June 24, 2009
Richard DeBeikes Jr., president of the diversified real estate corporation DeBeikes Investment Co., has been elected to a five-year term on the USC Board of Trustees. DeBeikes, a 1978 graduate of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, is also outgoing president of the USC Alumni Association Board of Governors, having served for 2008-09.
June 8, 2009
A group of 150 USC alumni and prominent Trojans gathered at the Brookings Institution in Washington, D.C., on May 21 to hear a panel of experts assess the early accomplishments of the Obama administration and offer their prognosis for its future.
May 19, 2009
La Opinion quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about California's perennial budget woes. It's become apparent that the state has been ungovernable for a while now, Jeffe said. "When was the last time we had an effective governor?" she asked.
May 18, 2009
Congressional Quarterly quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about House Speaker Nancy Pelosi facing fire for her handling of the CIA harsh interrogation technique authorizations. Even though, barring any new disclosures, Pelosi is likely to surmount her difficulty, that doesn't mean she has been at her best, Jeffe said. By seeming to change her story and by parsing words, Pelosi hasn't handled the situation well, Jeffe added.
May 17, 2009
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about the close race for the congressional seat in the San Gabriel Valley. "[Gil] Cedillo has got to mobilize his base," Jeffe said. Rival Judy Chu needs to show voters she has support among Latinos, Jeffe added.
May 12, 2009
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.
April 25, 2009
The National Journal quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about the California gubernatorial race. "Whoever becomes governor [in 2010] is going to be faced with an absolute mess," Jeffe said.
April 24, 2009
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about California's gubernatorial race. "It takes a lot of luck and money and intelligence and timing, and heaven knows what else," Jeffe said.
April 24, 2009
The National Journal quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about Judy Chu's campaign to represent California's 32nd Congressional district. If Chu wins the election, local observers say she will be the first Asian American to represent the Southland in Congress. "It will be a breakthrough for Asians in a district in which they are true minority," Jeffe said.
April 20, 2009
Morris News Service quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about the "tea party" protests last week against President Obama's spending and tax plans. Polls indicate that most Americans don't agree with the protests, the story noted. "The public seems willing to go along with Obama's programs as long as they don't seem too permanent," Jeffe said.
March 24, 2009
As the Obama administration prepares to disperse economic stimulus money for infrastructure, a timely new book sheds light on special districts -- the "shadow governments" that will be responsible for spending a large portion of these funds. In her book, Paying the Toll, Louise Nelson Dyble, associate director for research at the Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, documented how the bridge district grew from well-intentioned public corporation with bipartisan support to notorious organization rife with corruption.
March 23, 2009
The Los Angeles Times reported that Raphael Bostic has been tapped by President Barack Obama to be assistant secretary for policy development and research in the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Bostic has served as a professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and as director of the master of real estate development degree program, the story noted. He is an expert on housing, mortgage markets, discrimination, market forecasting, urban economics and real estate regulations. "We are pleased that the administration has reached out to tap a member of our highly respected real estate and urban economics faculty and delighted to tell you that Dr. Bostic has assured us of his return to campus following his two-year post at HUD," a USC statement noted.
March 16, 2009
The Sacramento Bee quoted Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about contenders lining up for California's attorney general race. San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris has an advantage as the only female candidate in the field, Jeffe said. Harris also is helped by her identification with the Obama brand and ability to tap into Obama's organizing and fundraising networks, Jeffe explained.
March 6, 2009
National Public Radio interviewed SPPD Senior fellow Richard Little about President Obama's infrastructure stimulus plan, which designates tens of billions of dollars for so-called "shovel-ready projects." Little, director of the USC Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy, discussed the impact of those projects on the nation's economic crisis and decaying infrastructure. "Essentially, it's projects that can be gotten underway within 120 days, meaning they are out to bid and ready to proceed," Little said. "The emphasis is on getting people to work and spending money," he added.
February 27, 2009
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).
February 19, 2009
The Oregonian quoted Professor Richard Green about President Barack Obama's mortgage restructuring initiative. "It's a clever plan," Green said. "It might actually help the housing market bottom," he added. Green is director and chair of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate.
