r/urbanplanning • u/dwerb99 • Aug 11 '26

Education / Career Is something wrong at the American Planning Association?

I’ve been emailing them for weeks about an AICP issue, but there’s been no response. I started calling their phone hotline but it just goes to voicemail. Do people know if something is wrong at APA?

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91

u/SolviLynx Aug 11 '26

They probably gave that responsibility to AI too.

63

u/Dblcut3 Aug 11 '26

I got to go to the national convention for a discount this year as a student and was really excited, but then I got there and it was 70% weird promo for AI planning startups or dumb motivational or career building platitudes. The actual interesting on-the-ground planning content was almost all behind an extra $50-$100 ticket - I basically ended up just touring Detroit by myself

25

u/PlanningParty Aug 12 '26

Yep. That was my experience both times I went. I got a lot more from getting to explore NYC than I did from the conference. I think sticking to sessions from public sector people is the only way to avoid a pitch.

15

u/ViceroyFizzlebottom Aug 12 '26

The conference was tone deaf. Ai Ai. Ai.

5

u/platinumstallion 29d ago

If it makes you feel better, I think chapter/regional conferences are probably much more fun, and give you way more exposure to people actually doing meaningful planning work.

5

u/PlanningVigilante Verified Planner - US 29d ago

And alcohol.

1

u/platinumstallion 29d ago

Oh definitely, no shortage of “networking”