Design Innovation in Our Transfrontier Metropolis — Author, Podcaster, Design Scholar, and Lecturer at UC San Diego, Larry Herzog

The Finest City

This episode features an informative and inspiring conversation with Larry Herzog, a Design Scholar-in-Residence at the UC San Diego Design Lab, and a lecturer in the Department of Urban Studies and Planning at UCSD. Larry is also a writer and Professor Emeritus of City Planning in the School of Public Affairs at San Diego State University. Larry is the author or editor of 11 books on urban planning, design, and cross-border development. In the episode, Larry talks about San Diego and Tijuana as a shared ecosystem, the obstacles that still prove to be challenging in urban planning, and ideas to make border crossing a safer and more enjoyable place for all who visit and live in our area.

Timestamps:

[3:42] Larry has been involved in various community organizations and initiatives, writing Op-Ed essays and hosting a podcast called Whose City?

[4:10] Larry’s Whose City? podcast is intended for San Diego residents to feel invested in their community and to provide a platform for debating and discussing important issues affecting the city’s future.

[6:50] Larry defines the term “transfrontier metropolis” or TFM.

[12:05] The San Diego and Tijuana communities are a shared ecosystem and functional system, but there are certain obstacles to urban planning, including different political systems, laws, and power dynamics.

[17:18] A few of the highlights from Larry’s book, From Aztec to High Tech.

[19:45] The connection between food and public space in Tijuana, and how they model their community in a similar way to San Diego.

[25:33] Keeping the balance between the expression of local culture and building for tourism.

[28:16] The failure of modern suburbs in Mexico throughout the 1990’s and 2000’s and what we learned.

[30:21] Ideas for improving the border crossing experience.

[34:10] Why Larry believes border crossing should be like air travel in the United States.

[35:27] Larry discusses the World Design Capital in 2024 and the great opportunity we have to showcase San Diego and Tijuana’s laboratory for global urbanization.

About C-3

Even before the California Coastal Commission or Environmental Protection Agency existed, Citizens Coordinate for Century 3 (C-3) was the environmental conscience of San Diego. Since that time, in part due to C-3’s leadership in education, advocacy, and empowerment, a plethora of organizations have developed throughout San Diego County. These organizations specifically focus on promoting progressive values in architecture, urban design, land-use governance, natural resource management, sustainable economic development, climate change resilience, and social justice. As the field of allies has grown, C-3’s role has evolved to provide a platform that promotes creating civic community.

Opportunities for Advocacy and Engagement:

C3sandiego.org

Larry Herzog

Larry Herzog’s Books

World Design Capital

Quotes:

• “I think it’s really important that academia gets involved in the making of public policy.” — Larry [2:35]

• “My argument is that we have to break the mold of thinking of the border crossing area, the frontier zone, if you want to call it that, as an institutionalized, militarized space. I think you have to have more of a balance as you’re crossing the border.” — Larry [32:50]

• “I think one of the goals of the World Design Capital is to not just talk about design and not just to have parties and have fun, but to do something that actually lasts.” — Larry [35:05]

• “The project and the results are only as good as the participants.” — Larry [36:52]

• “This region is such an important region that the world should know about us, and here they are. They are coming in and recognizing us, and we have this great opportunity to showcase what we can do here and that San Diego / Tijuana is a laboratory for global urbanization.” — Larry [38:24]