San Jose’s infamous sprawl is the legacy of long time city manager Anthony “Dutch” Hamann. He and his planning department — known as “Dutch’s Panzer Division” — grew the city’s sales tax revenue through aggressive annexation during his control of city politics from 1950 to 1969. “They say San José is going to become another Los Angeles,” said the former oil executive in a 1965 interview. “Believe me, I’m going to do everything in my power to make that come true.”

More recently, city leaders are slowing making an about face on the sprawl policy in an effort to contain costs and improve the health of the city while working to improve the city’s economy and dealing with the challenges of governing a diverse, 180 square mile, car dependent municipality.

Deputy City Manager for Vancouver, BC Sadhu Johnston will speak tonight on how Vancouver and other cities have changed how they build and operate to become greener and healthier places to live at the Healthy Communities Forum at Roosevelt Community Center and Library – Classrooms 1 & 2, 901 E. Santa Clara St., San Jose, CA. This forum takes place Thursday, October 17, 5:30 p.m. – 8 p.m. and will explore how economic, social, and environmental issues intersect with the health of our cities.

Johnston authored the recently published Guide to Greening Cities with Steven S. Nicholas, Julia Parzen, and Gloria Ohland. The Guide to Greening Cities is the first book written from the perspective of municipal leaders with successful, on-the-ground experience working to advance green city goals. Through personal reflections and interviews with leading municipal staff in cities from San Antonio to Minneapolis, the authors share lessons for cities to lead by example in their operations, create programs, implement high-priority initiatives, develop partnerships, measure progress, secure funding, and engage the community. Case studies and chapters highlight strategies for overcoming common challenges such as changes of leadership and fiscal austerity.

See the event page here for more information and to RSVP for this free event.