For many local elected officials, political office means solving complex problems with tight budgets while cultivating trust with constituents who increasingly are wary of those in power. With these challenges in mind, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy this week will launch its Executive Education Program for local leaders to help elected city officials develop a vision for their cities. The first class of elected officials includes 18 mayors, mayors pro tem and council members from cities across Southern California.
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For many local elected officials, political office means solving complex problems with tight budgets while cultivating trust with constituents who increasingly are wary of those in power. With these challenges in mind, the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy this week will launch its Executive Education Program for local leaders to help elected city officials develop a vision for their cities. The first class of elected officials includes 18 mayors, mayors pro tem and council members from cities across Southern California.
The Athenian Society, the premier philanthropic support group for the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy, discussed the need for sound policy solutions to address the political and economic challenges facing California in the school's third Dean's Speaker Series event of the year titled "How Can California Prepare for a Future That's Already Here?" on April 23. The event featured University Professor Kevin Starr, a longtime California historian, and Dowell Myers, USC Price professor of demography and urban planning.
The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy was well represented at the American Planning Association's national planning conference at the Los Angeles Convention Center on April 14-17. To coincide with the conference, David Sloane, professor and director of undergraduate programs for USC Price, edited the book Planning Los Angeles, published by the American Planning Association, using contributions from many USC Price faculty and alumni to catalog the history and trends that impact planning in the city.
A massive slowdown in California's population growth means the state likely won't reach 50 million residents until the year 2046, according to a new USC analysis released today. That's a far slower rate of growth than the latest official projection released in 2007 by the state's Department of Finance that shows California reaching 50 million residents in the year 2032. The population slowdown may bring reprieve to a fiscally strapped state under pressure to keep up with infrastructure needs, said report co-author Dowell Myers, professor at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy.
The Los Angeles Times featured a study by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Price School and John Pitkin of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group finding that California's population will grow at a much slower rate than previously predicted. The report was also covered by the United Press International, CBS News Los Angeles affliated KCBS-TV, McClatchy News Service, and Science Daily.
USA Todayfeatured a study by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Price School and John Pitkin of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group finding that California's population will grow at a much slower rate than previously predicted. This could be a boon to state coffers, the story noted. "This is surely good news for local governments and taxpayers who are struggling to keep up with the costs of growth," Myers said. "This is more manageable growth and that's good news for California," he told the Los Angeles Times. The study was covered by a second Los Angeles Times story, a third Los Angeles Times story, Reuters, KPCC-FM, the Sacramento Bee, ABC News Los Angeles affiliate KABC-TV, LA Observed, the Long Beach Press- Telegram, City News Service, and L.A. Weekly .
The Fresno Bee quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Price School about home ownership among immigrants.
The Pasadena Star-News cited research by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Price School of Public Policy that found a drop in the number of Latinos living in the West San Gabriel Valley.
U.S. News & World Report featured several USC schools and programs in its 2013 edition of "Best Graduate Schools." The USC Price School was ranked No. 4 for Health Policy and Management; No. 6 in Public Affairs, up from No. 7 last year; No. 6 for Public Management Administration; No. 7 for City Management and Urban Policy; No. 7 for Nonprofit Management; No. 9 in Social Policy; No. 12 for Public Policy Analysis; and No. 21 for Public Finance and Budgeting.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise featured research by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Price School finding that Southern Californian cities are becoming more multiracial. The Inland Empire has the most racial balance in Southern California's five-county region, making it the most diverse part of the most multicultural region in the nation, Myers said. "This shows you can have multi-ethnic communities that work successfully," he added.
The USC Sol Price School of Public Policy was among several USC schools and programs that ascended in the latest national rankings released by U.S. News & World Report . The Price School climbed to sixth place (from seventh in 2008) in the newest edition of "America's Best Graduate Schools" for public affairs.
The San Diego-Tribune quoted Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe of the USC Price School about a proposed amendment to the California legislature.
The Los Angeles Times ran a story featuring research by USC Price Professor Dowell Myers finding that Southern Californian cities are growing more multiracial. The study found that nearly two-thirds of cities in L.A., Orange, Riverside, Ventura and San Bernardino counties were multiracial, versus just more than half the region's cities in 1990. "In our society, in this era, diversity is a norm," Myers said. "It's an advantage the Los Angeles area holds over places that are becoming diverse but aren't there yet." KPCC-FM reported that racial balance will continue to shift in the future, though Southern California is in "a sweet spot for racial balance," according to Myers. The study found a decline in the white population and growth among Latinos and Asians. In addition, the story was reported by the Huffington Post, CBS News, Los Angeles affiliate KCAL-TV, Los Angeles Wave (in a City News Service story), LAist, the Glendale News Press, the Burbank Leader, and Cental News Agency (Taiwan).
Southern California cities are now significantly more multiracial than 20 years ago, according to a new USC analysis. The percentage of multiracial cities in the five-county area climbed from 51.2 percent to 61.5 percent from 1990 to 2010, the report by the Population Dynamics Research Group at the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy showed. "Los Angeles is leading the nation once again in this multiracial experience," said lead author Dowell Myers, a professor of urban planning and demography at USC Price.
The San Francisco Chronicle quoted USC Professor Dowell Myers on the appeal of California.
The Huffington Post noted that Professor Roberto Suro of the USC Price School of Public Policy and the Annenberg School of Communication & Journalism attended a Washington, D.C., roundtable on Latino law and civil rights issues, and cited him regarding Latinos' public policy concerns. Suro is director of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, the story noted.
Reuters quoted USC Price Associate Professor Darius Lakdawalla about research finding that Medicare spends more per person on obese beneficiaries. Lakdawalla is director of research at USC's Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics
The San Diego Union-Tribune ran a Q&A with USC Price Senior Fellow William Fulton about the "smart growth" planning concept, and noted that he was mayor of the city of Ventura.
Confetti shot through the air, the Spirit of Troy played the USC fight song and faculty, staff, students, alumni and university officials lifted two fingers in a victory salute on Feb. 7 as the university celebrated the newly named USC Sol Price School of Public Policy. USC president C. L. Max Nikias and USC Price dean Jack H. Knott were joined on stage in front of Lewis Hall by brothers Robert and Larry Price to officially announce the $50 million naming gift from the Price Family Charitable Fund to honor the life and legacy of entrepreneur and philanthropist Sol Price '36, '38.
Click here to view photos from the celebration >>
Click here to watch Sol Price tribute video >>
NPR News San Diego affiliate KPBS-FM interviewed Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy about the U.S. needing an assimilation policy for new immigrants. The story cited an op-ed that Myers wrote for the New York Times.
International Business Times quoted USC Price School Professor Dowell Myers about the political value of the illegal immigration issue.
