Like any speciality, urbanists (particularly urban planners) have developed their own language. A central part of this language is the alphabet soup of acronym.
Urban Acronyms
Here is a list of 10 of the most popular acronyms used by urbanists, planners and developers to describe their clients, adversaries or projects.
- BED: Bleed ‘em Dry—a common tactic used by planners to “fix” a project they don’t like.
- CAVE [people]: Citizens Against Virtually Everything
- CRAVE[rs]: Citizens Radically Against Virtually Everything
- DIFF: Do It For Free
- DBTD: Death By a Thousand Days—another common tactic used by planners to “fix” a project they don’t like.
- DBTN: Death By a Thousand Nicks—yet another common tactic used by planners to “fix” a project they don’t like. Related to BED.
- DUDE: Developer Under Delusions of Entitlement
- KISS: Keep it Simple Stupid
- LULU: Locally Unwanted Land Use
- MIGA: Make It Go Away
- MISE: Move It Somewhere Else
- NIMBY: Not in my backyard—stay tuned for a special post on the various spinoffs of this popular acronym.
- RUID: Review Until It Dies
- SLAPP: Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation
- WIIFM: What’s in it for me?
For a hilarious example of many of these acronyms in action, check out Planetizens’ The Three Local Builders: A Modern Fairy Tale in Plannerese.
Your Turn
What is your favourite urban planning related acronym?
I like BANANA the best.
Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything
BANANA is one of my favorites as well. It will be served up in a forthcoming post focusing on NIMBY spinoffs.
Will this post discuss how to respond to people with NIMBY and BANANA concerns?
If so, I think you should read this post from former City of Portland Bike Program manager, Mia Birk: http://www.miabirk.com/blog/?p=211
I like BANANA the best.
Build Absolutely Nothing Anywhere Near Anything
BANANA is one of my favorites as well. It will be served up in a forthcoming post focusing on NIMBY spinoffs.
Will this post discuss how to respond to people with NIMBY and BANANA concerns?
If so, I think you should read this post from former City of Portland Bike Program manager, Mia Birk: http://www.miabirk.com/blog/?p=211
NUMPTY – a bit like a NIMBY but can’t see how they’re being screwed..