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Conference Summary: Water, Climate And Uncertainty: Implications For Western Water Law, Policy, And Management, Steve Bailey

Water, Climate and Uncertainty: Implications for Western Water Law, Policy, and Management (Summer Conference, June 11-13)

7 pages.

"Steve Bailey, National Center for Atmospheric Research"

Slides: Noaa’S Applied Research And Risa, Harvey Hill

Water, Climate and Uncertainty: Implications for Western Water Law, Policy, and Management (Summer Conference, June 11-13)

Presenter: Harvey Hill, Program Manager, Regional Integrated Sciences and Assessments Program (RISA), National Oceanic and Atmospheric Association (NOAA), Office of Global Programs

19 slides

The Long Time Scales Of Human-Caused Climate Warming: Further Challenges For The Global Policy Process, Jerry D. Mahlman

Water, Climate and Uncertainty: Implications for Western Water Law, Policy, and Management (Summer Conference, June 11-13)

28 pages.

"Jerry D. Mahlman, Senior Research Fellow, National Center for Atmospheric Research"

"Presented at the Pew Center Workshop on The Timing of Climate Change Policies, The Westin Grand Hotel, Washington, DC, October 10-12, 2001"

"Cite As: Mahlman, J.D. 2001. The Long Time Scales of Human-Caused Climate Warming: Further Challenges for the Global Policy Process. Pew Center Workshop on the Timing of Climate Change Policies, October 10-12, Pew Center on Global Climate Change, Arlington, VA."

Brief 16: In Search Of Equity: An Institutional Response, New England Resource Center For Higher Education, University Of Massachusetts Boston

New England Resource Center for Higher Education Publications

The United States Supreme Judicial Court is currently deliberating the University of Michigan Affirmative Action lawsuits involving three white students who claim they were discriminated against because of race-conscious admissions policies. Organizations, such as the Center for Individual Rights, which sponsored the Michigan plaintiffs, and the Center for Equal Opportunity, have spearheaded drives to evaluate affirmative action programs in light of equal protection under the law. Viewed in this light, these policies appear to be unfair to white candidates. Examined more closely, concerns about equitability are missing from arguments about fairness. NERCHE’s Multicultural Affairs Think Tank members discussed the changed …

Telecommunications Reform In Southern Africa: The Role Of The Southern African Development Community, Patricia K. Mccormick

Communication Faculty Research Publications

This article examines telecommunications reform and related infrastructure and service developments in Southern African states. In focusing on this region, the article analyses the role of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) and the different associations and commissions it has created to develop the telecommunications sector and facilitate reform, which is essential to promote network efficiencies and extend the infrastructure to rural areas. As a regional organisation, SADC is poised to promote restructuring of the telecommunications sector in its 14 member states, as it seeks to achieve complementary national and regional programs and promote sustainable development and economic growth through …

The Region And The Smaller Enterprise: A Discussion Of Appropriate Investigative Methodologies, Ian Pownall

New England Journal of Entrepreneurship

Regional policy instruments are typically driven by economic rationales, from either a firm or industrial perspective. Yet too often, these rationales are taken as ex ante to the contexts within which firms and industries compete. Recent regional development research has urged a better link be developed between the individual, the firm, and their context, so as to understand the role of regions in supporting effective competitiveness of organizations. In this article, recent research themes are explored that may shed light on the nature of this relationship and that can be developed into an investigative methodology that could aid policy practitioners …

Victim Assistance Policy Planning: Decentralization As A Key?, Philippe Chabasse

The Journal of Conventional Weapons Destruction

While victim assistance is becoming an increasingly familiar topic for signatories of the Mine Ban Treaty, the problem remains of how best to implement such programs. The author suggests that it is time for a switch from “top down” to “bottom up” implementation.

The Power Of The Urban Canvas: Paint, Politics, And Mural Art Policy, Maura E. Greaney

New England Journal of Public Policy

In cities across America, outdoor mural paintings have brought public art to the urban landscape. Paint and politics have been splashed upon city walls for decades, replacing bleak, often graffitied, exteriors with vibrant color. But this transformation runs deeper than the artistry of the murals; the real works of art are the changes these collaborative projects inspire within communities. Mural projects mobilize communities to articulate dreams, express frustrations, and most importantly, consider strategies for change. Thus, they are a worthy consideration for public policymakers. This case study traces the contemporary mural movement in three cities: Boston, Philadelphia, and Los Angeles. …