The Dallas Morning News highlighted an op-ed by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Price School of Public Policy about the U.S. needing to shift from an immigration policy of border enforcement to an immigrant policy of education and assimilation.
The Atlantic featured research by USC Price Assistant Professor Jenny Schuetz and a New School colleague, who studied gentrification patterns in New York. The study looked at 208 New York City ZIP codes between 1998 and 2007 to see how retail properties, demographics and affluence changed during that time. The study noted that "low-income neighborhoods have lower densities of both establishments and employment, smaller average establishment size, and less diverse retail composition." The story highlighted another study by Schuetz and colleagues showing that the kinds of retail attracted to a neighborhood vary widely in terms of type of service, type of store and quality of goods.
The Wall Street Journal quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Price School of Public Policy about a drop in levels of illegal immigration into the U.S. from Mexico.
The Sacramento Bee quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Price School about a report suggesting a shift away from suburban housing.
The Huffington Post cited research by Price School Professor Dowell Myers and John Pitkin of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group concluding that Latinos will continue to integrate into American society over the next 20 years.
The Wall Street Journal interviewed USC Price Professor Dowell Myers about research he conducted with John Pitkin of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group, which concluded that immigrants as a whole are becoming more integrated into U.S. society. Myers decries what he called the "Peter Pan fallacy," in which people see new immigrants and think their lack of English or education implies that they as a population will always be like that. "At any moment in time, you just see what's there today," Myers said. "They're not Peter Pan, they're not frozen in time. ... They're going to get deeper roots and learn skills and move up the ladder." A second story ran in the Wall Street Journal.
Politico quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy about the Obama administration's decision to sue three states in an effort to overturn laws directed toward illegal immigrants.
The Huffington Post featured research by USC Price Professor Dowell Myers and John Pitkin of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group, which concluded that Latinos as a whole are becoming more integrated into U.S. society. The study suggests that by 2030, Latinos living in America will be a demographic that sees major gains in educational and economic achievement and in homeownership. Myers said that Latinos' progress on homeownership is the American Dream, an achievement "you don't hear about very often, because it doesn't support an agenda held by restrictionists."
The Columbia Daily Tribune quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC Sol Price School of Public Policy regarding the role housing prices have played in a rise in the poverty level.
The Wall Street Journal highlighted research by USC Price Professor Dowell Myers and John Pitkin of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group, concluding that the longer immigrants live in the U.S., the more assimilated they become. Their study tracked the social and economic advances of immigrants to the U.S. age 20 or older who arrived in the 1990s, and found they consistently made progress over time, though the recession halted that progress. "We assume they will resume the upward trajectory when the recession comes to an end," Myers said. Analyzing census data, they found that homeownership is achieved by most immigrants within a couple of decades.
The Chronicle of Higher Education ran a column by Professor Roberto Suro about the late Harry Pachon of the USC Price School of Public Policy. Pachon, who was president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, had enormous influence in public discourse about the Latino population, Suro wrote. Felix Gutierrez of the Annenberg School knew Pachon as a college student, and said it was a lonely experience for Latinos attaining a doctorate in the late 1960s. "There were not many colleagues, not a cohort, and so when we got our Ph.D.'s it wasn't as if we were becoming part of a community," Gutierrez said. Suro wrote that in the first half of the 2000s, Pachon "promoted a vision of a rising Latino middle class and the need for more information to speed the move into homeownership." He noted that Univision reported on Pachon's passing, stating that he "understood earlier than many others the importance of Latinos and the power of their votes." NBC News . Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV ran a commentary by USC Price Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, noting that Pachon used hard data to undermine misperceptions about Latinos. USC Price Dean Jack Knott said Pachon leaves a "legacy of extraordinary contributions to Latino politics and policy at a crucial period in the development of the Latino community in America." "Harry had a gift for seeing the world as it was, but ever hopeful about the future," added Dan Mazmanian of the School of Policy, Planning, and Development.
The Wall Street Journal quoted Richard Green, SPPD professor and director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, about growth in rental housing despite the economic downturn.
The Los Angeles Times ran an obituary for Harry Pachon of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, who was president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC. Pachon researched key issues affecting Latinos, including bilingual education, voting patterns and immigration. "Harry pretty much invented the idea of the Latino think-tank," said Roberto Suro of the USC Annenberg School, who directs the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute. "His legacy of extraordinary contributions to Latino politics and policy at a crucial period in the development of the Latino community in America will be remembered always," School of Policy, Planning, and Development Dean Jack Knott told La Opinion. Pachon was a brilliant scholar and a trailblazer, L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa told KPCC_FM. In 1997, President Bill Clinton appointed Pachon to the President's Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for Hispanic Americans. The same year, the Mexican government presented him with a humanitarian award for his research on Mexicans living in the U.S. Pachon was also remembered by a Hispanic Business and a second La Opinion story.
Letter from USC Provost Elizabeth Garrett >>
Tribute written by SPPD's Sherry Bebitch Jeffe on NBC Los Angeles >>
The Los Angeles Times quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development about new U.S. Census Bureau statistics on poverty and the role of housing prices in driving up those numbers for California.
L.A. Observed reported that Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa announced the passing of Professor Harry Pachon of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, praising him as a brilliant scholar and a trailblazer. Pachon was president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC and a founding board member and past executive director of the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials Educational Fund. La Opinion also noted that the Mexican government awarded Pachon with the Ohtli Award in 1997 for his work on Mexicans living in the United States. Villaraigosa said that Pachon contributed immensely to research on Latinos and the policy issues that affect them. "Although we will miss him dearly, he leaves a legacy of outstanding scholarship and of advancing the participation of Latinos in the democratic process," Villaraigosa said.
The Sarasota Herald- Tribune cited a study by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development about how, during the past decade, the biggest sellers of California homes have been white senior citizens, with Latinos accounting for 79 percent of the growth in homeownership.
The Washington Post ran an op-ed co-written by Professor Roberto Suro of the USC Annenberg School of Communications and Journalism and the School of Policy, Planning, and Development, about America's paradoxical attitudes toward immigrants. Suro wrote that when polled, Americans say they want to stem the tide of illegal immigrants, but want to allow the ones already here the opportunity to become naturalized citizens. The U.S. is schizophrenic in the way it views immigration, and particularly how it remembers the subject in history, Suro wrote. "When immigration meets a national loss of confidence, as in this time of economic crisis, the byproduct can be outright fear."
TheSacramento Bee quoted SPPD Professor Roberto Suro, director of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, about fluxes in birthrates among first- and second-generation Latino immigrants.
The Houston Chronicle covered a conference presentation by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, on the young Latino population's role in the demography of America. Myers said that without a growing immigrant population, the U.S. economy and population growth would stagnate as Japan's have done. "It really is a gift," Myers said. "These children are very expensive, but they pay off down the road."
