Pat Brown Institute “A New Deal in Store for California’s Infrastructure?” Panel Discussion Tomorrow Morning!

MEDIA ALERT

Los Angeles Daily News Editorial Page Writer and Columnist, Mariel Garza, will be the moderator

LOS ANGELES, CA — For nearly three decades, the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles (PBI) has focused on state and community issues and been a standard bearer for the legacy of its namesake. Tomorrow morning, as part of its California Agenda series, the PBI hosts an exciting panel discussion with some of the best and bright minds in the region.

WHO – Moderator – Mariel Garza, Editorial Page Writer and Columnist for the L.A. Daily News; Panelists: Valerie Shaw – City of Los Angeles Public Works Commission; Harvey Smith – National New Deal Preservation; and John Tanner – SEIU Local 721

The diverse 100+ audience will be comprised of many community stakeholders: other experts; journalists; chamber of commerce members; political scientists; public policy analysts; elected officials and their staff; students; community leaders and others.

WHAT – PBI California Agenda discussion on “New Deal in Store for California’s Infrastructure?

WHEN – Thursday, March 19, 2009; 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

WHERE – California State University, Los Angeles in the University Student Union @ 5154 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032

WHY – With President Obama in Southern California tomorrow, you could not ask for a timelier panel as his administration has promised to renew its contract with America through re-envisioned “New Deal” programs.

Please contact Edward Headington at Edward@HeadingtonMedia.com or 818.720.7181 for all media requests.

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The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs, a presidentially chartered institute at California State University, Los Angeles, is a non-partisan public policy center dedicated to sustaining vision and legacy of former California Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown through convening public policy forums, engaging multi sector stakeholders and diverse communities, and conducting timely policy research and community driven initiatives. For more information, go to http://www.patbrowninstitute.org/.

The California Agenda is a component of the PBI’s Public Policy Education Program and is hosted this year by Southern California Edison and Wells Fargo. It was created to educate and engage leaders and individuals across the sectors on significant state, regional and local public policy issues.

Video - PBI CA Agenda with Assm. Hector De La Torre

Plus 7 More Videos on YouTube

Slideshow - PBI CA Agenda with Assm. Hector De La Torre

February 19, 2009 at Cal State LA

"Foreclosing on the American Dream"

PBI Announces Panelists/Moderator for “A New Deal for CA?“ Panel

ADVISORY

Monday, March 9 2009
For Immediate Release
PBI Contact – Jacqueline Ruiz, 323.343.3770
Media Contact – Edward Headington, 818.720.7181
Website – http://www.patbrowninstitute.org/

Los Angeles Daily News Editorial Page Writer and Columnist, Mariel Garza, will be moderating

LOS ANGELES, CA — For nearly three decades, the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles (PBI) has focused on state and community issues and been a standard bearer for the legacy of its namesake. The incoming Obama administration has promised to renew its contract with America through re-envisioned “New Deal” programs. Borrowing from the pages of American and Californian histories, the federal government will embark upon large-scale infrastructure projects to repair and build our physical infrastructure while boosting the economy and strengthening our social foundations. Notably, former Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown followed such a policy with successful results.

WHO – Expert panelists; journalists; chamber of commerce members; political scientists; public policy analysts; elected officials and their staff; students; community leaders and other stakeholders

Moderator – Mariel Garza, Editorial Page Writer and Columnist for the L.A. Daily News

Panelists – Valerie Shaw – City of Los Angeles Public Works Commission; Harvey Smith – National New Deal Preservation; and John Tanner – SEIU Local 721

WHAT – PBI California Agenda discussion on “New Deal in Store for California’s Infrastructure?"

WHEN – Thursday, March 19, 2009; 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

WHERE – California State University, Los Angeles in the University Student Union @ 5154 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032

WHY – During the 2006 election, voters in California agreed that the Golden State needed its own “New Deal” and overwhelmingly voted to authorize the state to spend bond monies on infrastructure projects related to transportation, housing, and education. The state passed legislation distributing the monies, but little action has been taken since. Why is the state not spending funds that voters authorized? What budget issues are preventing the state from moving forward to strengthen our infrastructure? The discussion will examine the state’s financial condition and ability to invest in infrastructure; it will also focus on possible outcomes that may arise, depending on whether we invest in infrastructure, how much we invest, and how soon.

