To rousing applause, Cornett made the point that cities must invest in downtowns because you “can’t be a suburb of nothing.” He added: “the quality of the urban core is directly related to their quality of life.”
(via Parks = Jobs « The Dirt)
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Dear Florida Chapter Members, Fellows, and Associates:
Welcome to Part Seventeen of my report series, ‘ASLA Membership’, telling you just a few notes from our national organization over the last month. If you ever have a question about anything in my reports or would like to share your opinions with me regarding these issues, please contact me at Trustee@FLASLA.org.
Trustee, FLASLA
GOVERNMENT AFFAIRS
***The Transportation Enhancement Issue is brewing in Washington, D.C. Please stay alert for more information and actions required. Now would be the perfect time to subscribe to the Advocacy Network if you haven’t already!***
Just as the 2012 state legislative season began, the New Hampshire House of Representatives took up legislation to deregulate Landscape Architecture and several other professions. Although it had some strong support in the House, the bill was narrowly defeated. As legislatures convene across the nation, Chapters are remaining vigilant.
ASLA’s Bill Tracking service is your window into legislation impacting Landscape Architects. ASLA monitors legislation in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and Congress on issues like professional regulation, contracting for professional services, stormwater management, transportation and much more.
Complete Streets legislation continues to receive bipartisan support. Republican Congressman Frank LoBiondo (NJ) has signed on as a cosponsor of H.R. 1780, the Safe and Complete Streets Act. The measure now has 18 co-sponsors and ASLA is working to have a national Complete Streets policy signed into law.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency announced funding availability for the 2012 Environmental Justice Small Grants Program. Proposals for awards of up to $25,000 are due by February 29. For more information visit the Small Grants Program page.
PR AND COMMUNICATIONS
January 25 was the public announcement of the first three projects to achieve SITES certification. SITES is a partnership of ASLA, the Lady Bird Johnson Wildflower Center at the University of Texas at Austin, and the U.S. Botanic Garden. The projects are:
Novus Headquarters Campus (3-star certification): commercial project in St. Charles, MO.
The Woodland Discovery Playground at Shelby Farms Park (1-star certification): park in Memphis, TN
The Green at College Park (1-star certification): campus green at The University of Texas at Arlington.
The profession received coverage in the Huffington Post, ABCNews.com, SFGate, Christian Science Monitor, CNBC, Reuters, SFGate, AECCafe, and Planetizen.
PROFESSIONAL PRACTICE
Professional Practice Manager, Liz Guthrie, participated in a meeting of the Design/Planning/Development Assistance Roundtable Meetup (DPDAM) hosted by the American Architectural Foundation (AAF). The participating organizations and federal agencies provide technical assistance on design, planning and development-related projects to local governments in the United States. Staff project managers met to share information about key initiatives from each organization and discuss how to maximize opportunities for collaboration.
RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT
ASLA 2012 professional awards program deadline for entries is Friday, February 3 and for submissions is Friday, February 17.
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CityFabric ”…a nifty project and small business started by Matt Tomasula, a grad student in Landscape Architecture and Urban Planning. Matt started CityFabric with the goal of engaging people in conversations about the cities in which they live”
(via Inspiration Wall)
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In the installation, an art/science/landscape collaboration between Synnøve Fredericks, Brenda Parker and Heather Ring, several different species of algae course through “curtains of tubes hanging from steel frames.” (via Pruned: Algaegarden)
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One, not so small legislative victory for FLASLA
Good morning FLASLA Members. By now, many of you may have heard the positive news out of the Capitol regarding PCB HB 5005 [PDF]. On March 24, 2011 the House Economic Affairs Committee voted to approve PCB HB 5005; as approved, PCB HB 5005 does not include the deregulation of landscape architecture in Florida. Heeding the call to action and through a concerted effort, in conjunction with our legislative affairs team Rutledge, Ecenia, & Purnell, P.A., FLASLA and its members we were able to overcome a potentially damaging piece of legislation.
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Keep Advocating!!
Our efforts continued throughout the day yesterday with at least another 3,000 touches to state legislators advocating for the continued regulation of Landscape Architecture in Florida.
Now is not the time to rest on our laurels - we have a long road until a motion to adjourn is called that would conclude the 2011 legislative session, otherwise known as sine die.
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Have you answered the call?
Landscape Architects across the state are currently reaching out to their legislators. Today nearly 100 Landscape Architects answered the call to action - resulting in over 2,000 emails and phone calls to their legislators. Have you? Please take the time to advocate on behalf of professional regulation for Landscape Architecture. Without your voice, our message will not be heard. Even if your legislators do not sit on either of these committees, please reach out to them now and let them know how you feel - let your Representative know that you strongly oppose HB 5005 and let the Senate know that you strongly oppose the deregulation of Landscape Architecture should a companion bill surface. The Chapter and profession request your support.
Landscape Architects across the state are currently reaching out to their legislators. Today nearly 100 Landscape Architects answered the call to action - resulting in over 2,000 emails and phone calls to their legislators. Have you? Please take the time to advocate on behalf of professional regulation for Landscape Architecture. Without your voice, our message will not be heard. Even if your legislators do not sit on either of these committees, please reach out to them now and let them know how you feel - let your Representative know that you strongly oppose HB 5005 and let the Senate know that you strongly oppose the deregulation of Landscape Architecture should a companion bill surface. The Chapter and profession request your support.
