Contact: Carmen Ramos Chandler ,
(818) 677-2130
carmen.chandler@csun.edu

What Does the Future Hold for Los Angeles?
California's Political Leaders Ponder the Question

They will be joined by Edward J. Blakely and radio personality Warren Olney for a panel discussion on the "Future of Los Angeles" scheduled to begin at 7 p.m. in the Grand Salon of the University Student Union on the east side of the campus at 18111 Nordhoff St., Northridge.

The discussion is the hallmark of CSUN's College of Social and Behavioral Sciences' 40th anniversary celebration.

"This is a fantastic opportunity for the college and the university," said Bill Flores, dean of the college. "It's a chance for interaction with state leaders and thoughtful reflection on where Los Angeles is and where it is going in the future.

"We hope to have discussions like this on a ongoing basis so the college and university can actively participate in the discussion of issues that affect all of Los Angeles."

The event will begin at 6:30 p.m. with a reception, with the discussion to follow. The cost is $20 per person.

Los Angeles' future seems to be up in the air as two separate movements - charter reform and secession - threaten to change the physical and political make up of the city.

The panelists will examine these and other issues that face the city as it enters the 21st century. Olney will serve as moderator.

Olney is the host of "Which Way LA?", a one-hour daily radio show on KCRW-FM that examines the burning issues of the day in Southern California. The program has earned more than 20 local, state and national awards for timely public service and broadcast excellence.

Villaraigosa's rise in politics has been quick. He started out as a union organizer and quickly became president of the American Federation of Government Employees. He was elected to the Assembly in 1994 and became a key player in the Democratic party. He now serves as Majority Floor Leader.

He has authored legislation providing health care benefits for millions of children with no health insurance. He also is involved in issues of public transportation, crime prevention, drug rehabilitation programs, juvenile justice reform and gun control.

Before being elected to the Assembly, Kuehl was co-founder and former managing director of the California Women's Law Center. She serves on the Human Services, Judiciary, Natural Resources Public Safety and Rules committees.

Kuehl drafted and helped more than 40 pieces of legislation become law on a variety of subjects such as assaults against women, child support, child care and sex discrimination in employment and education.

McClintock joined the Assembly in 1982. Prior to that, he was director of economic and regulator affairs for Claremont Institute's Gold State Center for Policy Studies in Sacramento. He is considered one of the state's foremost spokesmen on conservative fiscal policy and state government waste.

Blakely is current professor of economic development in the School of Policy, Planning and Development at USC. For four years he was dean and Lusk Professor of Planning and Development at USC's School of Urban Planning and Development. He is a leading scholar in the fields of planning, agriculture, and rural and community economic development.

For more information or tickets, call (818) 677-3850