March 2, 2022
APA Florida Opposes Any Legislation That Hinders an Honest Reassessment of Institutional Inequities The Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association (APA Florida), with support of its Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, is opposed to legislation that fails to recognize and honor the dignity and freedoms of Floridians due to their race, color, national origin, gender, religion, age, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, and marital and family status. APA Florida holds among its core principles the tenet that planners must “seek social justice by identifying and working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons, emphasizing our special responsibility to plan with those who have been marginalized or disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic equity.” Our professional Code of Ethics is clear that planners must urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that do not help meet all residents’ needs. We are called to recognize our unique responsibility to eliminate historic patterns of inequity tied to planning and institutional decision-making. It is a responsibility that demands our unwavering commitment and consistent action, especially as people affected live in the communities we serve and are our members and their families. For those reasons, APA Florida expresses its disappointment in the Florida Legislature’s efforts to advance legislation under the guise of individual freedom and parental rights that inhibits an awareness and honest assessment of the historical inequities that have shaped and continue to shape how our communities grow and our residents prosper. We join many organizations across Florida in strongly urging the Florida Legislature and Governor to reject legislation that would hinder our ability to recognize and remedy institutional bias, exclusion, and inequity.
Wiatt F. Bowers, AICP APA Florida President
Whit Blanton, FAICP APA Florida President Elect and Legislative Policy Committee Chair