FYI – Parking available on campus at Parking Structure C or Lot 5 located on Paseo Rancho Castilla (only costs $2 for the two hours—cash only). Give yourself about 5 to 8 minutes to walk to the building. This is a free event open to the public and a light breakfast will be provided. Please R.S.V.P. to Edward Moreno at emoreno9@cslanet.calstatela.edu or register online.

###

The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs, a presidentially chartered institute at California State University, Los Angeles, is a non-partisan public policy center dedicated to sustaining vision and legacy of former California Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown through convening public policy forums, engaging multi sector stakeholders and diverse communities, and conducting timely policy research and community driven initiatives. For more information, go to http://www.patbrowninstitute.org/.

The California Agenda is a component of the PBI’s Public Policy Education Program and is hosted this year by Southern California Edison and Wells Fargo. It was created to educate and engage leaders and individuals across the sectors on significant state, regional and local public policy issues.

3/19 PBI Event – “A New Deal for California?”

ADVISORY

Tuesday, March 3, 2009
For Immediate Release
PBI Contact – Jacqueline Ruiz, 323.343.3770
Media Contact – Edward Headington, 818.720.7181
Website – http://www.patbrowninstitute.org/

The moderated panel discussion will include Harvey Smith of the National New Deal Preservation

LOS ANGELES, CA — For nearly three decades, the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles (PBI) has focused on state and community issues and been a standard bearer for the legacy of its namesake. The incoming Obama administration has promised to renew its contract with America through re-envisioned “New Deal” programs. Borrowing from the pages of American and Californian histories, the federal government will embark upon large-scale infrastructure projects to repair and build our physical infrastructure while boosting the economy and strengthening our social foundations. Notably, former Governor Edmund G. “Pat” Brown followed such a policy with successful results.

WHO – Expert panelists; journalists; chamber of commerce members; political scientists; public policy analysts; elected officials and their staff; students; community leaders and other stakeholders

WHAT – PBI California Agenda discussion on “New Deal in Store for California’s Infrastructure?

WHEN – Thursday, March 19, 2009; 8:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

WHERE – California State University, Los Angeles in the University Student Union @ 5154 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032

WHY – During the 2006 election, voters in California agreed that the Golden State needed its own “New Deal” and overwhelmingly voted to authorize the state to spend bond monies on infrastructure projects related to transportation, housing, and education. The state passed legislation distributing the monies, but little action has been taken since. Why is the state not spending funds that voters authorized? What budget issues are preventing the state from moving forward to strengthen our infrastructure? The discussion will examine the state’s financial condition and ability to invest in infrastructure; it will also focus on possible outcomes that may arise, depending on whether we invest in infrastructure, how much we invest, and how soon.

FYI – Parking available on campus at Parking Structure C or Lot 5 located on Paseo Rancho Castilla (only costs $2 for the two hours—cash only). Give yourself about 5 to 8 minutes to walk to the building. This is a free event open to the public and a light breakfast will be provided. Please R.S.V.P. to Edward Moreno at emoreno9@cslanet.calstatela.edu or register online.

###

The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs, a presidentially chartered institute at California State University, Los Angeles, is a non-partisan public policy center dedicated to sustaining vision and legacy of former California Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown through convening public policy forums, engaging multi sector stakeholders and diverse communities, and conducting timely policy research and community driven initiatives. For more information, go to http://www.patbrowninstitute.org/.

The California Agenda is a component of the PBI’s Public Policy Education Program and is hosted this year by Southern California Edison and Wells Fargo. It was created to educate and engage leaders and individuals across the sectors on significant state, regional and local public policy issues.

Assemblymember Hector De La Torre to Speak on “Foreclosing on the American Dream”

ADVISORY

Tuesday, February 3, 2009
For Immediate Release
PBI Contact – Jacqueline Ruiz, 323.343.3770
Media Contact – Edward Headington, 818.720.7181
Website – http://www.patbrowninstitute.org/

Assemblymember Hector De La Torre to Speak on “Foreclosing on the American Dream”

Last year’s PBI Public Servant of the Year honoree will headline the February 19th kick-off event for the 2009 California Agenda Series

LOS ANGELES, CA — For nearly three decades, the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles (PBI) has focused on state and community issues and been a standard bearer for the legacy of its namesake. Home ownership has long been promoted as the cornerstone of the American Dream and an important vehicle for building the personal assets of Californians. However, given California’s current economic environment and the growing number of home foreclosures across the state, Assemblymember Hector De La Torre will address a number of questions: Is the American dream being significantly deferred? How do we effectively deal with this issue? What role can government play?

