Wasserman on the New York MTA’s Varied Revenue Stream

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The New York Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) is poised to benefit significantly from three downstate casino licenses awarded in December 2025 to Bally’s, Hard Rock, and Genting’s Resorts World. Analysts say the deals provide both immediate and long-term financial gains. According to Ion Analytics, the MTA has already secured $1.5 billion in upfront licensing fees and is expected to receive hundreds of millions annually from gaming tax revenues, potentially nearing $1 billion per year by 2036.

The MTA’s revenue stream has what research program manager at the UCLA Institute of Transportation Studies Jacob Wasserman calls a “mixed pool,” consisting of various sources including real estate taxes and a payroll mobility tax. Wasserman called this variety necessary and stated that “One-time revenue streams match well with one-time capital projects. But on the operating side, an agency would prefer a steadier revenue source to match ongoing expenses.” Ultimately, his perspective points to the ongoing challenge of aligning short-term gains with long-term transit needs.

Looking Back on Route 66’s Historical Role in Westward Migration

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Route 66, known as the Mother Road, marks its 100th anniversary this year, prompting reflection on its complex legacy as both a symbol of American mobility and a site of racial exclusion. In an article by LAist, the historic highway is examined not only as a pathway for westward migration, but also as a dangerous route for Black Americans fleeing Jim Crow-era oppression.

Built in 1926 and spanning more than 2,000 miles, Route 66 became a key corridor for migration, commerce and military movement. However, for Black travelers, the journey was fraught with segregated accommodations, sundown towns and the constant threat of violence.

Today, Route 66 is no longer part of the U.S. highway system, surpassed by the newer Interstate Highway System and the 10 Freeway. Professor of public policy and urban planning at UCLA Michael Stoll notes that rising housing costs and gentrification are continuing to reshape where Black families live in Southern California, with many moving to regions like the Inland Empire and Antelope Valley. His comments underscore how transportation systems—from Route 66 to modern freeways—have long played a role in shaping community formation, access and inequality.

David C. Turner III on Movement Building and Strengthening Unity in Resistance

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In a Guardian op-ed, David C. Turne rand Eric Morrison-Smith argue that internal division is one of the greatest threats to contemporary resistance movements. They contend that ego, ideological rigidity, and mistrust weaken coalitions at a time they describe as rising authoritarianism in the United States.

Turner, assistant professor of Black life and racial justice at UCLA, calls for movements to prioritize relationship-building, accountability, and transformative justice practices that repair harm without reproducing punitive systems. He highlights findings from years of organizing and surveying more than 35,000 Los Angeles residents, noting a consistent message since the 2020 uprisings: “divest from punishment and invest in people,” which he describes as reflecting broad moral clarity across communities.

The CPUC’s Plans for an Unprecedented Building Decarbonization

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California’s SB 1221 introduces a first-of-its-kind approach to decarbonization by shifting from individual building upgrades to neighborhood-wide transitions away from natural gas. According to Legal Planet, the California Public Utilities Commission is developing pilot program guidelines, due by July 2026, but key details remain unresolved. The policy aims to cut emissions, retire aging gas infrastructure and deliver benefits like improved air quality and potential cost savings.

The UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation is helping shape the conversation through a detailed FAQ that expands on official guidance and provides independent analysis of the law’s rollout. The guidelines for this program are a major part of Senate Bill 1221, which was recently signed into law by Governor Newsom, and will hopefully answer some of these questions when they are finalized by this upcoming July.

Ong on Asian Surname Growth Trends in the U.S.

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New data released by the U.S. Census Bureau, reported by the Associated Press, reveals  that Asian surnames are taking the lead as the fastest-growing surnames in the country. While traditional surnames like Smith, Williams, and Johnson still hold the top spots, Asian surnames–particularly Zhang, Liu, and Wang–are quickly climbing the ranks. Representing 7% of the U.S. population, Asians are also the fastest-growing racial or ethnic group in the country,

UCLA research professor and director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge Paul Ong notes that immigration has been central to this growth. “Much of the growth of the Asian population has been driven by immigrants and their children,” he said, adding that policy shifts could slow that trajectory. “Consequently, when Asians crack the top surname rank will be pushed further into the future.”

Shane Phillips Weighs In on San Diego’s Proposed Vacancy Tax

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A Los Angeles Times article highlights San Diego’s upcoming vote on a “non-primary home” tax. The proposal would impose an $8,000 annual tax on homes left vacant for more than half the year, potentially generating up to $24 million to support housing efforts. It targets an estimated 5,000 underutilized properties in a city where housing costs remain among the highest in the nation.

Supporters argue the tax could increase housing availability and discourage vacancies, while critics question its financial burden on homeowners and the allocation of revenue.