La Opinion quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about Republican candidates' appeal among Latino voters.
MedIndia (India) featured a report by SPPD Professor Dowell and John Pitkin of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group, which found that the U.S. immigrant population is becoming increasingly long-settled. The report projects that by 2030, a majority of the nation's foreign-born population will have lived in the U.S. for at least two decades. "We're marking a major transformation in America," Myers said.
KPCC-FM featured a report by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers and John Pitkin of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group which found that the U.S. immigrant population is becoming increasingly long-settled. The report projects that by 2030, a majority of the nation's foreign-born population will have lived in the U.S. for at least two decades. The Sacramento Bee also noted Myers saying, "We're marking a major transformation in America."
The Los Angeles Times quoted Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development about the median household income and poverty rate in L.A. County. Myers was also quoted in a second article in the L.A. Times.
The Oregonian quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development about Oregon's surge in Latino homeownership and decline in black homeownership.
KPCC-FM interviewed SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about his research on immigrants building wealth through real estate. "Real estate is key. Classically, immigrants buy properties and rent portions out to newer immigrants," Myers said. "Some say simply buying a house is middle class, and immigrants do that in 20 years, less than one generation." The story also cited Jody Agius Vallejo of the USC Dornsife College regarding her research on the Mexican American middle class.
The Sacramento Bee ran an op-ed by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers on how the American dream of home ownership can bring young Latinos and older whites together. Last decade's house "sellers were overwhelmingly white, but younger whites, unlike in the previous decades, were not replacing them as homeowners. ... So who were the buyers? Mostly Latinos. At decade's end, they accounted for 78.5 percent of California's total growth in homeownership, and about 32 percent of new homeowners under 45 were Latinos."
The Daily Breeze quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers in a story about demographic changes in South Bay cities.
The Los Angeles Times published an op-ed about California's future homeowners that was based on research done by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development. The op-ed cited Myers' analysis of newly compiled census data on California homeownership that shows young Latino home buyers, and also Asians, took up the slack from diminished white demand for houses in the past decade and will in the coming years be even more important to the state's housing market as older whites retire and sell their homes.
The Los Angeles Times cited research by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development on California's future homeowners, and mentioned his book "Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contract for the Future of America."
The Philadelphia Inquirer quoted SPPD Distinguished Fellow Stan Ross about the housing demand that will result from Generation Y reaching adulthood. Ross is the chairman of the board at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
KPCC-FM cited a report by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers which used census data to illustrate a housing swap that is taking place between older white Americans and younger Latinos. L.A. Observed also cited the report.
L.A. Observed covered a report by a SPPD study which used census data to illustrate a housing swap that is taking place between older white Americans and younger Latinos.
KPCC-FM featured a report by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, which used census data to illustrate a housing swap that is taking place between older white Americans and younger Latinos. Over the last decade, California residents 75 and older have been selling off their homes in large numbers, but the state has only experienced a 1 percent net drop in home ownership rates, largely because of the number of young Latino homeowners entering the market. "It is young Latino home buyers, and also Asians, who have taken up the slack from diminished white demand," Myers told NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV. The Sacramento Bee and L.A. Weekly also featured the report.
The latest California census data show the state's oldest residents fled the housing market in greater numbers between 2000 and 2010 than during the previous two decades, according to a new report by USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development Professor Dowell Myers. This trend will likely worsen as the giant Baby Boomer generation -- which accounts for 3.3 million of California's 7 million homeowners -- nears retirement.
The Salt Lake Tribune quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development about his research on Latino immigrant integration and homeownership.
The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about changes in Mexican demographics.
CNN interviewed Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development about the history of Latino demographic growth in California.
The Orange County Register covered a USC Lusk Center for Real Estate briefing on Orange County, at which the center's chairman Stan Ross, who is Distinguished Fellow at SPPD, presented findings and led a panel discussion.
The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, author of "Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contract for the Future of America," about the aging baby boomer and school-age demographics.
National Public Radio (NPR) interviewed Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development about the impact retiring baby boomers will have on the real estate market as they downsize their homes.
The Fresno Bee quoted Gary Painter, SPPD professor and director of research at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, about Southeast Asian families buying affordable Habitat for Humanity homes in Fresno.
The Jewish Journal cited Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development regarding California's Proposition 13, and mentioned the Annual Demographic Workshop at USC.
Booth News Service cited a 2008 study by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers and colleagues about the impact retiring baby boomers will have on the real estate market.
The Fresno Bee quoted Gary Painter, SPPD professor and director of research at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, about Southeast Asian families buying affordable Habitat for Humanity homes in Fresno.
The Ventura County Star highlighted research by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers which identified declines in Ventura County's child population since the 2000 census.
The Wall Street Journal quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers on the impact retiring baby boomers will have on the real estate market as they downsize their homes.
USA Today cited research by Dowell Myers, professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, who identified declines in California's child population since the 2000 census.
CBS News Thousand Palms, Calif., affiliate KPSP-TV highlighted analysis of new census data by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers and colleagues at USC's Population Dynamics Research Group, who identified a rise in Riverside County households with unmarried couples over the last decade.
United Press International featured analysis of new census data by Dowell Myers, professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, which found that California's child population declined, as families moved out of state due to unemployment and high housing costs during the Great Recession. As a result, L.A. County workers may be in short supply in the future, Myers said. "The implications are that we really need to think about building a more supportive environment for families and kids," he added.
The Los Angeles Times featured analysis of new census data by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, which found that California's child population declined, as families moved out of state due to unemployment and high housing costs during the Great Recession. As a result, L.A. County workers may be in short supply in the future, Myers said. "The implications are that we really need to think about building a more supportive environment for families and kids," he added. A second USC report identified significant increases in the number of households with unmarried couples and single fathers since the last census in 2000. Short-term consequences include the closure of some schools, said Edward Flores, project manager of USC's Population Dynamics Research Group, in La Opinion. The research was also featured by in KPCC-FM's "Patt Morrison," in CBS News Los Angeles affiliate KCBS-TV, NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV, two stories in The Sacramento Bee (second linkhere), and The L.A. Weekly.
Los Angeles County is now the epicenter of California's shrinking population of young children as families are driven away by stressful economic conditions, according to a USC analysis of census data. Statewide, there was an 8.1 percent decline in children aged 5 to 9 in the last decade; L.A. County lost 21 percent. "We are ground zero of the 'missing children' of California," said co-author Dowell Myers, professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development.
The San Gabriel Valley Tribune quoted USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development Professor Dowell Myers and William Baer, SPPD professor emeritus, about census figures showing a rise in owner-occupied homes in certain area cities.
