How to Get Involved in City Planning City Beautiful Basics
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Date: 2025-12-12
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Comments and reviews: 19
papayarodeo
As a city council member (in europe): this is one of your most important videos. It's very important to not only opose how things are going, but to actively try to change things! You would be surprised how much 5 active people can influence the world when they work together. Get together, speak up, make noise. You would be surprised how happy local news media are to follow stories about concerned parents for childrens safety because of cars or a personal story about how hard it is to find an affordable place to live, without having to get a new job. And if you are an introvert: every local advocacy group needs helping hands outside the speaking stand: You can write newsletters, help produce a flyer for your local referendum or election, organize a meeting point, be responsible for the finances, create content for social media, etc.
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As a city council member (in europe): this is one of your most important videos. It's very important to not only opose how things are going, but to actively try to change things! You would be surprised how much 5 active people can influence the world when they work together. Get together, speak up, make noise. You would be surprised how happy local news media are to follow stories about concerned parents for childrens safety because of cars or a personal story about how hard it is to find an affordable place to live, without having to get a new job. And if you are an introvert: every local advocacy group needs helping hands outside the speaking stand: You can write newsletters, help produce a flyer for your local referendum or election, organize a meeting point, be responsible for the finances, create content for social media, etc.
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SoidHoid
I've held my fair share of public meetings for government projects. I find that it's typical that people who oppose projects show up far more often than people who support it or are neutral on it. This has a very negative impact by allowing a small number of naysayers be over represented in the documented public opinion. If you're supportive of a project, it's important to still show up and voice your support. That way, project managers can document public support which helps projects move forward. You can also provide meaningful input about how the project can better serve community needs, and the feedback will be better received and better acted upon when project managers know that you're trying to provide constructive feedback, rather than the destructive feedback of naysayers.
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I've held my fair share of public meetings for government projects. I find that it's typical that people who oppose projects show up far more often than people who support it or are neutral on it. This has a very negative impact by allowing a small number of naysayers be over represented in the documented public opinion. If you're supportive of a project, it's important to still show up and voice your support. That way, project managers can document public support which helps projects move forward. You can also provide meaningful input about how the project can better serve community needs, and the feedback will be better received and better acted upon when project managers know that you're trying to provide constructive feedback, rather than the destructive feedback of naysayers.
reply
normloman
Inspired by your videos, i started attending council and planning board meetings two years ago, and have been advocating for relaxed zoning and affordable housing. Its hard in the suburbs, as most residents believe their town shouldnt have to bear any of the housing burden. So I've had little success so far. But on the plus side, it's helped me get into local politics. We came close to getting pro density people elected, and we think next year we can finally break through. Met a lot of my neighbors along the way, and feel more connected to where I live. I don't regret a thing, and i plan to keep fighting year after year. Thank you for educating people on city planning topics, and encouraging them to be more active in their city.
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Inspired by your videos, i started attending council and planning board meetings two years ago, and have been advocating for relaxed zoning and affordable housing. Its hard in the suburbs, as most residents believe their town shouldnt have to bear any of the housing burden. So I've had little success so far. But on the plus side, it's helped me get into local politics. We came close to getting pro density people elected, and we think next year we can finally break through. Met a lot of my neighbors along the way, and feel more connected to where I live. I don't regret a thing, and i plan to keep fighting year after year. Thank you for educating people on city planning topics, and encouraging them to be more active in their city.
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dmike3507
This is a great video! I would encourage people to do lots of research before committing to an advocacy group, as some of them are astroturf organizations that just want to build luxury apartments everywhere. I think it's vital that urbanists focus not just on urbanism itself, but also European-style social or co-op housing. Like the point you made at the end of the video, poor people are often excluded from decision making in society, and if they can't even afford to live in urbanist communities they will remain excluded.
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This is a great video! I would encourage people to do lots of research before committing to an advocacy group, as some of them are astroturf organizations that just want to build luxury apartments everywhere. I think it's vital that urbanists focus not just on urbanism itself, but also European-style social or co-op housing. Like the point you made at the end of the video, poor people are often excluded from decision making in society, and if they can't even afford to live in urbanist communities they will remain excluded.
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ttopero
I’d add step 1. 5: complete surveys about projects or initiatives in your area. It’s actually more impactful than voting once a year, especially if you write in intelligent & informed comments (most engineers don’t visit the site or do so on a very limited basis so personal experience is helpful to add. It’s also easier than going to a meeting though that’s recommended to be more rounded on the topic.
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I’d add step 1. 5: complete surveys about projects or initiatives in your area. It’s actually more impactful than voting once a year, especially if you write in intelligent & informed comments (most engineers don’t visit the site or do so on a very limited basis so personal experience is helpful to add. It’s also easier than going to a meeting though that’s recommended to be more rounded on the topic.
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benchociej2435
I'm a city council member for an inner ring suburb in the Kansas City area. Dave is absolutely spot on with all this advice! There are lots of ways to participate, many of us are elated to hear from residents about these topics, and the truth is we need as many allies and like minded community members as we can get for the more ambitious visions to be made reality!
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I'm a city council member for an inner ring suburb in the Kansas City area. Dave is absolutely spot on with all this advice! There are lots of ways to participate, many of us are elated to hear from residents about these topics, and the truth is we need as many allies and like minded community members as we can get for the more ambitious visions to be made reality!
