Calendar of Events

With the recent impact of the most severe recession since the Great Depression, and the elimination of redevelopment in California, literally, “Where did all the Money Go?”  And how can we still achieve the goals of Smart Growth and Sustainable Community planning?   This symposium will be a conversation with a selected group of UCLA alumni from our programs that are engaged in helping to shape those outcomes.  We will also discuss key issues students will eventually face as planners and policy analysts and how your education today can help with your professional challenges ahead. Redevelopment was a major land assembly and financing tool for economic development, and an important financing mechanism for affordable housing.  Now that it is essentially gone – except for completing the transfer of outstanding assets by the successor agencies, where is all the money going and how are jurisdictions coping?  How can we continue to plan effectively under these conditions, and what new financing and planning tools are on the horizon?  This is a dynamic and exciting time, although the future is far from certain. The Panelists will discuss the various key topics from their own work perspectives.  Professor Donald Shoup will make some introductory remarks about how the world of urban public finance has changed since he first started teaching this course over two decades ago. Panelists include: ▪ Moderator- Stan Hoffman, President, Stanley R. Hoffman Associates, UCLA MA Urban Planning, 1972 ▪ Cecilia Estolano, Principal, Estolano LeSar Perez Advisors, LLC, former Los Angeles CRA director, UCLA MA Urban Planning, 1991 ▪ Robb Steel, Director – Economic Development, former Redevelopment Director, City of Rialto, UCLA MA Urban Planning, 1981 ▪ Brian Gross, Senior Consultant, Waronzof, UCLA MA Urban Planning, 2002 ▪ Julio Morales, Finance Director, City of Huntington Park, UCLA MBA, 2003 ▪ Sarah McPherson Besley, Hollywood Properties Owners Alliance,  UCLA MA Urban Planning, 2007 ▪ Jeff Carpenter, retired, former Los Angeles CRA Senior Staff, UCLA MA Urban Planning, 1971