The Associate Press quoted Richard Green, SPPD professor and director of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, about a rise in California home and rental vacancy rates over the last decade.
The Riverside Press-Enterprise quoted Dowell Myers, professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, about new census figures showing that the average age of Inland Empire residents is lower than the average age in California overall.
The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about new census figures showing declines in San Diego County homeownership rates.
The Los Angeles Times featured a new report by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers, which found that California and Los Angeles County fared better on many indicators during the recent recession than the country as a whole. "It's surprising to see how well Los Angeles has fared despite greater losses that the nation in housing prices and employment," Myers told NBC News Los Angeles affiliate KNBC-TV. "This is the opposite of the 1990s recession when Los Angeles was hit so much harder than the nation." L.A. Observed also featured the report.
Even as housing prices plummeted and unemployment rates hit double digits, the so-called Great Recession did not correspond to a surge of Americans in poverty, according to a new USC study. Using the latest census figures, the study found conditions in California mostly improved since 2000. "It's surprising to see how well Los Angeles has fared despite greater losses than the nation in housing prices and employment," said lead author Dowell Myers, USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development professor.
KPCC-FM's "AirTalk" featured research by SPPD Professor Gary Painter and Jill Cannon of the Public Policy Institute of California, which found that compared with half-day kindergarten, full-day programs provided no meaningful gains on second-grade test scores or English fluency for English-language learners in the Los Angeles Unified School District. The story also highlighted a 2006 study by Painter and colleagues which indicated that while full-day kindergarten provided initial educational gains for kids and parents, by the third grade those who attended half-day classes had caught up to their peers. Painter is director of research of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
The Bay Citizen quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about census figures showing demographic changes in the Bay Area.
A longer kindergarten day offers few educational benefits for most students learning English as a second language, a new USC study shows, despite a broad national push toward an extended day to help at-risk children. The study, co-authored by SPPD Professor Gary Painter, published March 9 in the Journal of Policy Analysis and Management, found no meaningful gains on second-grade test scores or improvement in English fluency for the bulk of English-language learners who spent a full day in kindergarten compared to those in a half-day class.
The San Francisco Chronicle quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about new census figures showing a significant drop in Oakland's African American population.
The Orange County Register quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about the state's new census figures. The New York Times and the Washington Post also quoted Myers on the subject.
KPCC-FM's "Patt Morrison" interviewed SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about the new census figures. KCRW-FM's "Which Way, L.A.?" also interviewed Myers.
Do top city administrators reflect the growing diversity of California's communities? Student associations from the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development invited five alumni panelists to address this and related questions at "Cultivating Diverse Leadership: The Emerging Face of City Management."
L.A. Observed reported that SPPD Professor Dowell Myers will be one of the first fellows of the new nonpartisan Center for Social Cohesion, which will promote understanding of how diverse societies cohere.
Dilip Jeste, an expert in the field of aging, discussed his ongoing research on the criteria and determinants of successful aging Jan. 27 as part of the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics Seminar Series. Jeste, director of the Sam and Rose Stein Institute for Research on Aging at the University of California, San Diego, is at the forefront of research efforts to develop a definition, as well as criteria for, successful aging.
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about the demographics of San Marino, Calif.
The Globe and Mail (Canada) quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about a 2008 study he conducted with USC doctoral student Sung Ryu, which warned of a generational housing bubble that could burst as baby boomers begin to retire.
La Raza quoted Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and Manuel Pastor of the USC College about California demographics and new census figures.
Miller-McCune featured research by SPPD Associate Professor Gary Painter and a colleague at the University of Utah on the links between geographic location and home-buying trends among immigrants. The researchers identified a steady drift of new immigrants away from major gateway cities toward midsize cities and urban areas. "Our data suggest that immigrants are attracted to homes near active support networks of fellow immigrants and in places with lower rates of immigrant growth resulting in less competition for entry-level jobs," said Painter, director of research at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers on the effect of immigration and the recession on the demand for home buying.
The Sacramento Bee cited research by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers which found that in 2008, for the first time in California history, a majority of the population was California-born.
The Atlanta Journal-Constitution highlighted research by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers and quoted him about changing demographics that could affect the housing market.
La Opinion featured research by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers which found that fewer immigrants are arriving in Los Angeles, while more who have settled in L.A. are staying. Foreign-born residents made up 39.4 percent of the city's population in 2008, down from 40.9 percent in 2000, and immigrants who have lived in the United States for more than two decades made up 42.3 percent of L.A.'s foreign-born population in 2008, nearly triple the number in 1990. The story quoted SPPD student Janna Goldberg, who participated in the study.
The Washington Post, in an Associated Press story, quoted SPPD Professor Harry Pachon, president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, about the role of Latino voters in the upcoming California gubernatorial election.
American Public Media's "Marketplace" interviewed SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about the place of undocumented workers in society.
The Orange County Register cited a report by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers titled, "Thinking About Our Immigrant Future: New Trends and Mutual Benefits in Our Aging Society."
The San Antonio Express-News featured research conducted by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers and the school's Population Dynamics Research Group. In a report issued by the Center for American Progress, the team found that immigrants, particularly Latinos, are assimilating at a fast pace, with increasing citizenship and homeownership rates. "The energy that immigrants bring elevates the entire housing market," Myers said. "It's a story of commitment to America." The Arizona Daily Star and Poder also covered the story.
Reuters quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about the baby boomer population.
The Washington Post quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about the high level of college-educated residents in Washington, D.C.
BBC News interviewed SPPD Assistant Professor Elizabeth Currid-Halkett and S. Mark Young of the USC Marshall School of Business about celebrity marriages.
The Los Angeles Times featured research by SPPD Professor Dana Goldman which found that men over 40 who use erectile dysfunction treatments are two to three times more likely to pick up a sexually transmitted disease than their counterparts who don't take such drugs. The most common diseases found were HIV/AIDS and chlamydia, a Xinhua News Agency article stated. The fault lies not with the drugs but rather the high-risk behaviors of the men who request them, the researchers noted. The study was also covered by CBS News, CNN, Time, Forbes, Bloomberg Businessweek.
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Professor Harry Pachon, president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, about an effort to mobilize Latino voters in Arizona.
The New York Times highlighted work by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers in a story on global migration. Myers has studied Proposition 55, a 2004 California ballot initiative that sought $12.3 billion in bond sales to relieve overcrowding and upgrade older schools. Myers found that voters who saw immigration as a burden were nearly 9 percentage points more likely to oppose the measure than those who called immigration a benefit. "That's a big effect -- it was almost enough to take it down," he said, adding that the measure passed with barely 50 percent of the vote.