WHO – Assemblymember Hector De La Torre (chair of California State Assembly Committee on Accountability and Administrative Review, committee member of the Committee on Housing and Community Development Budget and the Committee on Budget )

WHAT – California Agenda discussion on “Foreclosing on the American Dream”

WHEN – Thursday, February 19, 2009; 6 p.m. to 8 p.m.

WHERE – California State University, Los Angeles in the University Student Union (Los Angeles Room 308A); 5154 State University Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90032

WHY – The discussion will touch upon the social and political dynamics that brought us to this economic moment in American and California histories, as well as focus on what we can learn from this crisis moving forward. Assemblymember De La Torre will speak to best practices and policy solutions to navigate us out of the quagmire.

FYI – Parking available on campus at Parking Structure C (only costs $2 for the two hours). This is a free event open to the public. Please R.S.V.P. at 323.343.3770 or jruiz@cslanet.calstatela.edu.

###

The Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs, a presidentially chartered institute at California State University, Los Angeles, is a non-partisan public policy center dedicated to sustaining vision and legacy of former California Governor Edmund G. "Pat" Brown through convening public policy forums, engaging multi sector stakeholders and diverse communities, and conducting timely policy research and community driven initiatives. For more information, go to http://www.patbrowninstitute.org/.

The California Agenda is a component of the PBI’s Public Policy Education Program and is hosted this year by Southern California Edison and Wells Fargo. It was created to educate and engage leaders and individuals across the sectors on significant state, regional and local public policy issues.

Jaime Regalado quoted in POLITICO

Asian-American up in Hispanic district

David Mark
POLITICO
January 7, 2009 05:00 AM EST

A splintered field of Latino candidates could lead to the election of an Asian-American in Southern California’s majority-­Hispanic 32nd District, leaving Hispanics with one less voice in Congress at a time when their share of the population is growing.

In the special House election to succeed Rep. Hilda L. Solis (D-Calif.), who was recently tapped to become the Obama administration’s labor secretary, former Monterey Park Mayor Judy Chu stands to gain from a potentially crowded field of prominent Latino officeholders that could divide the Hispanic vote and enable her to capture the solidly Democratic, East Los Angeles-based seat.

All the candidates will run on a single ballot in the special primary election. If any one of them wins a majority of votes, that candidate takes the seat outright. Otherwise, the top two vote-getters will square off eight weeks later in a special general election — essentially a runoff.

While the racially diverse district is about two-thirds Hispanic, it also has an unusually large Asian population — roughly 20 percent. As the only prominent Asian candidate in the race — and one who has drawn support from Hispanic voters in the past — Chu could benefit from a concentrated Asian vote to make it into a special general election if the Latino vote is divided among several candidates.

So far, Chu, a former three-term assemblywoman, and state Sen. Gloria Romero, a longtime officeholder whose legislative territory covers about 95 percent of the congressional district, are the only announced candidates. But state Sen. Gil Cedillo and other lawmakers could still jump into the race.

While the district is friendlier to GOP candidates than most minority-majority Southern California seats, almost no one expects Republicans to be competitive in the special primary, likely to be held in April.

A Chu win is contingent on maximizing the Asian vote and picking off support elsewhere, said Jaime A. Regalado, director of the Edmund G. “Pat” Brown Institute of Public Affairs at California State University, Los Angeles. She begins with a head start in her hometown of Monterey Park, which is the only majority-Asian-American city in the United States. The non-Hispanic white vote — roughly 15 percent of the population — is concentrated in the eastern part of the district and looms as the wild card.

“The Latino residency population is the predominant one, but it doesn’t mean they will turn out to vote,” Regalado said. “Judy Chu has done well courting Latino votes and Latino votes — those who give money. It’s not a slam-dunk that, because Romero’s in the race, she’ll get 95 percent of the Latino vote.”

Read more.