The Citizens Health Prescription: Coping With Rising Drug Costs, Shannon Cadres

New England Journal of Public Policy

Prescription drug prices have climbed to unaffordable levels in recent years, creating a serious public policy problem for lawmakers at both the state and federal levels. The U.S. Medicare program only covers the costs of inpatient prescription drugs, and only seventy-five percent of beneficiaries are receiving coverage through some other means. But because of the tremendous power of the pharmaceutical industry on Capitol Hill, lawmakers in Washington have been unable to agree upon a workable solution. As a result, many states are experimenting with different strategies to provide some relief. Massachusetts has attempted to solve the problem through the Prescription …

Brief 14: Risk Management, New England Resource Center For Higher Education, University Of Massachusetts Boston

New England Resource Center for Higher Education Publications

The development office accepts a gift of a house from a prestigious donor. The faculty has developed and approved a new core curriculum. The institution recently constructed a new campus center. While these circumstances sound no alarms, all involve elements of risk. The welcome gift of the house, later discovered to be contaminated with mold, will involve a costly clean up. A revised curriculum cannot guarantee that the changes will yield the expected results. The construction of a new building has significant implications for maintenance of the physical plant. In a recent meeting NERCHE’s Chief Financial Officers Think Tank discussed …

The Paradox Of Public Authorities In Massachusetts: Massport And Masspike, Richard A. Hogarty

New England Journal of Public Policy

This case study provides historical context and fresh perspectives for those seeking to understand the ways in which independent authorities operate in Massachusetts. More specifically, it examines the controversial performances of two separate authorities that deal with transportation problems. One involves a failure to detect terrorists breaching security at Logan Airport; the other entails a bitter dispute that arose over the delay in raising tolls on the turnpike to pay for the Big Dig project. With both in mind, this study describes the countervailing pressures that converge on the executive branch of state government as it confronts the prospect of …

A Historical Descriptive Analysis Of Federal, State, And Local Education Policy And Its Influence On The Music Education Curriculum In The New York City Public School 1950-1999, David Crone

Seton Hall University Dissertations and Theses (ETDs)

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Implementation Of Zurich’S Transit Priority Program, Mti Report 01-13, Andrew Butler Nash

Mineta Transportation Institute

The objective of this research was to describe transit priority techniques in Zürich and understand how the city implemented its program. Most transit priority improvements are relatively simple and inexpensive; however, they have proved to be difficult to implement and sustain. The research effort consisted of a case study with interviews and surveys. We interviewed many persons associated with the development and implementation of Zürich’s transit priority program. A survey to evaluate support of transportation decision-makers in Santa Clara County, California, illustrated transit improvements in a typical U.S. city. The data was compared to a similar survey in Zürich. The …

Statewide Safety Study Of Bicycles And Pedestrians On Freeways, Expressway, Toll Bridges, And Tunnels, Thomas C. Ferrara

Mineta Transportation Institute

The purpose of this study is to attempt to clarify some of the issues pertaining to bicycles on freeways. Specifically, the goal of this project is to “develop policy recommendations, guidelines, and policies for bicycle and pedestrian use of freeways, expressways, tunnels, and toll bridges in California.”

California Border Zone Land Transportation Issues: Nafta Ii, Mti Report 01-06, George E. Gray

Mineta Transportation Institute

The Mineta Transportation Institute at San José State University conducted this study to review the issues, impacts, implications, and opportunities for improved California-Baja California border area land transportation. The study reviews current conditions, previously identified issues, and, in consultation with Caltrans District 11 officials and others, developed an ultimate listing of seven issues for detailed study as follows: (1) public transportation at the border; (2) cross-broder Americans with Disabilities Act interface; (3) California highway access to Tijuana International Airport; (4) Clean Air Act compliance; (5) General Services Administration off-site authority; (6) southbound inspection requirement; and (7) pipelines or other stationary …

Non-Pricing Methods To Optimize High Occupancy Vehicle Lane Usage, Mti Report 01-11, George E. Gray

Mineta Transportation Institute

The Mineta Transportation Institute) at San José State University conducted this study to review the issues and implications involved in the project in question. Twenty-four potential HOV facility user groups were identified. Through a ranking process, seven of these groups were selected for further study in phase one. The project team made the following preliminary conclusions as to the suitability of each group to use HOV facilities and recommended whether each group should be included in the phase two study to refine these findings and develop implementation strategies. 1. As the result of 1998 legislation, which includes sunset provisions, electric …

Telecommunications Reform In Botswana: A Policy Model For African States, Patricia K. Mccormick

Communication Faculty Research Publications

Since the mid-1990s, Botswana has pursued a policy of telecommunications liberalisation. This article, based on fieldwork conducted in Botswana in the summer of 2000, analyzes several notable aspects of the process of reform and denotes those worthy of emulation by other African states. The participation and protection of domestic telecommunication users, transparency in decision-making, the creation of an independent regulatory agency, and the introduction of competition in the form of private cellular service providers are among those policy features that are recommended for replication. Various facets of the tendering process and subsequent licences granted to the mobile operators as well …

A History Of Public Radio In An Urban Community: Its Impact Upon Education, Culture, Public Opinion And Policy, Barry K. Graham

Theses and Dissertations in Urban Services - Urban Education

In a relatively short history, Public Radio in Hampton Roads has emerged as a most important cultural and educational asset to the urban community. The dynamic growth of the Hampton Roads urban infrastructure is the result of several political, economic, and cultural factors. Public Radio has been one of these factors and has served as a catalyst for change and growth in the community. This case study focuses upon Public Radio stations WHRO-FM and WHRV-FM and the elements which brought about their historical development.

