Stories of Philanthropic Leadership in Advancing Regional and ...

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EQUITABLE PUBLIC INVESTMENTLos AngelesThe 1999 completion of the Los Angeles sports andconvention venue—the Staples Center—represents amajor and multi-dimensional success. Researchersfrom the University of California, Los Angeles, locallabor unions, and community residents all workedwith Strategic Actions for a Just Economy (SAJE),Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE),and Los Angeles’ Figueroa Corridor Coalition forEconomic Justice to craft a CBA that is nowconsidered a model for economic justice.The Los Angeles Alliance for a New Economy (LAANE) convenes aneighborhood demonstration covered by the local media. (Source: LAANE).Organized under the banner of the FigueroaCorridor Coalition for Economic Justice (convenedand led by SAJE), neighborhood concerns forcongestion, child safety, and increased crime led to aprecedent-setting CBA that included:• A 20 percent set-aside for affordable housing;• 70 percent of new jobs guaranteed to offerworkers livable wages;• Hiring preferences that gave local and displacedresidents first opportunities for employment;• $1 million dedicated to community parks andrecreation; and• Community input on the project’s commercialtenants.Reflecting on the Staples Center experience,executive director of LAANE, Madeline Janis-Aparicio, observes, “We’re talking about changing theparadigm of economic development, changing thepower imbalance between the public and privatesectors.” The community’s successful role in theStaples Center CBA led to an even larger one,addressing expansion and modernization of the LosAngeles International Airport (LAX). An estimated$500 million CBA is attached to an $11 billionproject and will benefit low-income communities ofcolor located near the airport.On December 7, 2004, the Los Angeles CityCouncil approved—on a 14 to 1 vote—thedevelopment proposal and accompanying CBA thatrequire:• A five-year, $25 million job training programrequiring the involvement of every companydoing business at the airport or as part of itsconstruction—effective on the date of localgovernmental adoption;• $200 million for local school improvementsincluding emerging technologies and physicalimprovements such as windows and shelters;• Residential sound-proofing for an estimated300,000 residents in surrounding neighborhoods;• An anti-toxin and greening agenda that calls forgreen building practices, electrified gates tominimize plane fumes, and the scheduled phaseoutof diesel equipment;• A living wage of at least $9.00 an hour plusbenefits offered by all jobs generated by theproject; and• Training for local community residents byparticipating building trades through theirapprentice programs.With the City Council’s passage, the approval processnow advances to the federal level. By July 2005,LAANE’s Janis-Aparicio anticipatesthe negotiatedagreements will takeeffect. Between theStaples and LAXagreements, thesecoalition efforts alsonegotiated five otherCBAs, impactingapproximately 5,000jobs and creating hundreds of new affordablehousing units.Milwaukee, Wis.“We’re talking aboutchanging the paradigm ofeconomic development,changing the powerimbalance between thepublic and private sectors.”— Madeline Janis-AparicioWhile a major sports venue and airport expansiontriggered CBAs in Los Angeles, it was a newdowntown development project in Milwaukee, Wis.,that served as a catalyst for an alliance among poorpeople, faith-based organizations, unions, and public19Funders’ Network for Smart Growth and Livable Communities
policy advocates. In 2002, Milwaukee’s municipalofficials were considering what would be the best newuse of a 60-acre tract of open land resulting from thedemolition of the Park East Freeway on the northedge of downtown. Despite the lack of an existingorganization, related statistics, or detailed research,Milwaukee residents sensed an urgency to act.According to Dr. Kathleen Mulligan-Hansel,former director of the Working Families Project atthe Institute for Wisconsin’s Future, in the earlyadvocacy days, “The hard part was keeping ustogether.” That alliance became the MilwaukeeGood Jobs and Livable Neighborhoods Coalition,comprised of 29 metro organizations pushingfor downtown redevelopment with anaccompanying CBA.After an 18-month effort to advance the group’sCBA, on a 9 to 6 vote in June 2004, Milwaukee’sCommon Council rejected the suggested reforms. Atthe heart of the controversy were measures to addprevailing wage standards and affordable housingthresholds to city-subsidized projects. Opponentssuccessfully argued to “let the marketplace decide.”As a result, the Milwaukee Council’s action limitedprevailing wage requirements to contractors with atleast a $500,000 city subsidy. Surprisingly, before theCouncil’s vote, many minority businesses expressedconcerns that by imposing prevailing wages, theiroperations would suffer.Reflecting on the experience, Mulligan-Hansel, theCoalition’s co-chair observes, “We tried to winagreement in a broad public policy overture. Wemight have won if that agreement goal had been withonly a developer.” Defeated but not discouraged ordisbanded, the Coalition shifted its advocacy effortstowards gaining support for their CBA from thecounty, because Milwaukee County held title to aportion of the acreage.On October 28, 2004, 11 members of MilwaukeeCounty’s Board of Supervisors introduced aresolution endorsing the CBA. By the time themeasure came to a vote on December 16, 2004, ithad gained both support and public attention. Beforea standing-room-only audience, the resolution passedon a 15 to 4 vote. Following the vote, Mulligan-Hansel celebrated, “This is a major victory forresidents in the city who need good jobs andhousing.” Rev. Joseph