Asset Policy Forum - Sacramento
APIC, together with the New America Foundation, launched the Asset Policy Forum speaking series in 2007 to create an opportunity for experts in the asset-building field to discuss an array of strategies and policies that enable and encourage all Californians to save money and build wealth. We encourage policymakers, legislative staff, advocates, academics and others to join us for lunch and a compelling discussion each month.
Green Assets: Building Savings Through Energy Security
Volatile energy costs are a concern for every California family-particularly the millions of households for whom every extra dollar spent on energy comes at the expense of other necessities and the ability to save. For these families, securing affordable energy would result in savings that could be used for short- or long-term investments. In a cruel twist, the people most in need of relief from high energy costs are those least able to afford the longer-term investments that would deliver it. Irvine Fellow Lisa Margonelli of the New America Foundation has developed a proposal to break this cycle, while avoiding the distortionary effects of gas tax holidays and tax rebates.
Margonelli's The Energy Security for American Families Initiative (ESAF) would put efficiency-maximizing technology within reach of lower-income California households through a range of incentives and low-interest loans. The proposal also supports public/private flexible transportation solutions. ESAF offers a market-oriented approach that steers working families' income towards productive expenditures rather than fossil fuel, reduces the burden of energy costs, stimulates the economy and cuts emission of greenhouse gases.
Tuesday, Novembber 18, 12-1:30pm
Library & Courts Building I
914 Capitol Mall, Room 500
Sacramento, CA 95814
Join us for lunch! Click here to RSVP.
This bipartisan event is co-hosted by APIC, the New America Foundation and the California Research Bureau, in association with Assemblymembers Ted Lieu (D-Torrance) and José Solorio (D-Santa Ana).
Previous Events
Strengthening California's Workforce through Education, Training, and Savings- 10.20.08
Amy Sherman, Associate Vice President for Policy and Strategic Alliances at the Council for Adult and Experiential Learning (CAEL) discussed how workforce development policy can strenghten California's economy. Ms. Sherman identified policies that promote education and skills development to make California's workforce highly-skilled, highly-trained and well positioned to improe the state's economic vitality. Download presentation.
California's ScholarShare: Fostering Savings for Higher Education and Skills Training- 09.30.08
Zeny Agullana, Executive Director of the ScholarShare Investment
Board gave an overview of California's
tax-advantaged 529 college savings plan; where the program is headed, how it
can help all Californians offset the high cost of education, reduce
post-graduation debt, and strengthen the economy. Download presentation.
Microenterprise Development: The Dream of Entrepreneurship in California - 07.21.08
Claudia Viek, CEO of the California Association for Microenterprise
Opportunity (CAMEO), discussed the ways in
which California can stimulate the growth and success of entrepreneurship by
fostering microenterprise development. She also describe the benefits of
microenterprises including: economic self-sufficiency, job creation, community
economic development, and poverty alleviation. Download presentation.
Expanding Savings and Retirement Security - 05.21.08
Mark Iwry, Nonresident Senior Fellow at the Brookings Institution, Principal of
the Retirement Security Project, and Research Professor at Georgetown
University presented
on the current retirement savings crisis - its causes and the
continuing effect it will have on the financial security of working
families as well as the state and national economy. He also discussed
state and national policy options to significantly encourage retirement
savings and the accumulation of assets by lower- and middle-income
workers. Download presentation.
Financial Literacy: Need, Strategy, Opportunity - 4.17.08
Ellen Seidman,
Director of the Financial Services and Education
Project in the Asset Building Program at the New America Foundation presented on the importance of financial literacy for both
individual households and the broader macroeconomy. Download presentation.
Banking the Unbanked: Bringing Californians into the Financial Mainstream - 3.26.08
California's California: Savings and Opportunity in the Central Valley - 1.31.08
The Mortgage Crisis in California: Policy Strategies for Preserving the American Dream - 11.19.07
Assets and Opportunity: Exploring Californians' Financial Well-Being - 10.09.07
Asset Policy 101 - 9.29.07
California fares poorly—receiving an overall “C” grade—in the 2007-2008 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard, a biannual report released by cfed. This report presents a comprehensive look at wealth, poverty, and the financial security of families on a national and state level. The 50 states, along with the District of Columbia, are assessed on 46 performance measures in five major areas: financial security, business development, homeownership, healthcare, and education.
According to the report, California is at the forefront of small business development, receiving an “A” grade for Business Vitality. Overall, California has lowered asset poverty and even increased homeownership rates. However, California still has a long way to go in areas of asset poverty, homeownership, and access to health care.
To learn more - 2007-2008 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard.
If you have any questions contact Sunaena Chhatry at sunaena@sfearn.org or (415)217-3671.
Anne Stuhldreher, Senior Policy Advisor in the Office
of Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger discussed what it means to be "unbanked"
and why it is a problem for California. She also provided an
overview of Bank on California, which is modeled after Bank on San Francisco,
headed by San Francisco City Treasurer José Cisneros. Cisneros will describe the
ground-breaking initiative that is successfully bringing thousands of local
unbanked residents into the financial mainstream. Download presentation: Bank on San Francisco and Bank on California.
The Savings Crisis: Policies to Help Californians Build Wealth - 2.13.08
Featured speaker, Dory Rand, presented on the savings crisis and discussed policy solutions that can help Californians build wealth. Dory is Supervising Attorney of the Community Investment Unit at the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law. Download presentation.
Carol Whiteside discussed the Central Valley's economy as it relates to family incomes and asset accumulation and how those factors relate to residents' ability to pay for college education and/or job training, start small businesses, and sustain a decent standard of living in retirement. Carol is a former mayor of Modesto and President of the Great Valley Center. Download presentation.
Paul Leonard discussed the current subprime mortgage crisis - it's causes, the continuing effect it will have on homeownership, wealth, and the California economy, as well as present possible solutions. Paul directs the California office of the Center for Responsible Lending (CRL). Click here to view the program. Download presentation.
At the second luncheon we examined California’s asset-building policies through CFED’s 2007-2008 Assets and Opportunity Scorecard Report. Jennifer Brooks, CFED’s Policy Director presented on California's ranks with other states in relation to asset-building policies. Download presentation.
Nearly 100 people participated in the inaugural event where asset policy expert Heather McCulloch provided an overview of this dynamic and growing field of asset building. Click here to hear the program. Download Presentation.
Assets and Opportunity Scorecard
