What is a Planning Commissioner?? A Conversation with Elizabeth Pino Oct 17, 2022

Show notes

Welcome back to episode 15 of Urban Planning is Not Boring! This week, we have a very special guest on the podcast! Elizabeth Pino, a community engagement specialist and Planning Commissioner for the City of Torrance, speaks with Sam about everything from her role as a commissioner, how to get involved in public service, her experiences as a woman and mother, and the group that she helped found, Anti-Racist Moms (ARMs).

About Elizabeth Pino:

Elizabeth Pino is a Latina immigrant, wife, proud mother, and passionate public servant.

She currently serves as Planning Commissioner for the City of Torrance and as a community engagement specialist for Wider Circle - a community-based health organization that drives better health for older adults and other vulnerable communities. Born and raised in Cali, Colombia, during one of the darkest times in the country, known as "The Pablo Escobar Era." Elizabeth witnessed things a young child shouldn’t have to. The country was going through a volatile political era. This experience helped shape her perspective and fully understand how any country can fall apart without proper government control. These injustices motivated her to attend a four-year university, studying Political Science, and choose a career serving others. She also holds a Master’s in Public Administration with an emphasis on Nonprofits.

During her first year in college, she interned at City Hall Los Angeles with Councilman Greig Smith. Where her love for public service evolved. After graduating from college, she co-founded a non-profit called Kiikas.org. Through this non-profit, Kiikas helped to educate young women on self-awareness techniques and provide tools to increase proactive participation in their health.

Meet Elizabeth Pino

About Anti-Racist Moms (ARMs):

Bruce’s Beach Juneteenth celebration sheds light on Black history in Manhattan Beach