Jonathan Pacheco Bell

I would like to nominate bring Jonathan Pacheco Bell to speak at Taubman—he is a hybrid urban planner and urban librarian, UCLA Luskin alum, and has been working in LA as a zoning officer for over a decade! He is actively trying to promote a form of urban planning, which he calls embedded planning, that emphasizes putting humans at the heart of planning and being immersed in the communities that we serve. You can check out his piece about Embedded Planning that was published in the APA's planning magazine here. He also is on the APA's Social Equity Task Force.  

Recently, he's been giving a talk to put a human face on the housing crisis in California. Below is a description of the talk he gave in San Francisco at the SF Urban Film Fest. He's given many talks at UCLA and around California.:

"This presentation puts a human face on California’s housing crisis. Jonathan Pacheco Bell, a zoning enforcement planner in Los Angeles County, will tell the story of the Medina Family from the South Central L.A. community of Florence-Firestone, who built an informal granny flat for extra income after the sudden passing of their head of household. An anonymous complaint triggered an inspection and eventual demolition of the dwelling for code violations. It was Jonathan himself who ordered its removal. Audience members will understand the emotional rollercoaster the family endured while embroiled in this regulatory process and Jonathan’s inner conflict with the outcome."