February 19, 2009
The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and the USC Annenberg School for Communication hosted the inaugural Dennis F. and Brooks Holt Professorship Lecture in Communication and Public Policy on Feb. 11. The Holt Professorship, a joint undertaking between the two schools, focuses on the role of communication in the policymaking process of a democratic society and market-based economy.
February 15, 2009
The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe and Dan Schnur, director of the Unruh Institute of Politics at USC College, about California's gubernatorial race. Senator Dianne Feinstein's name has come up as a possible contender, the story stated. "She's still thinking about it, but I don't see it happening, because she's got herself an incredibly powerful position right now," Jeffe said. "It seems likely we've spent more than a decade now waiting for Dianne Feinstein to decide whether to run for governor," Schnur said.
February 12, 2009
The Riverside Press-Enterprise quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about how Americans view corrupt politicians. "It depends on the office," Jeffe said. "Each case tends to be different," she explained. "It depends on the political environment of the time and the political culture of the state or district."
February 9, 2009
The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development and the World Bank signed an agreement designed to merge scholarly research and specific program initiatives to address sustainable development in the East Asia and Pacific Region. The signing ceremony took place during a conference in Washington, D.C., focusing on challenges facing megacities in the developing world.
February 4, 2009
La Opinion quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about the politics of being mayor in Los Angeles. It's better for a mayor to have more friends than enemies, Jeffe said.
February 4, 2009
Faculty and students at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development took part in a leadership training conference to help local government officials find solutions for public problems afflicting cities nationwide.
January 27, 2009
Agence France-Presse quoted Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger embracing progressive environmental policy. "At this point in time, the only legacy that he can hope for is the area of the environmental reform," Jeffe said. "The budget problem will override everything. But he can attempt to use this issue to grab the attention and change the subject for a little while. He's got nothing left, quite frankly."
January 26, 2009
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.
January 23, 2009
La Opinion quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about the inauguration of President Barack Obama. In his address, Obama did not try to sugarcoat the problems facing the country, Jeffe said. It was similar to the speech FDR gave when he took power amidst the Great Depression, she added.
January 20, 2009
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.
January 20, 2009
La Opinion quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about former President George W. Bush's role in tarnishing America's image in the world. Bush's policies generated the ill will abroad, Jeffe said.
December 22, 2008
The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development signed a formal agreement to participate in Fellows/USA, the Peace Corps' graduate fellowship program. This agreement will enable former volunteers to pursue a graduate education in public administration, public policy, urban planning, health administration and real estate development.
January 6, 2009
McClatchy Newspapers quoted Assistant Professor Elizabeth Currid in a story about Barack Obama's personal style. The historic nature of Obama's presidency, his iconic status in youth culture, and the viral marketing of the president-elect as the personification of cool have helped ensure that he will have a lasting impact on the world of fashion, Currid said.
January 6, 2009
Reuters quoted Richard Little about how President-elect Obama's proposed stimulus funds may be channeled into "shovel-ready" infrastructure projects. "We must save the patient first, then think about long-term strategy," Little said. "If the objective is to create jobs, we should focus on projects that are ready to go." Little is director of the USC Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy, the story noted.
January 1, 2009
La Opinion quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about President Barack Obama's Iraq policy. Obama will take concrete steps to accelerate the withdrawal of troops from Iraq, Jeffe said.
November 30, 2008
The San Diego Union-Tribune quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about how Barack Obama's election affects Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger's legacy. Obama's election "really saves Arnold's legacy," Jeffe said. "He can now focus on the environmental issues that are so dear to him and he'll have a much better chance of a positive response from the feds," she explained. "He's got a buddy in the White House who's not about to tell California to drop dead if they want to tighten their own standards."
November 20, 2008
The Asian Pacific Islander Caucus, a new student organization at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, hosted its inaugural event -- a panel discussion at Lewis Hall addressing key issues currently facing the Asian American community.
