Gilda Haas teaches economic development at UCLA’s Department of Urban Planning. Before joining a Zócalo/UCLA panel discussion on gentrification in Los Angeles, she talked in the Zócalo green room about Facebook, being married to a mystery writer, and Dr. Pop, her cartoon alter ego.
If you could own one exotic pet, what would it be?
If I had a large enough home, I’d probably like it to be an elephant.
What’s the best advice you could give an aspiring urban planner?
Whether you’re looking for a job or looking for things to do, figure out what you want to learn next.
If you hadn’t gone into urban planning, what would your job be today?
Well, I’m a cartoon character called Dr. Pop.
Who is Dr. Pop?
My alter ego. It’s a website, drpop.org. Our tagline is “complicated things, simply explained.” It’s a portfolio of videos and blog posts, and a game, and other interesting things that try to explain the economy and democracy for people who don’t want to hear all the answers that I just gave.
What’s a cool game you’ve created about urban planning?
Another urban designer and I made a game called Blocks and Lots. It’s an online game and a board game that explains zoning to people. You can click on this fictitious little town and change the colors of the lots for different purposes. And we have characters that change their expressions if you please or displease them. You’re given challenges. It’s like a little puzzle.
When are you most productive, early in the morning or late at night?
Early in the morning. I’m a morning person.
What social media website do you spend the most time on?
I don’t spend a lot of time on Facebook, but I still spend the most time on it, because that’s where the pictures of my grandson generally appear.
What was the last thing that inspired you?
I just left a steering committee of the Right to the City Alliance. They’ve been working to build capacity in the United States to fight displacement and give people the right to control how their city looks and whether they can live there or not. I think it’s very important.
What vegetable best describes you?
I’m obviously a tomato. A hot tomato.
You’re married to a mystery writer. What’s your favorite book of his?
I’m married to Gary Phillips. My favorite book of his is called The Jook, and it’s about a burned-out, not completely moral football player—who’s the nicest person in the novel. I hear my husband’s voice in the character. The book’s not for children!
How would you describe yourself in five words?
Creative person who loves learning.