quo fata ferunt

It is somewhat unnerving that Bermuda's coat of arms has on it the motto "Quo fata ferunt" which means "Whither the fates lead us". Unnerving because it seems to me there may be better ways of planning for a country than to rely on fate.

I say that in the context of our budget process, which, if you thought it looked odd from 'the outside', I can confirm it was more than odd for those of us on 'the inside'.

As you know, this is not a government sanctioned blog, but sometimes it is illogical to ignore where I work as I contemplate blog posts. 

One reason the budget process was peculiar was because it was all so last minute. I don't know how we reach a point where department heads find out on Budget Day that a hiring freeze and early retirement incentive scheme, which together could impact a third or more of their staff, are being implemented. Really? On Budget Day? Now, maybe I missed one too many Heads of Departments meetings, but I don't think so.

As we make this budget work - and we must make it work - the most difficult truth to face is this: if you say yes to one thing, you are saying no to something else. We simply don't have the money to do it all.

So, if you are going to lobby for your pet project, decide in advance what you are giving up instead. You do this for your household budget and the Bermuda Government is in the same situation, albeit with vastly more complicated demands on its limited funds. Hard choices must be made, and I hope all of Bermuda's people realise this now. 

As for that reprehensible budget process, I have an idea for avoiding that saga when budget planning begins again in September for April 2016. I'll let you know next year, whether it worked.

is planning better for opponents?

I read with great interest Patrick Fox's Op-Ed piece in Planetizen entitled "Broken Planning: How Opponents Hijacked the Planning Process." It is one person's view of the American system but, nonetheless, some issues are transferable.

While there is a big hint of "Oh woe is me" developer-think throughout the article, Fox does highlight a certain dysfunction, if you will, in the planning system.  That is: how do you get a community to be energised in favour of development, either on the policy or project front? It is the bane of every Planning Department's existence that community outreach efforts seem only to excite the same ten people. According to Fox, those ten people will always be opposed to the development project.

 Social media does extend, and can enrich, the debate but, still, how do you get more than the usual ten to stand up and be counted? Let me know because I can't help but think the final product will be better for the community if more of the community engages in the process.

architecture for humanity - a worthy icon

The demise of the San Francisco founding office of Architecture for Humanity is dismaying. At a time when starchitecture is riding high, it is quite damning that 'architecture for summum bonum' is unable to find the funding support it needs to literally do truly laudable works.

maria auxiliadora school, peru: image - architecture for humanity

This is an organisation that works with communities in disaster struck areas, or simply vulnerable areas receiving scant attention, to build homes, schools, community centres and more, along the way training and empowering local leaders. It operates from the premise that the best solution is a local solution and, therefore, community involvement in the design process is key.

Thankfully, other branches of Architecture for Humanity in New York, Vancouver, Washington DC, Boston, Chicago, London and Abuja, Nigeria will continue on, as the website says "...to provide architecture, planning and project management services, including construction management and post-occupancy analysis, and facilitate community engagement throughout each project".

Which brings me, as is always does, to Bermuda. What are we doing here on island to use architecture and planning services for good? Perhaps an unfair question to ask in this economy when planners and architects alike are struggling to keep their companies going and government downsizes. Nonetheless, I am reminded of the 2010 documentary, Poverty in Paradise (now available on YouTube in three parts), which told the story of poverty for women and children in Bermuda. Watch it. Get a clue about the other side of Bermuda and think about what you can do to help. Is an Architecture for Humanity (Bermuda) branch possible?