Scott Wiener

So glad to see this evaluation out in the world! Faced with a global pandemic, state and local government, local organizations and private business came together at record speed to stand up the Project Roomkey program. The model used hotel rooms to house people experiencing homelessness - to reduce their risk exposure, as well as the larger burden on the health system in this crisis. The Project Roomkey model expanded our imaginations for how California can provide emergency housing for people experiencing homelessness - and there are important reflections on what this means for homelessness services in non-emergency settings as well. #covid19 #pandemic #pandemicpreparedness #homelessness #housing

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Coming in tandem with one of the harshest crackdowns in the state on homeless encampments last year, Safe Sleeping Sites has been the City's go-to stopgap measure until San Diego builds more housing. Last week while in session, SD City Council approved a half-a-million increase into this program; but not everyone is convinced that these sites meet humane standards. Last January, a United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Right to Adequate Housing paid a visit to one of these sites. Voice & Viewpoint asked him to share his thoughts, this is what he said: "In my view, safe sleeping camps do not meet safe and adequate standards for housing or even shelter. Shelter is an emergency response while housing a human right on its own and also for realizing many other rights including access to education and jobs. There are international basic standards even for shelter, and based on what I observed and learned, the camps fall far short." Read more on San Diego's Safe Sleeping Sites and Mr. Rajagopal's findings in my latest for Voice & Viewpoint!

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New research from CTS and The Civil Rights Project/Proyecto Derechos Civiles at UCLA explores the obstacles of recruiting and retaining Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers (TOCIT) in California schools. Despite California’s recent, large investments toward improving educator diversity, persistent high rates of burnout, turnover, and early retirement among TOCIT reveal that other factors are at play. We interviewed teachers and system leaders to understand the current policies and practices in place that contribute to these alarming statistics. Researchers found persistent discrimination and racism in teacher training processes and school working environments, disproportionate economic barriers, and limited access to educational, professional, and other supports needed to become and thrive as a teacher. Click to read the executive summary or full report of “Barriers to Racial Equity for Teachers of Color and Indigenous Teachers in California’s Teaching Pipeline and Profession”: https://lnkd.in/gbS7n3uv #teachersofcolor #indigenousteachers #educatordiversity #teachereducation #education #teachers #Californiateachers #k12 #edchat #teachershortage #uclaresearch #eduresearch #blackeducators #latinoeducators #chicanoeducators #aapieducators #indigenouseducators #teacherchat #teachersofinstagram #teachersofig #uclaresearch #DEI

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Post #2 on the federal budget 2024 from Institute for Research on Public Policy (IRPP) research staff: Highlights of new spending: o  Using federal lands to accelerate new housing: requiring departments and agencies to offer parcels of lands; plan to introduce legislation to facilitate acquisition of public lands for homes; $500M/5yrs for a new Public Lands Acquisition Fund; establishing a Public Lands Acquisition Council to identify parcels of land for housing; starting with Canada Post properties, National Defence lands, and repurposing of PSPC offices. If implemented effectively, this has significant potential to generate affordable housing (that will hopefully align with Affordability Action Council recommendations to build future-ready housing that is energy efficient, resilient to a changing climate, and near public transit). o  Canada Disability Benefit: Act to be passed in June 2024 and payments to begin July 2025, with $2400 per year maximum benefit for about 600,000 eligible people. Overall cost is estimated at around $5 billion/ 5yrs. Fingers crossed that this can role out as planned as it is badly needed. o  Consultations forthcoming: new tax on residentially zoned vacant land; National Caregiving Strategy; survey on interprovincial trade to identify top barriers; return of funds from fuel charge to Indigenous communities. Things to watch in 2024. o  Student loan forgiveness for care and health workers in rural and remote communities: Increased scope of student loan forgiveness to include early childhood educators, and a broader range of health workers. Hopefully effective in helping to address worker shortages. o  Research funding: Significant funding for enhancing research and researchers (I suspect academic friends of the IRPP will be very excited about these): - new capstone research funding organization overlaying NSERC, SSHRC and CIHR (federal granting councils) that will support internationally collaborative, multi-disciplinary and mission-driven research. - a new advisory council on science and innovation that will include academic, industry and not-for-profit sectors and develop a national science and innovation strategy to guide priority setting. - higher pay for post-secondary scholarships, with doctoral support rising from $20,000 under SSHRC to $40,000 per year. Post-docs rise from $45,000 for SSHRC to $70,000. Very meaningful increases at a time when cost of living is a major concern. o  Passenger rail: $462 million over 5 years for Via Rail network operations and commitment to replace aging fleet and renew Remote Passenger Rail funding. This is in line with recommendations from the Affordability Action Council, and will hopefully help address gaps in access to transportation in many areas of Canada. More to come in subsequent post..

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In today's edition of the Micheli Files, I return to the California rulemaking process and try to provide some important insights into the regulatory process under the state APA. Here is the link to my article in Capitol Weekly: https://lnkd.in/gqUFW3-n

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Learn more about our Assistant Deputy Director of Communications opening below! 👇

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As a professional in the housing industry, I have encountered a common misconception that families of low-income levels lack budgeting skills and are solely responsible for their financial struggles. While it is true that some individuals, regardless of income level, may face budgeting challenges, it is essential to recognize that families of low-income levels often confront systemic barriers that make it difficult to keep up with the rising cost of living. Since the epidemic of Covid-19, many cities across the nation, including Seattle, have implemented guaranteed income programs to eligible residents, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive. These stability programs provide individuals with the chance for autonomy, and adaptability to establish financial security, including preserving their homes or preventing homelessness. Do these programs challenge the notion that individuals lack budgeting skills? What are your thoughts, Connecticut? Learn more here: https://lnkd.in/ei4faS7a.