November 5, 2008
Agence France-Presse quoted SPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about John McCain's role in the Senate following his loss to Barack Obama. "I think that's the role he must play -- to be a bridge between Obama and the Republicans on the Hill," Jeffe said. "It's clearly the kind of role that McCain feels comfortable in. He built his reputation on working across the aisle and that is what he has to do again. It makes infinite sense for him to attempt to work in partnership with Obama."
November 12, 2008
The Congressional Quarterly quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about Rep. Henry Waxman. Waxman is reportedly trying to unseat veteran House Energy and Commerce Chairman John D. Dingell, in part by appealing to freshman legislators whose campaigns received contributions by the California congressman. "The last time this strategy was used by Henry, it worked," Jeffe said. "That tells me he has a good chance."
November 2, 2008
The North County Times quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about tomorrow's election. "There's no doubt that the most energizing issues are the presidential election and Prop. 8," Jeffe said. "Both are historic in nature, and both are generating intense interest and feelings," she added.
October 30, 2008
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe about the surge in Barack Obama ads hitting the airwaves. Obama has been outspending John McCain on ads because of a large fundraising advantage, the story stated. "If you have the money, you spend it," Jeffe said.
October 29, 2008
During an Oct. 21 panel hosted by the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, Los Angeles City Councilwoman Jan Perry said that the goal of downtown's revitalization effort is to restore "the excitement of an earlier time." The changing downtown landscape was the focus of the panel discussion, which took place inside City Hall. The event was part of the SPPD Dean's Speaker Series.
October 24, 2008
The Los Angeles Times quoted Assistant Professor Elizabeth Currid about Barack Obama's and John McCain's positions on arts funding. McCain's near silence on the issue shows indifference toward the arts, Currid said. "No one says they don't support the arts. But they say it implicitly," she added. Obama's proposals to bolster the arts with federal money and programs show that he has put his left foot forward to support the arts, Currid said.
October 14, 2008
The Los Angeles Times quoted SPPD Associate Professor Gary Painter about Barack Obama's plan to create a federal agency charged with helping states that are caught in the credit crunch. "It's really a small cost for the Treasury, but it could have really important benefits to keep the local governments running," Painter said.
October 13, 2008
The Orange County Register quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe regarding a news article about an anti-Obama Web site. "By writing a story about it, you're giving them the press they seek and are sending people there that wouldn't otherwise go," Jeffe said.
October 9, 2008
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe was quoted in the Orange County Register about a Web site aimed at "swift-boating" Barack Obama. "I don't think this particular Web site is effective," Jeffe said. "But you can't be sure it won't have some effect."
September 29, 2008
SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe was quoted in Australia's Canberra Times about Sarah Palin and how her foreign policy inexperience is unlikely to sow doubt among the conservative Republican base. "The party base doesn't care about foreign policy, so it should not be too much of a concern," Jeffe said. "But the media love affair [with Palin] is over," she added.
September 27, 2008
SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe was quoted in the Columbus Dispatch about the first presidential debate. "Obama did well enough," Jeffe said. "He showed he knew what he was talking about. I do believe the debate was more helpful to Obama in establishing himself on an even playing field on the issue of foreign policy," she added.
September 11, 2008
SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe was quoted in a USA Today story about Barack Obama's controversial "lipstick on a pig" comment, which John McCain's campaign has called sexist. "Lipstick on a pig" is the cousin of another old chestnut, the one about making a "silk purse out of a sow's ear," Jeffe said. "It means taking something that you can't change - that's a negative - and putting the best spin on it," Jeffe said. "It has nothing to do with sexism."
September 5, 2008
SPPD Adjunct Professor Dora Kingsley was interviewed on New York affiliate WNYC-FM about Sarah Palin. "I'm so pleased with the nomination of Gov. Palin and the opportunities that Sen. Clinton has afforded women in the process of making public policy and decision-making, and that's why I'm excited to be a Republican this year," she said. Kingsley is a delegate at the Republic National Convention in St. Paul, the story noted.