The SF Public Press cited a study through the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC which found that many Latinos are familiar with voice-over-Internet, or VoIP, service and positively associate it with lower telephone costs.
National Public Radio interviewed SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about a proposal to raise the minimum retirement age for state workers.
The Bell Gardens Sun featured research by SPPD students Josefina Campos, Jasmine Kim and Lauren Yokomizo, who found that street vendors have thrived in Boyle Heights in part due to the compassion and complicity of residents and legally permitted businesses.
The Latin American Herald Tribune (Venezuela) featured research by the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC on the impact of the Latino vote in some states with large Hispanic populations. In California, it would require 2.3 percent of the more than 2.96 million Latino votes to produce a variation of 1 percent in election results, the story stated.
Newsweek quoted Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development about changes to the demographic trends that drove an influx of illegal Mexican immigrants to the United States in recent years.
USA Today quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about an increase in household size, or the number of people living under one roof. "I think it's the young adults," he said. "Residential mobility has slowed down and when it slows down, they're back in their parents' houses or living with roommates." Myer is a housing demographer at USC, the story noted.
In a collaborative student-led effort, leading voices in minority health advocacy in Los Angeles came together at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development for a panel discussion on "Inequities in Minority Health: Access, Quality and Outcomes." The event, featuring representatives from the nonprofit, education and government sectors, covered a variety of pressing health care issues facing minority communities across the country.
The Contra Costa Times quoted SPPD Professor Harry Pachon about the role of community-based organizations in increasing Latino participation in the U.S. Census. Pachon is president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute.
Nearly 30 percent of LAUSD students in English Language Learning programs are not reclassified as proficient by the end of middle school, according to a report by the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute. More surprising, the majority of these students are born in the U.S. Six months after the report's release in October '09, the U.S. Department of Education's Office for Civil Rights has announced the launch of an investigation to determine whether the district's ELL students are being denied equal educational opportunities. The San Francisco office will meet with USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development professor and TRPI president Harry Pachon to discuss the report's findings.
For the first time in half a century, the percentage of foreign-born residents in the state of California is actually declining, according to a recent study in which the lead author was USC demographics professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development.
The Baltimore Sun highlighted a report by SPPD Associate Professor Gary Painter which found that the number of U.S. households in metropolitan areas fell by 1.2 million between 2005 and 2008, even as the population rose. Painter is director of research of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
Deutsche Presse-Agentur (Germany) featured research co-authored by SPPD's Dowell Myers which found that for the first time since the 19th century Gold Rush, California-born residents make up the majority of the population. "We thought that the number of foreign-born residents in the state would rise to about 30 percent before leveling off around 2020," Myers said. "Instead, we have reached the tipping point this year, with the percentage of foreign-born residents peaking at 26 percent."
Curbed L.A. featured the forthcoming book "Starstruck: The Business of Celebrity" by SPPD Assistant Professor Elizabeth Currid. In the book, Currid analyzes Getty Images' celebrity photo database to find out where celebrities hang out and with whom, and how that relates to city planning. Currid recently gave a talk about the concept in Massachusetts, the story noted.
The Annapolis Capital highlighted research by Gary Painter, SPPD associate professor and director of research at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate, which found that the number of U.S. households dropped by an estimated 1.2 million between 2005 and 2008, even though the population increased by 3.4 million in 80 of the largest metropolitan areas during that time.
USA Today featured research co-authored by SPPD professor Dowell Myers which found that for the first time since the 19th century Gold Rush, California-born residents now make up the majority of the population. The Los Angeles Times reported that the immigrant population in California has declined to less than 27 percent, after peaking three years ago, while the native-born population has increased to more than half. "Home-grown Californians are the anchor of our economic future," Myers said. "But people are living in the past. They still think we are fighting off hordes of migrants." The research was also covered by a second Los Angeles Times story, National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," and BusinessWeek.
A new study by researchers at USC's Lusk Center for Real Estate shows that an increasing number of new Americans are choosing to settle down in mid-size cities across the U.S., lured by less competition for jobs and growing neighborhoods of fellow immigrants. The study was co-authored by USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development associate professor Gary Painter and Zhou Yu, assistant professor at the University of Utah.
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about population growth in Southern California. Myers says newcomers are probably younger people from other parts of the country wanting to give the new region a try.
The Orange County Register highlighted research by SPPD Associate Professor Gary Painter which found that from 2000 to 2005 the number of recently arrived immigrants increased in smaller metropolitan cities. "Nurturing links within the immigrant community is key to building a new rank of homeowners," said Painter, director of research at the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
SPPD Ph.D. student Yiming Wang recently won the Springer Award for outstanding paper in the field of regional science for his essay, "Decomposing the Entropy Index of Racial Diversity: In Search of Two Types of Variance." Wang was presented with the award at the 49th Western Regional Science Association Annual Meeting, and his paper will be published in The Annals of Regional Science, the WRSA's official journal.
The Trojan League of Los Angeles showcased the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development on Feb. 27 at its annual benefit, which featured the theme "Creating Ideas That Shape the World." Each year, the alumnae group selects a distinguished USC department, school or individual to honor.
Southern California Public Radio, in an Associated Press story, quoted SPPD Professor Harry Pachon about the census campaign targeting tech-savvy Latino youth. "Young people are sort of an intermediary between the all-English world and the all-Spanish world, so it makes a lot of sense to use the young people as transmitters of information," said Pachon, president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute.
Voice of America quoted SPPD Professor Harry Pachon about the U.S. Department of Education's announcement that it will investigate the teaching of English-language learners in Los Angeles public schools. Pachon is president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute.
Fox & Hounds Daily cited Professor Dowell Myers about the need for more college graduates and skilled workers who will be able to buy the houses of retiring baby boomers.
USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development Professor Dowell Myers testified before the Joint Committee on the Master Plan for Higher Education at the State Capitol in Sacramento in February. Myers stressed the importance of older voters supporting higher education for youth, given the aging trend shaping the state's future.
North County Times published an Associated Press story that quoted SPPD Professor and president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, Harry Pachon, about political participation by minorities.
La Opinion noted that Professor Dowell Myers participated in a national teleconference on immigration reform. Myers said that immigration reform drives the development of countries. Latinos are major buyers of housing in California, he noted.
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about news that California's population grew less than 1 percent in the last year, representing the slowest growth rate in more than a decade. Myers said the slowdown in growth provided a welcome respite that state policymakers should use to look ahead and plan for the future. "This is a wake-up call," Myers said. "We have a brief breathing spell, but we should not be lulled into complacency because growth will resume, and we have to get ready for it."
