The UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs takes pride in helping to improve society through undergraduate and graduate education in the fields of public policy, social welfare and urban planning. We hope that our research can also help drive transformative action that produces policy solutions for California.
To further this effort, the School presented its inaugural UCLA Luskin Briefing at UC Center Sacramento on Feb. 14, 2024.
The gathering featured two panel discussions coordinated by esteemed UCLA Luskin faculty members and their affiliated research centers in collaboration with elected officials, government agencies and other policy experts.
FACULTY PRESENTERS
In cooperation with affiliated research centers, two UCLA faculty members discussed their recent research findings.
Greg Pierce
Adjunct Associate Professor of Urban Planning; Co-Executive Director of the UCLA Luskin Center for Innovation
Changing How — and Where — Californians Get Their Water: UCLA Luskin researchers have examined which strategies work best for cities coping with dwindling water resources amid climate change. Research efforts that analyze water policy in six major metropolitan areas can guide legislators toward the best decisions on major statewide investments as the state of California transitions from reliance on imported water to increased usage of nontraditional sources such as recycled water, stormwater collection and desalination.
Michael Lens
Associate Professor of Urban Planning and Public Policy; Associate Faculty Director, Lewis Center
Responding to Homelessness Through Land Use and Zoning Policy: A Fair Housing Land Use Score developed at UCLA measures the extent to which local regulations promote inclusion across neighborhoods. The Southern California scorecard shows most city zoning and housing plans do not advance fair housing goals, in some cases exacerbating rather than reversing segregation. Excluding new housing from desirable neighborhoods likely contributes to housing scarcity and unaffordability, while increasing the risk of systemic homelessness.
OTHER PRESENTERS
Current legislators, representatives of government agencies and other policy experts provides insights during the panel discussion and Q&A sessions that followed.
Opening remarks
Anastasia Loukaitou-Sideris
Richard Kravitz
Closing Remarks
CA Assembly Democratic Caucus Chair and Assemblymember Rick Zbur
Cecilia Estolano
Changing How — and Where — Californians Get Their Water
Maria Mehranian
Gregory Pierce
Senator Ben Allen
Nichole Morgan
Responding to Homelessness Through Land Use and Zoning Policy
Tia Boatman Patterson
Michael Lens
Assemblymember Isaac Bryan
Sasha Kergan
Information is powerful only when it’s in a form that can guide achievable change. This year, the Luskin School is highlighting innovators — here and elsewhere — turning vision into reality and producing Transformative Action.
