We're used to a fast pace at CPI, but we're still catching our breath from a recent 12-day stretch. We published new research, won new policy at City Hall, involved hundreds of people in a complex policy campaign, and were an almost daily presence in local media. I thought you'd like a picture of the work of CPI's fantastic staff and the media, policy and organizing impact we are having in San Diego.
Here's the day-by-day account.
Thursday, Feb 28
CPI released Making Ends Meet, the 2008 version of our self-sufficiency wage calculations for individuals and various size families living in San Diego.Here are links to some of the media coverage of Making Ends Meet:
CPI released an industry analysis of campaign contributions in upcoming city elections, showing the real estate and development industry greatly outspending all others.The analysis is based on our Follow the Money searchable database of contributions to local candidates, which has been recently updated to include all current campaign filings.
CPI Research and Policy Director Murtaza Baxamusa fielded calls from five reporters for comment on five different local subjects:The impacts of commodity prices on economy, the tourism industry, the Mayor's proposals on service levels in the 2009 budget, the upcoming local elections and economic prosperity for low wage workers. One radio reporter said she couldn't quote him because CPI has had too much air time lately.
CPI organized testimony before the City Council Budget Committee on two separate topics: strengthening the City's Living Wage enforcement program and the City's inadequate measurements of service levels.
1. We brought workers and leaders of the faith community to tell Council members that many of the City's contractors are failing to fully implement the required Living Wage. The Committee directed staff to prepare strengthening legislation.
2.CPI Research Analyst Corinne Wilson, gave a Powerpoint Presentation to show how the mayor's privatization program could lead to deterioration of city service quality without having accurate measures of services before contracting out.
We continue to increase our presence in local blogs. Click Here
Friday, March 7
While finalizing the editing and design of a new report on overuse of temporary workers in RiversideCounty, to be published later this month, we also prepared an op-ed on how San Diego should plan for economic prosperity.
The op-ed:
Subsidizing Economic Doom. By Murtaza Baxamusa, CPI Research and Policy Director, Voice of San Diego
Monday, March 10
Working with our coalition partners, CPI organized over 100 people to a rally and city council hearing calling for Living Wages to be included in the City's Land Use blueprint for the next 20 years.The City Council passed our proposals by a vote of 5 - 2.
If you've gotten this far, feel free to drop us a line and give us feedback on any aspect of our work.Feel free to join CPI or just make a contribution.And always, help us expand our voice by passing this email on to others and helping us to grow our list.
Sincerely,
Donald Cohen
Executive Director, Center on Policy Initiatives
