FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

URBAN DEMOCRACY AT THE CROSSROADS - LOS ANGELES' TRANSFORMATION IS TOPIC OF "PEOPLE AND POLITICS IN LOS ANGELES" AT LOYOLA MARYMOUNT UNIVERSITY
April 15 Conference Includes Fernando Ferrer, NY Mayoral Candidate, L.A. Councilman Antonio Villaraigosa, Calif. Lt. Governor Hon. Cruz Bustamante, former US Treasurer Rosario Marin, Senator Richard Alarc�n, La Opinion's Monica Lozano, L.A. Councilman Bernard Parks, And Others

• The rapid growth of Los Angeles' first- and second-generation immigrant population, together with the decline of its Puerto Rican, African American, and white populations, are changing the face of the city
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• To explore the implications of the profound demographic transformation now under way in Los Angeles, the conference "People and Politics in Los Angeles," will be hosted by Loyola Marymount University's Center for the Study of Los Angeles on April 15 in St. Roberts Hall.
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• The conference seeks to facilitate a dialogue between elected, activist, academic and media leaders on urban issues, and to make a contribution to the future of Los Angeles electoral politics by identifying key lessons drawn from the recent political histories of Los Angeles, New York, and other large cities.
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• Featured speakers at the one-day conference include key California and New York political influencers such as Antonio Villaraigosa, L.A. City Council member and former L.A. mayoral candidate; Fernando Ferrer, president of the Drum Major Institute and former Bronx Borough President; California's Lt. Governor, the Hon. Cruz Bustamante, former US Treasurer Rosario Marin, California Senator Richard AlarcOn, La Opini�n's M�nica Lozano; L.A. City Councilman, the Hon. Bernard Parks; former L.A. City Councilman, the Hon. Michael Woo; California State Assembly Speaker Emeritus, the Hon. Robert Hertzberg; and Miguel Contreras, Secretary Treasurer of the L.A. County Federation of Labor, among others.
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• Sponsored by The Center for The Study of Los Angeles at LMU, The Drum Major Institute, and Dr. John Mollenkopf of the Center for Urban Research at the City University of New York, the Los Angeles event follows a successful New York conference exploring the same urban issues. Both events are based on a study commissioned by the Drum Major Institute entitled "People and Politics in America's Big Cities: Challenges to Urban Democracy."
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• Specific findings with regard to Los Angeles' demographic transformation will be shared during the presentation portion of the day, beginning at 1:45 pm. Solutions for closing the representation gap between the ethnicities of those in office and the people they represent in Los Angeles will be discussed during an afternoon panel beginning at 2:15 p.m., and a separate panel beginning at 4:15 pm will address how coalitions can be created for a future multi-cultural city. A closing roundtable at 6 pm will include some of LA's most prominent Latino leaders on the past, present and future.
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• For more detailed information, see the attached schedule of events, or for further information on the day or to RSVP, contact The Center for The Study of Los Angeles directly at 310.338.4565. Press Planning To Attend Should Contact LMU's Media Relations Office Directly At 310.338.2389.
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