The Arizona Republic quoted SPPD Professor Harry Pachon about a new bill introduced by Rep. Luis Gutierrez that would allow millions of illegal immigrants to become U.S. citizens and end a controversial program that enlists local police to enforce immigration laws. "I don't think that even Congressman Gutierrez expects his bill to pass," Pachon said. "He's showing a willingness to fight. And he's putting pressure on the Obama administration to act." Pachon is president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute.
Speaking before an audience of more than 100 at the California Chamber of Commerce in Sacramento, Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, discussed how the history and future of Prop. 13 are headed in divergent directions. The lecture, "Demographics of Proposition 13: Rewriting the Old Script for a New Future," was part of the Critical Issues in Public Policy series at the USC State Capital Center.
The Los Angeles Daily News cited research by the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC which stressed the importance of getting students out from under the designation of "English-language learner" before they enter high school. The study found that nearly three out of 10 L.A. English-learner students spent years in English language instruction courses without being reclassified as English-fluent, and that students who moved out of English-learner classes by the third grade scored up to 40 points higher on standardized tests than students who remained in the classes.
Bucking the trend of the recent economic downturn, the Career Services Office at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development drew a record-high attendance among employers and students alike for its Fall Networking Night. More than 100 graduate and undergraduate students packed the Radisson Hotel Ballroom Oct. 13 to meet and interact with nearly 80 employers representing the public, private and not-for-profit sectors.
USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development Assistant Professor Lisa Schweitzer is among a team of USC researchers to receive a $505,000 award from the National Institutes of Health for a new project, "Access to Scientific Information and Services for Latino Families with Autistic Children."
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about Abel Maldonado, a Republican California state senator who has been nominated for lieutenant governor. The article reported that Maldonado faces opposition from both Democrats and Republicans, with Democrats objecting along party lines and Republicans angered by his endorsement of tax hikes. However, the article noted that Maldonado is Latino, a representative of California's fastest-growing ethnic demographic. "The Democrats now have to think about voting against a Latino," Jeffe said. "And so do the Republicans."
The Sacramento Bee quoted SPPD Professor Dowell Myers about the market for expensive homes that aging baby boomers might want to sell when they retire. Myers said that California's always-dependable supply of homebuyer migrants from cold climates is no longer assured. The story reported that birthrates in Mexico have fallen, meaning fewer arrivals from the south. In 2002, native-born Californians became a majority of the state's population for the first time in modern history, Myers noted.
The Los Angeles Times cited research by the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC which stressed the importance of getting students out from under the designation of "English-language learner" before they enter high school, when the chances of dropping out increase. "The United States has never learned what is the best way to teach English to English learners," said SPPD Professor Harry Pachon, president of the institute. "That's really a shortcoming." The research was also featured by National Public Radio's "All Things Considered," the Associated Press, the Los Angeles Daily News, and La Opinion.
A USC study has found a good reason to check the expiration date on market foods. Researchers, working with residents in lower-income areas of Los Angeles, counted at least one expired poultry, beef or dairy product in about a third of the store visits made over a one-year period. USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development professor LaVonna Lewis presented some of the project's data at the 2009 California REACH US Conference.
The Wall Street Journal featured research by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers. The study found that California's falling home prices have widened the generational wealth gap created by the state's Proposition 13, which limited property tax rates. According to the research, people who recently bought homes have suffered the greatest loss of housing value but are getting the least tax relief. The study concluded that if the price of California property stays depressed for a while, the most recent buyers will suffer the most.
The Santa Fe New Mexican quoted Professor Harry Pachon about a new report showing an increasing number of minority voters in the United States. The changing electorate reflects the current America, Pachon said. "These numbers show that the U.S. has become a multicultural nation," he added. "Before, minority issues were black and white. Now they're multi-ethnic." Pachon is president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, the story noted.
The San Francisco Chronicle quoted Professor Dowell Myers about demographic changes in California. No state has changed as much since the late 1970s as California has, Myers said. The state's electorate is becoming less and less representative of its diverse population, which isn't good for democracy, he added.
The Huffington Post quoted Professor Dowell Myers about demographic changes in the housing market. Myers has pointed to a huge sea change in the ratio of buyers and sellers that will put downward pressure on housing values over the next two decades, the story stated. "The baby boom generation has pushed up housing prices over the past three decades, as they steadily moved up the ladder and bought housing," he said. "So people think the last three decades are normal. But at some point boomers will start to cash out."
The Los Angeles Times quoted Professor Harry Pachon about the community support role of the Mexican Consulate in Los Angeles. The consulate has long served as a bridge between the U.S. and Mexico, but has become increasingly active in recent years, Pachon said. "It reflects the recognition by Mexico that a significant portion of its people are living in the United States. This is one of a series of steps helping the Mexican consulate be a relevant factor in the community."
The Sacramento Bee featured a study on California demographics by SPPD's Population Dynamics Research Group. The researchers found declining in-migration, high birth rates and a strong inclination of those born in the state to remain here -- factors which mean that the state will have to look inward for workers rather than relying on immigrants from elsewhere. "California is undergoing profound change from a land of migrants to one with a much more settled population," the researchers reported. "A majority of young adults, and soon the middle-aged, are native Californians whose entire lives have been shaped in the state."
California Gov. Arnold Schwarzennegger appointed Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development to be part of a newly created census panel that will oversee the upcoming federal census in California.
The Cape Cod Times cited a report by Professor Dowell Myers regarding a potential labor shortage as the baby boom generation retires. Over the next 20 years, the number of retirees relative to the number of working-age Americans will increase by 67 percent, according to Myers.
The San Antonio Express-News cited Professor Dowell Myers about demographics and the future of Social Security. The ratio of retired persons to workers will "compound to a 67 percent growth over the 20-year period," Myers said. "The implications for mass retirements and the struggle for replacements in the work force are profound as well," Myers wrote in his book Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contract for the Future.
The Los Angeles Times quoted Professor Dowell Myers about slowing immigration to outlying areas of Los Angeles. The change is a "temporary pause," and immigration will probably rise again as the economy recovers, Myers said. "Immigrants always respond to the economy," he explained. "The boom and bust cycle is totally normal."
The San Francisco Chronicle quoted Professor Dowell Myers about demographic changes afoot in California. "California is aging as the rest of the country is, but it's ahead of the curve in diversity and behind the curve in aging, and that's our big advantage," Myers said. "We have a more useful workforce, and we have more young people in school. That costs more money up front, but it will repay huge benefits in 10 years when the rest of the country has few young people."
The Los Angeles Times quoted Professor Harry Pachon about the hotly contested congressional election taking place in the San Gabriel Valley. The top candidates are a Latino man and an Asian woman, the story noted. "Ethnicity is a factor," Pachon said. "But it's not the only factor." Pachon is president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, the story noted.
