Gail Goldberg's Legacy

Despite her homespun manner -- or maybe because of it -- L.A.'s retiring planning director, Gail Goldberg, had a huge impact on planning in California.

1 minute read

July 2, 2010, 7:00 AM PDT

By Tim Halbur

It's not clear why Gail Goldberg is stepping down as L.A.'s planning director. Is she worn out? Did she tire of the endless budget-cutting, which has eviscerated her department more than anyone could have predicted only a couple of years ago? Did she clash with Deputy Mayor Austin Beutner, who was charged with reorganizing her department?

Who knows? But even for a planning director as skilled as Gail, Goldberg it's tough out there. In the end, San Diego has been unable to truly realize the "City of Villages" vision because of a lack of infrastructure money. And Los Angeles has been unable to realize the potential of a revived planning effort because of a budget meltdown that cost Gail her best senior people, who retired, and her most promising junior planners, who got laid off.

Thanks to Bill Fulton

FULL STORY: Thank You, Gail Goldberg

Wednesday, June 30, 2010 in California Planning & Development Report

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