News from 2018
Space Matters
Imagine that you’ve been given a map of the entire rail system in India with the assignment to determine where to place grain silos in order to maximize utility and minimize transportation costs. Or perhaps you’ve been tasked with determining how many coast guard helicopters are needed to monitor the Hawaiian coastline and where they should be located. How would you go about solving such problems? These are the kinds of policy challenges tackled in Professor…
Press Release: Conference on CA Budgeting and Transparency Practices
NEW YORK, Feb. 16, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Goldman School of Public Policy at the University of California, Berkeley and the Volcker Alliance will host a half-day discussion in Sacramento on Wednesday, February 21, featuring three panels on California's budgeting and transparency practices, the state's unique fiscal landscape, and the fiscal challenges it will face this year and in years to come. The event will be open to the…
In Defense of the “Gas Tax”
After more than two years of debate, the California State Legislature passed and Governor Jerry Brown signed into law Senate Bill 1 (Beall & Frazier), a bipartisan transportation funding measure designed to address California’s growing backlog of deferred maintenance on local streets and roads, state highways and public transit systems. The measure, which will generate $52.4 billion over the next ten years from increases in various taxes and fees, was a top priority for Governor Brown in a year that…
California’s Local Street and Road System In Crisis
Every morning, when we open our front door, whether we drive or bike to work, take our kids to school, take the bus or train, or go to the farmer’s market, we begin our trip on a city street or county road. But these are challenging times due to increased demand and unreliable funding. In California, there is a significant focus on climate change and building sustainable communities, yet sustainable communities cannot function without a well-maintained local…
Organizing Nationally Televised CA Gubernatorial Debate
Christian Arana (MPP '17) is the Policy Director for the Latino Community Foundation. In partnership with Univision, he organized a nationally televised debate with the top six candidates in the California governor's race. How did you end up being tasked with organizing the first gubernatorial debate of this election season? The idea behind the Gubernatorial Debate actually came out of my job interview process. When asked how we could elevate the status of the foundation in the civic engagement…
New Assistant Dean for the MPA Program
The Goldman School welcomes Anne Campbell Washington (MPP '00), a graduate of the Goldman School of Public Policy and currently an Oakland City Council Member, as the new Executive Director of the Master of Public Affairs program. During her 12 year career in the City of Oakland, Annie was Chief of Staff to Mayor Jerry Brown, Chief of Staff to Mayor Jean Quan, Assistant to three City Administrators, Chief of Staff to the Fire Chief, and a Budget and Policy Analyst.…
Meet Sarah Baughn (MPP ‘00)
The Goldman School welcomes Sarah Baughn (MPP ’00) as its Director of Annual Fundraising and Alumni Relations, a brand new position at the School. In her new role, Sarah will work to energize GSPP's already-strong network of more than 4,300 MPP, MPA, Policy Minor, and PPIA alumni with the goal of boosting giving and engagement. Sarah is a Class of 2000 MPP alumna with a focus in education policy. Prior to taking on her new role, she…
Report on California correctional officers’ suicide risks spurs widespread attention
Response to a recent report finding that California’s correctional and parole officers face extraordinarily high risks of suicide and other mental health problems has Amy Lerman, the UC Berkeley professor who led the research, feeling cautiously optimistic about the state’s ability to address the issue. Reports on the study have appeared in nearly 700 news outlets since the initial story by Associated Press reporter Don Thompson in Sacramento ran on Jan. 9. Coverage has extended from the Bay…