The Los Angeles Times quoted Professor Dowell Myers about the increase in California's naturalized Asian and Latino population. The surge in new citizens will accelerate by several years the California electorate's shift from majority-white to nonwhite, Myers said. Although that shift won't be completed until 2026, Latinos, Asians and African Americans are already joining with progressive whites to elect ethnically diverse candidates, he noted.
The Xinhua News Agency (China) cited Professor Dowell Myers about racial demographics and politics in California. The surge in naturalized citizens will accelerate by several years the California electorate's shift from majority white to nonwhite, Myer said. Although that shift won't be completed until 2026, Latinos, Asians and African Americans are already joining with progressive whites to elect ethnically diverse candidates, Myers and other analysts predict.
The Los Angeles Times quoted Professor Harry Pachon about the American dream among Latinos. "It's the dream of having a single-family house and a white picket fence and a dog," Pachon said. Pachon is president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, the story noted.
The image of California as a land of migrants is being shattered by demographic data indicating the emergence of a newer generation of Californians that is homegrown and willing to stay in the state, according to a new study by USC researchers. The study found that today's teens and young adults will be the first generation in California history whose majority will be California-born when they assume positions of leadership in middle age.
Christian Science Monitor highlighted "The Geography of Buzz," a study by Assistant Professor Elizabeth Currid. Currid and a colleague at Columbia University tracked geo-coded photos from Getty Images to create heat maps charting the most socially active hubs in L.A. and New York. "A sense of place has always been fundamental to everything that happens in the world," Currid said. "And all this new technology only highlights that idea: geography is basic to the way we live."
The New York Times featured a new report by Professor Dowell Myers, called "The New Homegrown Majority in California." Myers and colleagues found that for the first time in California's modern history, a majority of young people in the state were born here, the story reported. More than 70 percent of 15-to-24-year-olds living here in 2007 were native born, while almost two-thirds of 45-to-54-year-olds were born elsewhere, as were about 61 percent of those aged 35 to 44 and some 54 percent of those aged 25 to 34. "It's a watershed moment," Myers said. "There has been so much focus on immigrants, on outsiders. Now we have all these insiders. These are people who carry the future, and they're mostly homegrown."
The New York Times featured a new report by Dowell Myers called "The New Homegrown Majority in California." Myers and colleagues found that for the first time in California's modern history, a majority of young people in the state were born here, the story reported. More than 70 percent of 15-to-24-year-olds living here in 2007 were native born, while almost two-thirds of 45-to-54-year-olds were born elsewhere, as were about 61 percent of those aged 35 to 44 and some 54 percent of those aged 25 to 34. "It's a watershed moment," Myers said. "There has been so much focus on immigrants, on outsiders. Now we have all these insiders. These are people who carry the future, and they're mostly homegrown."
The Stockton Record featured new research by Professor Dowell Myers finding that California's population will soon be mostly "homegrown" instead of coming from other states or countries. This large demographic shift indicates that more Californians are staying closer to home, that fewer workers from elsewhere will be available to fuel the economy, and that the state's institutions will be held more accountable, the story stated. The report is called "The New Homegrown Majority in California: Recognizing the New Reality of Growing Commitment to the Golden State."
The San Francisco Chronicle featured research led by Professor Dowell Myers of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development discovering that "homegrown" Californians will soon outnumber those who came from elsewhere. The story noted that more than 70 percent of teens and young adults were born in California, up from barely half in 1990. "People have felt it's a state full of newcomers, every man for himself, we don't need to invest in the next generation because they're different," said Myers. "We're waking up to the fact that we're a self-reliant state whose future depends on who is here already." Click to view full report.
The Los Angeles Times featured research by SPPD Professor Dowell Myers concluding that "homegrown" Californians will soon outnumber those who came from elsewhere. More than 70 percent of Californians aged 15 to 24 were born and raised in the state, while nearly two-thirds of state residents aged 45 to 54 were born out of state. "It's a sea change in demography but also in political perceptions," Myers said. "We've transformed from being a state of migrants to a settled state of native Californians. We're basically becoming more self-reliant on who we have here."
U.S. News & World Report featured a study by the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC on Latino enrollment in public schools. Latino children now are in the majority or near majority in a number of large districts, the study found. In Chicago, 45.1 percent of first graders are Hispanic, compared with 41.1 percent of sixth graders and 35.2 percent of 12th graders. Latinos constitute 74.5 percent of first graders in Los Angeles, 63.1 percent in Houston, 68.6 percent in Dallas, and 53.6 percent in San Jose, Calif.
During a recent discussion held at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, Rep. Linda Sanchez (D-Calif.) shared personal lessons and political insights from her book, Dream in Color: How the Sanchez Sisters Are Making History in Congress (Grand Central Publishing, 2008).
On Feb. 24, Rep. Hilda Solis (D-El Monte) was confirmed by the Senate to become Secretary of the U.S. Department of Labor for President Obama's administration. Solis graduated from the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development in 1981 with a master of public administration degree.
The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted Dowell Myers about how shrinking family sizes in Mexico could decrease immigration into the United States. American authorities are building a 670-mile fence along the border to stop more from coming, but some say such a measure is overkill, the story stated. "It's like building a dike for a flood that might not be there," Myers said. This story was carried widely.
The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development marked its 80th anniversary by hosting a special colloquium Jan. 16 at the Davidson Conference Center. During the conference, Dean Jack H. Knott noted that SPPD remains dedicated to advancing academic theory and making a vital impact in the world.
La Opinion quoted Professor Harry Pachon about the future of the Republican Party. The party will have to reach out to Latinos if it hopes to build its electoral base, Pachon said. There are two reasons for the high number of potential Latino voters: the naturalization of immigrants and a new generation of young Latinos who have reached voting age, he explained. Pachon is president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute.
During a Dec. 19 press conference in Chicago, President-elect Barack Obama nominated Rep. Hilda Solis (D-El Monte) for Secretary of the U.S. Labor Department. Solis is an alumna of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, graduating with a master of public administration degree in 1981.
USA Today quoted Professor Dowell Myers about the increase in the number of Hispanics fluent in English. Homeownership and naturalization are more important gauges of assimilation than English fluency, but language is the most visible, Myers said. "What affects people the most is the language around them," he explained. "It's the most symbolic ... a real flashpoint."
The Los Angeles Times quoted Professor Dowell Myers about census data showing growing diversity in Southern California's suburbs. The trend reflects a broad breakdown of past housing discrimination, Myers said. "Ethnic groups of all types are integrating into suburban neighborhoods. It's the new normal," he explained. "It's not about color and ethnicity in California anymore. It's about economic upward mobility."
