Introduction to South Florida Planning Symposium Blog
I have been a professional urban planner since 2003; I have taught various aspects of urban planning since 2013. The profession, on the whole, is highly analytical. We are trained to analyze data and make inferences and recommendations based on the analysis of objective data. We are also trained to engage the public to elicit their values and goals for their community. Subjective experience, generally, is not a priority. But one of the major goals of urban planning - quality of life - is notably difficult to measure and difficult to define. The academic literature has not arrived at a consensus about how to define or measure quality of life. Besides, surveys of the general public are notably difficult to pull off, with low response rates and quick participant burnout. Although I do think cities should regularly survey their citizenry about quality of life concerns, I think we need other ways of understanding quality of life. I am starting this blog to share my own personal and sub...