November 4, 2009

The New York Times quoted SPPD Senior Fellow Richard Little about the new water package that would lead to a sweeping overhaul the state's troubled water system. "This is the most comprehensive water resources action that California has taken since the state water project in the '60s," Little said. "First of all, there is so much in it. And for the first time, they are tying ecosystem enhancement and environmental restoration directly to the infrastructure. Before, we always planned the projects and then mitigated the impacts. Now it is all on co-equal footing." The Riverside Press-Enterprise also quoted Little on the subject.

October 12, 2009

American Public Media's "Marketplace" interviewed Professor Dana Goldman about current health care reform efforts. "This is a rather historic effort to provide insurance to most Americans. But this is not an effort to do anything on cost containment," said Goldman, director of the USC Schaeffer Center for Health Policy and Economics. Rather than being paid based on the quantity of services they provide, doctors should be rewarded for using treatments that save money and lives, Goldman added. "If the patient does well, then the hospital gets paid, the doctor gets paid," Goldman said. "And if the patient doesn't do well, then they're going to have to bear the cost. And ultimately, that would've been a really valuable change."

Ed Roski Jr., chairman and CEO of Majestic Realty Co. and president of the USC Board of Trustees, gave a behind-the-scenes look at the proposed NFL stadium during a special event presented by the SPPD Athenian Society at Pacific Palms Resort in the City of Industry. The Athenian Society is the premiere donor group of the USC School of Policy, Planning, and Development.

October 1, 2009

The Wall Street Journal mentioned SPPD Adjunct Professor Erroll Southers in a story about efforts to revive a national Registered Traveler program. According to the story, the resurrection of such a program could depend on Southers, who was recently nominated to head the Transportation Security Administration. Southers would have to support the decision to implement such a program, the story noted.

September 30, 2009

La Opinion quoted Professor Richard Green and cited research by Professor Dowell Myers in a story about Proposition 13, which limits property tax rates. Most economists and experts agree that property tax is a less regressive option compared with sales tax, said Green, who is director and chair of the USC Lusk Center for Real Estate. Myers, who has studied the subject, said that Proposition 13 needs reform because new generations will buy homes at higher prices and pay more taxes than previous generations. Young people will subsidize those who paid less for older homes, he explained.