The Los Angeles Times quoted Professor Dowell Myers about census methodology. The U.S. Census Bureau is offering data on a rolling basis in addition to the head count every 10 years. Some demographers are concerned that the rolling data could be misleading because it is averaged over time, the story reported. Averaging over time "only works if things aren't changing very much," Myers said. "When you have a steep trend, you want to know where things are changing now. You don't want to know where it was changing two years ago."
The impact of Hurricane Katrina continues to be felt in the New Orleans region and beyond as researchers and policymakers examine what went wrong and how to deal with the effects of a similar disaster in the future. The latest contribution comes from a team of professors at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, who edited and wrote chapters for Natural Disaster Analysis After Hurricane Katrina: Risk Assessment, Economic Impacts and Social Implications.
The San Antonio Express-News featured research by the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, Sallie Mae and Gallup Inc. on Hispanics and college education. The study, "How America Pays for College," revealed that Hispanics went to universities with cheaper tuition costs than institutions Anglos and blacks attended, paying an average of about $4,300 less per year. TRPI was also cited as a source for other statistics featured in the story.
Professor Harry Pachon was quoted in the Los Angeles Times about the new citizenship test being phased in by U.S. immigration authorities. Some fear that the new format, which emphasizes concepts rather than facts, could result in examiners denying citizenship based on whims or prejudices, the story stated. For that reason, the new test is a "step backward," Pachon said. "There's latitude in answering the questions and that's where the problem lies," he explained. "There's potential for abuse and not knowing what to prepare for." Pachon is president of the Tomas River Policy Institute.
SPPD Professor Dowell Myers was quoted in Forbes about immigrant settlement patterns within the United States. New immigrants try to find a large community of immigrants with similar backgrounds, the story stated. "When people move to a new place, they want to be around those that they know," Myers said.
Professor Dowell Myers was quoted in the San Francisco Chronicle about California's budget and the state's need to plan for a demographic shift. "The state is trapped in this short-term cycle," Myers said. "If we didn't have term limits maybe we could keep Schwarzenegger around for another four or eight years and we could straighten it out," Myers added. "But we're trapped in a deadly spiral of short-term disaster."
SPPD Professor Dowell Myers was quoted in a New York Times story about demographic changes that may favor Democrats. A younger, native-born Latino generation that has a tendency to support Democrats is coming of age, Myers said.
Harry Pachon was quoted in a San Diego Union-Tribune story about the Latino vote in the November presidential election. "I think there's no doubt that the Latino vote is going to go Democratic," Pachon said. "The real question is how Democratic," he added. "Obama cannot be satisfied with just getting a majority. He's got to get a big majority because the incremental vote for McCain could make a difference." Pachon is president of USC's Tomas Rivera Policy Institute, the story noted.
Dowell Myers was quoted the USA Today about baby boomers and Latino immigrants. For a nation bracing to support 79 million baby boomers in their old age, the growing and younger population of Latinos should be viewed as economic salvation, Myers said. "Children are always a fiscal burden, yet children are also the lifeblood of every community," he explained. "What's killing Japan and threatening the economic future of Europe is that they don't have enough kids, and that's what's depriving these rural areas in America," he added. Myers is the author of Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contract for the Future of America, the story noted.
Harry Pachon was interviewed on "CNN Newsroom" about Robert F. Kennedy's legacy. "The national focus on the Hispanic community is something that was new," Pachon said. "He reached out and you felt that there was really a coalition that could be made of black, Latino and white working class of, you know, voters. We all have something in common. It was very powerful at that time." Pachon is president of the Tomas Rivera Policy Institute at USC, the story noted.
Prof. Dowell Myers was quoted in U.S. News and World Report about variations among immigrant populations. "Asians show up with a lot more money, oftentimes," Myers said. "They have a higher education to begin with, and many of them are entrepreneurs." The Asian experience recalls a general rule of today's immigrants: The farther you have to migrate, the wealthier you probably were in your country of origin, the story stated. "Poor people can't afford a plane trip across the ocean, but poor people can walk across the border," Myers explained. "Poor Africans and poor Chinese can't do it."
Prof. Dowell Myers was quoted in an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal about immigration policy. Public discourse on the subject can be colored by what Myers calls the "Peter Pan Fallacy," the story stated. "Many of us assume, unwittingly, that immigrants are like Peter Pan, forever frozen in their status as newcomers, never aging, never advancing economically, and never assimilating," Myers said. In this naive view, "the mounting numbers of foreign-born residents imply that our nation is becoming dominated by growing numbers of people who perpetually resemble newcomers," he said.
Prof. Dowell Myers was quoted in USA Today about an index aimed at measuring immigrant assimilation. An index is a futile effort, because different characteristics change at different rates, Myers said. Some changes happen in a few years, while others take a lifetime or even several generations, he said.
Professor Dowell Myers was cited in a Wall Street Journal story on Hispanic demographics in the United States. As Americans age and the baby boom generation retires, Latinos may help buttress the economy and the Social Security system, the article stated. The ratio of senior citizens to working-age people age 25 to 64 will grow to 411 seniors per 1,000 working-age people in 2030, from 250 per 1,000 in 2010, according to Myers.
Prof. Dowell Myers was quoted in a Los Angeles Times story about immigration policy. This week, a USC conference will bring together former federal housing secretary Henry Cisneros and other community leaders to explore ways to help immigrants better integrate into career-oriented jobs and civic life, the story reported. "It's in the self-interest of the older generation to have immigrants here," Myers said. "Even if you don't like it, you have to ask the question: Who's going to fill your jobs, buy your homes and pay the taxes for old-age support programs?" he asked. Myers is the author of the book Immigrants and Boomers: Forging a New Social Contract for the Future of America, the story noted.
A recent San Francisco Chronicle story featured research, led by Prof. Dowell Myers, regarding the potential impact of baby boomers on the housing market. Myers and USC doctoral student Sung Ryu co-authored a study warning of a "generational housing bubble" that could burst as baby boomers - who have held up housing prices since 1970 - begin to retire. "The Baby Boom generation was born over a period of 18 years, and once its sell-off commences, it could dominate the housing market for up to two decades," the researchers wrote.
Research Centers and Groups
The Tomás Rivera Policy Institute (TRPI) is a nationally recognized policy and research organization covering issues related to Hispanic and other low-income minority groups. Founded in 1985, the institute is also well-known in the political behavior field and for its accurate assessment of community attitudes. TRPI is a recognized leader in "college knowledge," specifically the tactics necessary for negotiating acceptance to and gaining the financial support for attending college.
SPPD and the USC College of Letters, Arts and Sciences have created a new center addressing the urgent need for knowledge about the successful integration of immigrants. The center aims to sponsor research and facilitate civic dialogue about the intersecting issues of immigrant settlement, economic mobility, social cohesion, and social equity.