UCLA Lewis Center for Regional Policy Studies housing manager Shane Phillips commented on the policy, stating, “This is a policy, essentially, to bring luxury housing back onto the market.” He emphasized that “we are talking very small stakes compared to the scale of the crisis and the need.”

Zev Yaroslavsky Reflects on Declining Quality of Life in Los Angeles Times Report

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A new Los Angeles Times report highlights a continued decline in quality of life across Los Angeles County, according to UCLA Luskin’s 11th annual Quality of Life Index, which has fallen to its lowest point since the survey began in 2016. The index score dropped to 52, driven by widespread declines in satisfaction across nearly all major categories, including education, transportation, public safety, and cost of living. Six categories reached decade lows, underscoring persistent concerns about affordability, infrastructure, and safety.

The report finds that residents continue to feel the compounding effects of recent crises, including the COVID-19 pandemic, rising housing costs, immigration enforcement actions, and devastating wildfires. Cost of living remains the most significant driver of dissatisfaction, with housing, utilities, groceries, and taxes increasingly cited as key pressures.

Zev Yaroslavsky, director of the Los Angeles Initiative at UCLA, noted the cumulative toll of these challenges, saying, “We’ve been through a lot in the last five years: COVID, increases in the cost of living, immigration sweeps, and the Altadena and Palisades fires. [They all] have taken their toll on virtually every aspect of our lives,” and adding, “People haven’t had a chance to come out of the water and take a breath.”

Despite the decline, the survey shows resilience, with most residents still optimistic about their economic future and a strong majority viewing L.A. as offering access to a “good life.”

“I think people still have hope and still think things can get better,” Yaroslavsky said. “There’s a lot of resiliency in L.A., … especially in the immigrant population,”

Paul Ong on the Raid Podcast Talks Immigration Shifts and the Impact on Communities of Color

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In a recent appearance on the Raid Podcast, Paul Ong, director of the Center for Neighborhood Knowledge, discusses how current immigration enforcement is reshaping both policy and identity in the United States. Drawing on his research on ICE arrest rates and raids, Ong explains that the country is at a pivotal moment, with a significant transformation underway in how immigration is defined and enforced.

He highlights the concept of “othering,” noting that efforts to narrowly redefine who is considered American have evolved over decades and accelerated under the Donald Trump administration. Ong also emphasizes how enforcement strategies, including deportations, are part of a broader political agenda, compounded by limited available data. Reflecting on his own family’s experiences with deportation fears, he underscores the lasting impact of immigration policies on communities of color and the nation’s demographic future.

“I do not see the administration backing away from pursuing mass deportation,” Ong said. “What I do see is them changing their strategies and tactics to minimize the push back.”

Listen to the full podcast on Spotify or Apple Podcast.

A Toss-Up in the LA Mayor’s Race

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A UCLA Luskin poll finding that the Los Angeles mayor’s race is currently a toss-up received wide coverage from local, national, and international media outlets.

The poll of likely LA primary voters, part of the annual Quality of Life Index produced by UCLA Luskin’s Los Angeles Initiative, found that 40% are undecided.

The Los Angeles Times initiative De Los viewed the survey results through the lens of the Latino electorate, where the undecided vote is 44% just two months from the June 2 primary vote.

Other outlets highlighting the survey include the Los Angeles Daily News, USA Today, Newsweek, Politico, Britain’s Daily Mail, Fox11 News and Spectrum News1.

Gen Z Demands More: Andrea Escobar on California’s Leadership Gap

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Since November 2025, MPP student Andrea Escobar has traveled across California attending gubernatorial forums in her role as a Senior Fellow at Unseen, engaging directly with candidates on issues including health access, environmental justice, and housing affordability. Drawing from these experiences, Escobar co-authored a CalMatters op-ed that reflects her perspective as a Gen Z Latina seeking clarity on who is prepared to lead the state.

Public Policy student Andrea Escobar's headshot

Andrea Escobar

In the piece, Escobar offers a grounded and urgent critique of the current gubernatorial race, arguing that candidates are failing to meet the moment for Generation Z. She emphasizes the widening gap between the promise of the “California Dream” and the reality facing students today. She highlights the financial strain of higher education and cost of living, noting, “As a full-time student, I have to balance two jobs to afford tuition and rent in Los Angeles.”

Escobar’s critique centers on candidates’ lack of bold, actionable plans particularly around economic mobility, affordable housing, and education funding. She points out that young voters and Latino communities are often discussed in abstract terms rather than addressed through concrete policy proposals. This disconnect, she argues, risks alienating a generation already disengaged from the political process. As she puts it, “Without a clear plan to address the issues we care about, like college access and affordability, these candidates remain disconnected from mobilizing young voters like us.”

Read the full op-ed in CalMatters.