Join us to talk about the benefits of what we have been calling "Boulevards of Equity and Opportunity"—LA County has many!—that can accommodate affordable housing development and are already served by transit. We believe this is an opportunity to provide more housing, create high-quality jobs, and build a transit culture—one of the most significant things we can do to combat climate change. The time is NOW to plan these boulevards with so much money coming our way from the Inflation Reduction Act.

Keynote Speaker: California Business, Consumer Services, and Housing Agency Secretary Lourdes Castro Ramirez
Lourdes Castro Ramirez leads 11 state entities and 6,500 employees with responsibility for 1) protecting consumers 2) preserving & expanding affordable housing 3) advancing statewide collaborative efforts to prevent & end homelessness 4) guarding civil rights 5) regulating financial services and 6) licensing nearly 4 million working professionals. She serves on the Strategic Growth Council, the California Housing Finance Agency Board, co-chairs the California Interagency Council on Homelessness, and also serves on the Governor’s Business and Jobs Taskforce. As a public servant she is dedicated to building public, private and philanthropic partnerships and improving community solutions to expanding housing, health, business, economic and educational opportunities.

Framer: David Kersh, Executive Director of the Carpenters/Contractors Cooperation Committee
David Kersh has been at the forefront of regional efforts to promote responsible contracting practices and create good middle-class employment opportunities in the construction industry. These efforts are focused on policy and legislative actions related to job-creation, housing, land-use/development, urban planning, labor compliance, and public works procurement practices. Additionally, David has lead extensive compliance/enforcement operations aimed at cracking down on rampant wage theft, worker exploitation and unlawful business practices that negatively impact the construction industry. He's also written on topics dealing with housing, public works and construction workforce-related issues.

Respondents/Panelists:

Charles Small, Deputy Assistant Secretary, Intergovernmental Affairs—Office of the Secretary, U.S. Department of Transportation
Charles Small’s Linked in page says it all: “Public Servant. Lover of State and Local Government. A firm believer that everything can be solved by better transportation.” Charles serves as the primary liaison for state, county and local elected officials, leading outreach and engagement strategies with non-federal stakeholders. Prior to joining the Biden-Harris Administration, he served four years as Director of Federal Affairs and National Engagement for Mayor Eric Garcetti and the City of Los Angeles, helping to secure federal funding and permitting approvals to support infrastructure agencies including LA Metro, Los Angeles World Airports (LAX), the Port of Los Angeles, LA Department of Water & Power, and the LA Department of Transportation.

Sasha Kergan, Deputy Secretary of the California Business, Consumer Services and Housing Agency (BCSH)
As Deputy Secretary of Housing, Sasha Kergan provides advice on state housing policy and coordinates housing investments, programs and activities to preserve and expand affordable housing. She works closely with BCSH departments that oversee all aspects of housing, including the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), the California Housing Finance Agency, and the Department of Real Estate. She also represents BCSH on several inter-agency efforts to further equity, housing, climate, community development, and opportunity goals.

Jackie Dupont-Walker, Metro Board Member and community-based affordable housing developer
Jackie Dupont Walker is a more than 40-year resident of Los Angeles and a consistent stakeholder in the West Adams/Exposition Park area with a mission of self-determination, self-reliance, and a commitment to community service. She's founding president of the Ward Economic Development Corporation in LA, an agency that has built/remodeled/managed low-income housing, with 120 apartments for seniors at Ward Villas, “second chance” housing for families and singles at Tuelyn Terrace, and 60 senior apartments at Rosa Parks Villas, Phase I of the Crenshaw Gateway mixed-use community. Mayor Eric Garcetti appointed her to serve on the LA Metro board as the only non-elected official member.

Fernando Dutra, Councilmember, City of Whittier, Metro Board Member
Fernando Dutra has worked in the construction industry most of his life, beginning as a union carpenter and working his way up to superintendent and then project manager and then vice president of operations for national developers. He started his own company in 2004, and has built affordable housing and student housing, commercial, residential and retail developments. He loves riding his electric bike along Whittier’s much-loved Greenway Trail, an abandoned right-of-way that's now a 4.5 mile-long biking/walking path, and fully intends to expand the Gold Line and the Eco-Rapid West Santa Ana Branch. He’s an advocate for extending the Eastside Gold Line to Whittier and is a strong supporter of the Eco-Rapid West Santa Ana Branch, and he believes the Gateway Cities region has not received its fair share of funding for public transit improvements.

Jenna Hornstock, Deputy Director of Planning and Land Use, Southern California Association of Governments
Jenna Hornstock oversees SCAG’s housing program and economic development efforts. She spent 20 years in local government with a focus on public/private real estate transactions, affordable housing, community and economic development. She previously served as LA Metro’s Executive Officer for transit-oriented communities, and oversaw real estate development projects, station area urban design, and first/last mile planning. She also worked for the Community Redevelopment Agency of the City of Los Angeles as Chief of Strategic Planning and Economic Development. She is a planning commissioner for the City of Los Angeles and serves as a board member for the nonprofit Community Health Councils and the ULI/LA Advisory Board.

Martin Reyes, Senior Deputy, LA County Supervisor Hilda Solis
Martin Reyes serves as a Senior Deputy to LA County Supervisor Hilda L. Solis overseeing transportation and infrastructure policy for the First District. Working in collaboration with agencies such as Metro and Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, Martin strives to advance equitable and sustainable infrastructure. Prior to joining the office of Supervisor Solis, Martin worked for five years at the LA County Department of Public Works in project management and transportation planning. He is a registered civil engineer in the State of California and has degrees in civil/environmental engineering and urban planning.

Please join all of us on FRIDAY, SEPT. 2, from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. REGISTER NOW!