August 27, 2008
SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe was quoted by the San Diego Union-Tribune about Hillary Clinton's address at the Democratic convention last night. It was one of the best speeches Clinton has ever given, Jeffe said. "She really knocked it out of the ballpark," Jeffe added.
August 27, 2008
SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe was quoted in a Congressional Quarterly article about Barack Obama's need to win over Hillary Clinton supporters. The Democratic nominee faces a big challenge in attracting Clinton's "most rock-solid base: the 'Hillary women, '" Jeffe said. "They are not moving over to Obama, and probably won't even if Hillary goes all out," Jeffe added.
August 24, 2008
SPPD Senior Fellow Sherry Bebitch Jeffe was quoted in a widely carried story about Sen. Joe Biden. "He is a tough attack dog," Jeffe said. In introducing his vice presidential pick, Obama has explained how Biden commutes to Washington from his home in Wilmington. "That's their way of stressing his blue-collar roots and saying he's not part of the Beltway crowd," Jeffe said.
August 7, 2008
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe was quoted in the Rocky Mountain News about high demand for tickets to Barack Obama's nomination speech at the Democratic National Convention. The historic nature of the convention and the enthusiasm of Obama supporters will generate a huge demand for tickets, but there will be little downside from would-be attendees who get shut out, said Jeffe, senior fellow at SPPD. "People at this point in time are used to being locked out of concerts and sporting events. It happens. I really don't see people rising up in anger over not getting a ticket to the speech," she said.
July 8, 2008
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, senior fellow at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, was quoted in a New York Sun article about John McCain's campaign organization. Observers speculate that McCain may bring in Michael Murphy, a strategist in his 2000 presidential bid, to work on the campaign's message. However, this might be an awkward fit with Steve Schmidt, an operative from President Bush's 2004 campaign, who took over McCain's day-to-day operations last week. "I don't see a co-campaign manager dynamic working out," Jeffe said. "If Murphy comes in only to do the media, if they cut that piece off and that's his, that's one thing, but I don't think it's helpful to have two people calling the shots," she added.
July 6, 2008
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe, senior fellow at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, was quoted in a Columbus Dispatch article on how presidential candidates benefit from military experience. Military experience "does help a candidate make the case that his expertise goes beyond the boundaries of the United States," Jeffe said.
June 5, 2008
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.
June 1, 2008
William Fulton wrote an op-ed in the Los Angeles Times about developer Robert Maguire III's legacy in downtown Los Angeles. "The next time you're descending the stairs between McCormick & Schmick's and Starbucks in U.S. Bank Tower and gazing at the expanded Central Library, think of Robert Maguire," Fulton wrote. "His office building will probably go condo sooner than later, but the Bunker Hill Steps and the Central Library will forever be monuments to his deal-making genius. Even though he's now in his 70s, Maguire will probably be back in some form. After all, wily developers have at least nine lives -- and they usually go bankrupt between each one."
May 29, 2008
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development was quoted in the San Francisco Sentinel about widows of politicians who succeed their husbands. "When I was in college, it was said that the only way for a woman to get to Congress was wait for her husband to die," Jeffe said.
April 10, 2008
Sherry Bebitch Jeffe was quoted in a recent Politico news story about whether John McCain can win in California. "McCain is going to have a hard time in the state no matter whom he faces," said Jeffe, a senior fellow at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development. "This is a state that hates President Bush, and I don't see how John McCain will be able to totally disassociate himself from the president," she said. "This is a blue state. I just don't see the arithmetic working for McCain."
If anyone needs to get in touch with USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development graduate student Laura Peralta this summer, they can reach her at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. in Washington, D.C. Peralta, who is working toward her master of public administration degree, has earned the prestigious distinction of being one of 100 nationwide students selected to intern in the White House under President Barack Obama.
The USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development signed a memorandum of understanding with the South Korean government to provide graduate education and training for selected officials from Korea's Ministry of Public Administration and Security.
Raphael Bostic, a professor at the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development, and Elizabeth Garrett, USC's vice president for academic planning and budget and a professor at the USC Gould School of Law, have been asked to join President Obama's administration in Washington, D.C.
February 24, 2009
February 20, 2009