Jackson, pastor of EvergreenBaptist Church and president of MilwaukeeInnercity Congregations Allied for Hope (MICAH),the Coalition’s faith-based partner, added, “We haveset a standard for all development in the city and thisstandard will benefit the entire Milwaukeecommunity in the long run.” Although theCoalition’s celebratory mood proved premature whenMilwaukee County’s Executive vetoed the action onJanuary 7, 2005, less than a month later, on February3, 2005, the Milwaukee County Board ofSupervisors overrode that veto with a second andfinal 15 to 4 vote.SeattleIn Seattle, named by Forbes magazine as the nation’sleast affordable city in 2004, the Seattle Alliance forGood Jobs and Housing for Everyone (SAGE) hasbeen working since 2000 to better support Seattle’slow-wage workers. A strategic, broad-basedpartnership of labor and community organizations,SAGE heavily focuses on improved working andliving conditions.Through early and successful advocacy, SAGE wonpublic policy victories before forming the Coalitionfor Healthy Communities in 2003. Affordablehousing advocates, environmental groups, low-wageunion workers, all came together to understand theircollective stake in redevelopment plans.In the spring 2004, SAGE began negotiating a CBAwith Vulcan, Inc., a Seattle developer. Vulcan’sproposed South Lake Union Development Projectsought to transform an area dominated by marinebasedbusinesses, warehousing, light manufacturing,and low-income housing into a biotech park. Asenvisioned, the project would also require substantialpublic support on infrastructure investments andzoning modifications. The SAGE alliance identifiedits goals of ensuring:• Livable wage jobs;• Transportation choices—advocating a mix ofpublic transit, bicycle paths, and pedestrianwalkways;• Improved environment and sustainability—parkspaces and upgrading of recreational amenities,green buildings, and reduced energy demandthrough better insulation and/or construction;• A housing preservation strategy that would mixold and new dwellings with particular emphasisto the usable life of buildings with historicsignificance; andEQUITABLE PUBLIC INVESTMENTPart III: Section 1: Promoting Equitable Public Investment 20
Page 1 and 2: Stories of Philanthropic Leadership
Page 3 and 4: Signs of Promise:Stories of Philant
Page 5 and 6: Funders’ Network for Smart Growth
Page 7 and 8: (II. B.)(II. C.)Turning Neighborhoo
Page 9 and 10: PART I:IntroductionThe Purpose of t
Page 11 and 12: social justice issues as they relat
Page 13 and 14: PART II:Perspectives on Advancing R
Page 15 and 16: peer work, we can reestablish a sig
Page 17 and 18: Annie E. Casey FoundationBaltimore,
Page 19 and 20: neighborhoods into healthy ones—g
Page 21 and 22: Charles and Helen Schwab Foundation
Page 23 and 24: Section 1:Promoting Equitable Publi
Page 25: I. A. BUILDING POWER AND GIVINGVOIC
Page 29 and 30: in Los Angeles, Ford’s Anthony no
Page 31 and 32: I. B. PROMOTING COALITIONSTO ADVANC
Page 33 and 34: Yet the interpersonal dynamics of c
Page 35 and 36: guidelines. “Many of the member o
Page 37 and 38: Funder InterestThe EPA supported th
Page 39 and 40: I. D. DEMONSTRATING THESTRUGGLE FOR
Page 41 and 42: Richmond, Calif.The second regional
Page 43 and 44: through policy reform at the local
Page 45 and 46: I. E. BUILDING COALITIONTHROUGH KNO
Page 47 and 48: organizing project, the Connecticut
Page 49 and 50: and businesses are quantified in a
Page 51 and 52: I. G. REVITALIZING WHILEASSURING DI
Page 53 and 54: In the late 1990s, the city of Albu
Page 55 and 56: I. H. A TRAVEZ DE LA FRONTERA:LAND
Page 57 and 58: The International Community Foundat
Page 59 and 60: I. I. MOBILIZING ACTION FORREGIONAL
Page 61 and 62: To meet all of these objectives, th
Page 63 and 64: efforts. And with each public plann
Page 65 and 66: pattern of disproportionate transpo
Page 67 and 68: Clinica de la Raza identify this cr
Page 69 and 70: Contact PeopleCarl AnthonyActing Di
Page 71 and 72: Section 2:Making All Neighborhoods
Page 73 and 74: II. A. REACHING BEYONDHOUSING TO IM
Page 75 and 76: A local resident receives the keys
Page 77 and 78:
East Baltimore community and the Jo
Page 79 and 80:
example, adjacent to the EBDI area,
Page 81 and 82:
II. C. YIELDING REGIONALBENEFITS TH
Page 83 and 84:
is using transit-oriented developme
Page 85 and 86:
financing and innovative, forward-t
Page 87 and 88:
The Row House Community Development
Page 89 and 90:
II. E. COUNTERING THE PERFECTSTORM:
Page 91 and 92:
funded community programs, includin
Page 93 and 94:
housing developments and commercial
Page 95 and 96:
owned enterprises, totaling $8.5 mi
Page 97 and 98:
LOAN GUARANTEESSection 3:Connecting
Page 99 and 100:
III. A. MAKING HOUSING ANOPPORTUNIT
Page 101 and 102:
A new report from the National Hous
Page 103 and 104:
The Straphangers Campaign was found
Page 105 and 106:
Funder InterestThe Straphangers Cam
Page 107 and 108:
or increase poverty. Whether direct
Page 109 and 110:
The Regional Plan Association then
Page 111 and 112:
multi-stakeholder effort composed o
Page 113 and 114:
director with LISC. No one set of s
Page 115 and 116:
12 western Louisville neighborhoods
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III. E. UNITING THREE STATESFOR ONE
Page 119 and 120:
increased their personal wealth by
Page 121 and 122:
summary evaluation of MSDI found th
Page 123 and 124:
method alone was strong enough to m
Page 125 and 126:
consistent body of work. The Counci
Page 127 and 128:
3) Issues Need to be ConnectedThe f
Page 129 and 130:
PART V:Glossary of TermsThe terms d
Page 131 and 132:
Regional and neighborhood equity. A
Page 133 and 134:
Tijuana River Reserve, California:h
Page 135 and 136:
Sargent Shriver National Center on
Page 137:
1500 San Remo Avenue • Suite 249
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