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Exciting news from the team at CPUC Communications Division! Today, staff issued the first in a series of recommendations for grant awards from the Last Mile Federal Funding Account (FFA) program. This program is part of a historic investment in digital equity envisioned by the Administration of Governor Newsom and the California Legislature under Senate Bill 156 (Budget Act of 2021). The $2 billion FFA program aims to connect communities to digital education, employment, and health services through the deployment of reliable fiber broadband infrastructure. Last year, the program received 484 applications totaling over $4.6 billion in grants from local governments, ISPs, Tribal Nations, and non-profits. The first two resolutions released today recommend projects for award in 6 counties, totaling over $88 million. Additionally, CPUC will award 3 projects via staff delegated authority for an extra $16 million. The foundation for this achievement was laid with 109 grants for technical assistance, totaling $50 million, provided to communities across the state by CPUC. Moving forward, recommendations for awards will be released on a rolling basis into the Fall. A vote of the Commission is required to approve award recommendations. A big shoutout to the team for their dedication in developing and launching this significant program. Collaborating with dedicated and talented colleagues has made this journey more enjoyable, and these wins even sweeter. #CPUC #DigitalEquity #GrantAwards #BroadbandInfrastructure #fiber Robert Osborn Michael Minkus Karen Eckersley Ravneet K. Lea Haro, PhD Christopher Poschl Nicholas Bui California Public Utilities Commission

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A powerful reminder that the words we use in research, industry, policies, and programs affect real people and places.

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The newest "practical guide" is out. This one is on the executive branch of California government. Here is a link to it on Amazon: https://lnkd.in/gUFv5Mdy

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Here is my new Planetizen column: "Planners’ Complicity in Excessive Traffic Deaths: Professor Wes Marshall’s provocatively-titled new book, 'Killed by a Traffic Engineer,' has stimulated fierce debates. Are his criticisms justified? Let’s examine the degree that traffic engineers contribute to avoidable traffic deaths." (https://lnkd.in/gGTkfvUy) Marshall highlights the role that exposure -- the distance and speed that people drive -- as a risk factor, and makes the concept accessible to a general audience. I rely on his research in reports such as, "A New Traffic Safety Paradigm" (www.vtpi.org/ntsp.pdf ), and he cites my research in his book. What do you think? Can we recognize the additional crashes caused by increased vehicle travel and the safety benefits of vehicle travel reduction strategies?

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SOLVING THE HOUSING CRISIS While nobody wants to live next to a hog farm and while zoning can help avoid that problem, zoning has often been used to exclude people from housing and business opportunities based on race and class. Fortunately, meaningful zoning reform is gaining traction. These zoning reforms could be even more meaningful if coupled with a land value return tax shift. For example, say that Town A wants to increase the housing supply in a particular neighborhood and increases the allowable density. In theory, allowing more people to share the cost of the land would create more affordability. But, in reality, increasing the density causes land prices to rise, thereby defeating some or all of the desired affordability benefit. However, if land value return was enhanced, then publicly-created land values would be returned to the community instead of becoming windfalls for private landowners. This would help keep land prices down and thereby ensure a more robust affordability benefit from reformed zoning.

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In this recent Los Angeles Times article ( libhill.co/lat-renter-saje ), tenant rights advocates and organizers from Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE) reflect on the recent findings from UCLA Luskin School of Public Affairs which report that nearly 4 in 10 renters in LA County worry about facing eviction and losing their home. Read the full article to learn more about what Liberty Hill partners at SAJE are saying about the economic strains on L.A. renters. #LibertyHill #NewsAlert #HousingJustice

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How do you turn a sad desk lunch into an informative and energizing call to action? Join our virtual fireside chat on how CA can improve housing affordability! Tomorrow noon PT/3pm ET. Bring your thorniest questions.

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As California faces a challenging $55 billion budget deficit, our role in the nonprofit advocacy sector has never been more crucial. This fiscal gap presents significant hurdles but also a unique opportunity for us to drive change and ensure the most vulnerable communities aren't left behind. #NonprofitAdvocacy #CaliforniaBudget #CommunityImpact #AdvocateForChange #SocialJustice https://lnkd.in/ghD-aWgs

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Media Perspectives! I’m always happy to provide perspectives and some analysis on local and regional policy issues. This particular issue, the California Supreme Court’s decision on the University of California vs the People’s Park, is important on both the public policy and higher education fronts. I was interviewed by ABC 7 News, San Francisco, for the story. You can see my comments in the broadcast and the accompanying written report. https://lnkd.in/gichf3ji

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According to this audit of the California State Auditor, the California government has spent billions on homelessness without bothering to check if these expenditures were making a difference. Generating desired outcomes is the bottom line of public administration. Not tracking them is evading accountability. https://lnkd.in/geGpSgWC #accountability #audit #performanceaudit #waste

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