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Astromancerguy
My path:
SimCity 2000 -> grow up -> vote-> Cities Skylines -> HOA Board member/president -> join local advocacy group -> join local political party/join board -> Go to council meetings and befriend mayor and council -> Planning Commission member/chair -> City Beautiful/Donoteat01 -> Elected to City Council -> reelected last night
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My path:
SimCity 2000 -> grow up -> vote-> Cities Skylines -> HOA Board member/president -> join local advocacy group -> join local political party/join board -> Go to council meetings and befriend mayor and council -> Planning Commission member/chair -> City Beautiful/Donoteat01 -> Elected to City Council -> reelected last night
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hayleerea6686
I went to Cal Poly SLO over 10 years ago and took a class in the city planning department. Our class registered SLO as a bicycle friendly city. Now I'm on the Mobility Advisory Board for my city, and I founded and lead a Strong Towns Local Conversation. I've met so many amazing people doing advocacy or working within the city!
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I went to Cal Poly SLO over 10 years ago and took a class in the city planning department. Our class registered SLO as a bicycle friendly city. Now I'm on the Mobility Advisory Board for my city, and I founded and lead a Strong Towns Local Conversation. I've met so many amazing people doing advocacy or working within the city!
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CoyoteGuru
I have a master's degree in GIS, wrote my thesis on bike transportation, did a paid intership during grad school, then worked for a tech company for a year.
How do I get one of these job things I've heard about Because I can't even get a freakin' interview without multiple years of full-time experience.
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I have a master's degree in GIS, wrote my thesis on bike transportation, did a paid intership during grad school, then worked for a tech company for a year.
How do I get one of these job things I've heard about Because I can't even get a freakin' interview without multiple years of full-time experience.
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tod2450
An underrated part of getting involved with city planning is by talking to people around you. It's good to talk urbanism with your friends and coworkers, and through the power of not being annoying, you can turn some people into believers. It's important to get off the keyboard and get into the real world
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An underrated part of getting involved with city planning is by talking to people around you. It's good to talk urbanism with your friends and coworkers, and through the power of not being annoying, you can turn some people into believers. It's important to get off the keyboard and get into the real world
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o_s-24
My city has an app where you report stuff, so I've been abusing that a bit. They generally just reply with a list of reasons why they can't fulfil the request. But sometimes they do fulfil it, and it is a good feeling to know that this thing changed because I pointed it out
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My city has an app where you report stuff, so I've been abusing that a bit. They generally just reply with a list of reasons why they can't fulfil the request. But sometimes they do fulfil it, and it is a good feeling to know that this thing changed because I pointed it out
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alexm-e4910
I recently got a 2, 000 word reply email from my city councillor in Ottawa answering a lot of questions I had about development and now better understand municipal powers. So if you write a thoughtful email and request an answer, they aren’t unlikely to write back
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I recently got a 2, 000 word reply email from my city councillor in Ottawa answering a lot of questions I had about development and now better understand municipal powers. So if you write a thoughtful email and request an answer, they aren’t unlikely to write back
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city_beautiful
Voting used to be mandatory where I live, although not enforced for over two decades. The last local elections weren't mandatory and the results were exactly as predicted. Voting should never be a luxury, it's a right and a duty and thus it should be mandatory!
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Voting used to be mandatory where I live, although not enforced for over two decades. The last local elections weren't mandatory and the results were exactly as predicted. Voting should never be a luxury, it's a right and a duty and thus it should be mandatory!
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CasualScrub
This is an awesome and EXTREMELY important video. The one thing I'd add is that joining an advocacy group might actually be an easier and better first step than attending a local meeting, because those meetings are usually at very inconvenient times.
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This is an awesome and EXTREMELY important video. The one thing I'd add is that joining an advocacy group might actually be an easier and better first step than attending a local meeting, because those meetings are usually at very inconvenient times.
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grahamtalbott3510
Great video! Your videos have always been so relevant and enjoyable. It's sometimes easy to feel disillusioned with the direction of things around us, so thank you for the concrete action steps that we can all take.
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Great video! Your videos have always been so relevant and enjoyable. It's sometimes easy to feel disillusioned with the direction of things around us, so thank you for the concrete action steps that we can all take.
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electric_leo1630
I’m in the process of making a village design guide supplementary planning document for my village. IDK if it will succeed but I’ve made the first draft in my free time and it’s going around the village now.
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I’m in the process of making a village design guide supplementary planning document for my village. IDK if it will succeed but I’ve made the first draft in my free time and it’s going around the village now.
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fatviscount6562
I see from end credits that you received a grant for these videos.
1 Congratulationswell deserved
2 Grants can make a fresh future topic, or have John already made a video on that
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I see from end credits that you received a grant for these videos.
1 Congratulationswell deserved
2 Grants can make a fresh future topic, or have John already made a video on that
reply
rboggsjr69
Happy to say I voted yesterday. Wasn’t happy with the mayor winning but was happy the transit tax won. Charlotte needs additional transit and is already decades behind where we need to be
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Happy to say I voted yesterday. Wasn’t happy with the mayor winning but was happy the transit tax won. Charlotte needs additional transit and is already decades behind where we need to be
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FiredAndIced
Remember the Rules for Rulers by CGP Grey; Rule #0: Without power, you can affect nothing.
SO GO OUT THERE AND BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT THE WORLD TO SEE
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Remember the Rules for Rulers by CGP Grey; Rule #0: Without power, you can affect nothing.
SO GO OUT THERE AND BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT THE WORLD TO SEE
reply
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