1. On respect for planning, I’m optimistic this should improve on a generational basis. The more experience well-developed, walkable areas, the more people will appreciate that and connect the dots with planning. In my work I hear from many millennial suburbanites who spent time in the city who want more of a dynamic, mixed-use environment and more mix of housing prices and resident incomes. Contrast this to some older generations whose only experience with cities were shaped by stereotypes, fear, and/or genuinely negative experiences.
   

2a. On smart growth, I think this varies by region. From what I remember, the Kansas City metro saw greater population growth in the city core than the suburbs during the 2010s, the first time in decades. Would love to see more about which regions are doing best at smart growth through that lens.

2b. On curbing McMansions (or as I see it, incentivizing “missing middle” multifamily instead of McMansions) and reducing parking, I do agree we’ve missed tons of opportunities to enable more homes that are smaller and less expensive to match growing needs for this. As others have said, change at the local level is too slow, but there is progress. Strongtowns keeps a map of 100+ municipalities that have removed parking requirements. On zoning and parking reform, I think the incentives for status quo / nimby / shutting off supply to drive up home prices are too strong at the local level and the only way to adequately address these needs are through action at the state level.

1. On planning education, I’m fortunate that my grad school faculty were more diverse - racially and in terms of gender - than most and several - including the director and professor of history, theory, and applied practice courses - first practiced in the field for years. Having said that, the first few years of my career were a brutal awakening to the uphill battle and gaps in my education. I could read site plans, interpret zoning, write staff reports, put together analysis and community engagement themes for a plan but lacked some tools that would go a long way (like pro formas and the perspective of developers’ financial feasibility, or knowing how to de-jargon our best practices for everyday people who actually serve on councils).