One Year Later - The Keston Institute to Host Infrastructure and Policy Experts in Roundtable Discussion on California's $42 Billion Commitment to Public Works

Business Wire, Oct 25, 2007

Public Forum To Evaluate The Progress Of The 2006 Infrastructure Bonds And Provide Recommendations For Their Implementation

Event To Take Place On November 8, 2007 At USC's Davidson Conference Center

LOS ANGELES -- The Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the University of Southern California announced today that it will host a roundtable discussion titled, "One Year Later - Progress Appraisal of the 2006 Infrastructure Bonds." This public discussion will provide a public forum for local, regional, state, and national infrastructure and policy experts to discuss what has occurred one year after California voters overwhelmingly approved over $42 billion in general obligation bonds to fund transportation, flood protection, school construction, housing and water supply protection.

Scheduled to take place at the USC's Davidson Conference Center on November 8, 2007 at 9:00 AM, the event will feature an opening summary by Paul Rosenstiel, Deputy Treasurer of California and be moderated by Los Angeles Times politics writer Evan Halper. Halper covers the Schwarzenegger administration, the state budget and campaign finance from the Sacramento Bureau of the Los Angeles Times. Halper will lead an animated dialogue between public officials, academics, and business leaders as they recount the progress of the most significant financial commitment to California infrastructure in decades.

"In approving $42 billion in general obligation bonds last fall, voters made it abundantly clear to California's elected officials that our state's infrastructure is in need of serious attention," said Richard G. Little, Director of the Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the University of Southern California. "One year later, it is necessary to take a good look at how this money has been allocated, when it will be spent, and what the future holds for fast-tracking infrastructure projects using this unprecedented infrastructure war chest."

In addition to Deputy Treasurer Rosenstiel, panelists at the "Progress Appraisal of the 2006 Infrastructure Bonds" include, Kerry Cartwright - Manager of Transportation Planning, Port of Long Beach; Tony V. Harris, PE - Executive Vice President, Planning Company Associates, Inc.; Chris Westlake - Deputy Director for Division of Financial Assistance, California Department of Housing & Community Development; Lee Harrington - Vice Chairman, Los Angeles County Economic Development Authority and Brian Thomas - Chief Financial Officer, Metropolitan Water District of Southern California.

About The Keston Institute

The Keston Institute for Public Finance and Infrastructure Policy at the University of Southern California is a non-partisan research center that actively addresses California and the nation's public finance and infrastructure challenges. It is specifically focused on regional and national transportation and water issues and promoting economic viability, livability and environmental sustainability.

The University of Southern California (USC), which houses The Institute within its School of Public Policy, Planning and Development (SPPD), whose faculty collectively ranks third at USC in terms of per capita research grants, is one of the nation's leading research facilities for issues relating to public finance and infrastructure finance in the nation.

Together with the Keston Institute, the USC School of Policy, Planning and Development, has created the only educational and policy degree track in the field of civil infrastructure, with the goal of making USC a world leader in infrastructure and policy development.

The Institute's ongoing research is exclusively focused on analyzing core infrastructure challenges facing California and the nation, while presenting realistic, objective recommendations to voters and policymakers. For more information about The Keston Institute, please visit http://www.usc.edu/keston.>

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