Public Policy Conference

Conference speakers included policy makers, business leaders, environmentalists and economists, who discussed ways to move California forward during the worst economic times since the Great Depression. In a much-publicized speech to conference attendees on Dec. 7, Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa pointedly challenged the teachers' unions to contribute to education by changing their tactics and being open to reform. He stated, "It is no longer acceptable for those who care about our children and our teachers to remain the loudest opponent and the largest obstacle to creating quality schools." (To read the mayor's entire speech, click here.)

The conference, whose sponsors included the First 5 Association of California, which represents county Prop 10 commissions including First 5 LA, provided an opportunity for constructive discussion among experts with a range of perspectives on the major issues facing California residents, including children and families.

Solutions to the ailing public school system and climate change were discussed in the challenging context of the state's struggling economy - whose recovery is predicted to lag behind much of the nation - and a budget deficit-riddled state government which will have spare dollars to invest for several years to come.

Nonetheless, a number of experts saw economic and environmental promise in renewable energy efforts that are both good for the environment and for the economy, as well as government reform proposals that included a two-year state budget plan, performance-based budgeting, changing the state tax structure and realigning key state services to a local level - making county and other local governments responsible for them.

First 5 Association Executive Director Sherry Novick, who attended the conference, observed: "The long-term well-being of California's children will be supported - or undermined - by the fiscal and policy discussions of today's leaders."

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