This has become a post-9/11 mantra, especially in major U.S. cities like New York and DC. The call to action invokes the public to speak up at the sight of a suspicious package or activity. If the threat is real, making one’s voice heard has the power to keep everyone else safe. In essence, speaking up can be life saving. As an urban planner, I have an obligation to ‘say something’ when I see communities in danger.

WARNING: Haiti is in serious danger if it plans on rebuilding with the same mechanisms that were in place prior to the earthquake.


The pre-earthquake development that occurred in Haiti was haphazard at best. Many structures were built in places that they never should have been built in with substandard materials. The lack of regulation and enforcement created an environment where there was not a strong understanding of or respect for good urban planning. Urban planning helps government and community stakeholders determine how to provide for the needs of present populations while keeping in mind the livelihood of future generations. This is crucial to redevelopment efforts because it helps set the context in which rebuilding should occur. A failure to plan well would be a true injustice to the Haitian people.

Planning and design professionals must lend their expertise to helping Haiti improve its development patterns. We know how to strike the right balance between urban growth, infrastructure, transportation, economic development and more. Beyond just saying something, our profession empowers us to ‘do’ something.