Originally Posted by alesis

Originally Posted by Bulworth67

I love the line:
"It was never clear what expertise - beyond how to build a great corned beef sandwich - Auspitz brought to the Zoning Board."

Originally Posted by portia

If you insist on verification of sources, perhaps you should stick to the NY Times. This is a blog.
You will, in any case, be able to get the information from the mainstream press soon enough. If the posts in this thread are inaccurate, you can come back and gloat on Monday. But I wouldn't count on that happening.



See my response to your first comment.




AICP certification doesn't a planner make. It's not even necessary to have a college degree. Take one exam, have some experience in a related field, pay your dues and you too can be AICP certified. Doesn't mean you should be heading a major city's planning commission.
Maxine was a planner. Janice isn't.
And I notice you didn't mention her lack of administrative experience.



Right. because destroying morale in one's office is the perfect way to increase productivity.




Great. My experience has been quite different.
Could it be that you didn't have any controversial, difficult issues to work out with her?



There are few things worse than someone who doesn't know what they don't know.
If you did "get" zoning, you'd understand what a relative piece of cake the building code is.




She isn't trained and experienced on a professional level, at least not so far as zoning is concerned.

You are of course entitled to your opinion.
I've had quite a few "have you heard the good news?" calls today from friends and colleagues who share my view. I'll take that as evidence that my experiences aren't unique.

Originally Posted by vicepresident

I wouldn't return your calls either. Janice was more than qualified. Not trained and experienced on a professional level? Are you kidding? Do you have any idea what architects do? There's nothing to "get" about zoning. You're a pinhead. Fact is "planners" bring little to the table at the municipal level.

Originally Posted by portia

Well, given the way she was unceremoniously dumped, I'd say my opinion was shared by a few people -- including our new mayor.

I work with architects all of the time and have a very good idea of what they do. I also have a very good idea of what they don't do -- or know.

Nothing to "get" about zoning, huh? I'd suggest you do a westlaw search and familiarize yourself with some of the zoning issues considered by appellate courts -- including the U.S. Supreme Court -- on a regular basis. Or read a few of the scholarly articles on zoning (written by academics and practitioners attracted to the specialty because of its intellectual challenge). When you're knowledgeable enough to discuss issues like the appropriate delegation of authority to an administrative agency and the constitutional restrictions on exactions, I'd be glad to discuss what there is to "get" about zoning with you.

Janice is a perfectly nice woman who was in way over her head. She will hopefully find a new position better suited to her abilities.

As for your returning my calls... don't flatter yourself. The idea of my ever having to call you is laughable.

Originally Posted by vicepresident

So crappy zoning ordinances lead to litigation. That's real hard to get. This generally happens only after the zoning attorney has failed at his primary mission as bag man.
If the same guy that appointed her also fired her, then it might qualify as an unceremonious dump. This is just a new mayor opening up a patronage position for one of his own cronies.

Originally Posted by vicepresident

It's a badge of honor to be dismissed from an organization that never has been and never will be a meritocracy.

Originally Posted by vicepresident

It's a badge of honor to be dismissed from an organization that never has been and never will be a meritocracy. By all means, bring in a real planner. They have so little to occupy their intellect, they tend to become skilled at machiavelian gamesmanship.