The study presents a history of events that marked the beginning of Public Radio in Hampton …

Brief 6: The Merit Aid Question: How Can We Attract Promising Students While Preserving Educational Opportunity For All?, New England Resource Center For Higher Education, University Of Massachusetts Boston

New England Resource Center for Higher Education Publications

NERCHE’s think tank members recently participated in a discussion of the competitive forces driving change in higher education. The discussion, facilitated by The Futures Project: Policy for Higher Education in a Changing World (www.futuresproject.org), revealed tremendous concern among faculty and administrators in New England about safeguarding the principles of equal access and equal educational opportunity during a time of accelerating competition for students. This is a crucial time for a reevaluation of barriers to full educational opportunity in this country. We need policies both at the institutional level and the state and federal levels to reverse the widening educational and …

Managing Sprawl In The Land Of Unintended Consequences, Robert S. Bucci

New England Journal of Public Policy

Americans witnessing the bulldozing of their country’s pastures, farmlands, and sensitive habitats to erect suburban housing tracts and commercial centers have come to realize that the remaining open land may be too precious to waste. Residential and commercial development is no longer quickly embraced to stimulate economic progress and prosperity. Municipalities are learning that development often extracts a price — sometimes the loss of community character and local charm, sometimes tax revenues that fall short of increased expenditures, and sometimes just plain ugliness. Responding to the new reality, many community officials have initiated unilateral ordinances regulating the development of open …

A Tax System For An E-Commerce Economy, Murray L. Weidenbaum

Murray Weidenbaum Publications

Many state governments and federal policymakers view a new, special tax on electronic commerce to be a fresh and attractive revenue source. But whether implemented at the state or national level, this new tax would be highly undesirable, because it simply expands the shortcomings of the current revenue structure. Because of the flexibility of e-commerce, the attempt to collect such a tax would result in enforcement policies that would further complicate an already complex tax system. The way out of this conundrum is to see the shortcoming in current efforts to tax internet transactions as part of a broader need …

Why Campaigns For Local Transportation Initiatives Succeed Or Fail: An Analysis Of Four Communities And National Data, Mti Report 00-01, Peter Haas, Kristen Sullivan Massey, Linda O. Valenty, Richard Werbel

Mineta Transportation Institute

As funding from state and national sources has dwindled and demands for relief from traffic and congestion have grown, local governments and transportation agencies are increasingly left to develop their own sources of enhanced revenues. Frequently the bid to increase available revenues comprises a local ballot measure, enabling the citizens served by these governments and agencies to express their preferences for or against increased taxation in support of an improved transportation system. What determines the success of campaigns in support of such ballot measures? To answer this question, this report includes the use of two different approaches and data sources. …

The Assault On The Global Economy, Murray L. Weidenbaum

Murray Weidenbaum Publications

The global economy is under assault by a strange alliance of radical groups and several mainstream environmental organizations. The outfits from the far left are long-term opponents of the capitalist system, both at home and abroad, so their opposition to trade between nations is neither new nor newsworthy. It is surprising, however, that organizations like the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth have joined this effort to oppose the modern economy. This paper attempts to respond to these views. Isolationist policies are a foolhardy, futile pursuit in today's interconnected, globalized economy.

The Challenge Of Administration By Regulation: Preliminary Findings Regarding The U.S. Government's Venture Capital Funds, Jonathan G.S. Koppell

Publications from President Jonathan G.S. Koppell

This article assesses the ability of elected officials to control public policy as implemented by public/private hybrid organizations, specifically, government venture capital funds. The study reveals greater control over OPIC investment funds than Enterprise Funds despite the existence of more traditional administrative tools of control for Enterprise Funds. This finding suggests that the regulatory infrastructure for hybrid organizations is more determinative of control than the existence (or lack) of traditional administrative control tools. Thus the challenge of hybrid government centers on the development of regulation as a substitute for administration.

Demographics Of The Gay And Lesbian Population In The United States: Evidence From Available Systematic Date Sources, Dan Black, Gary Gates, Seth Sanders, Lowell Taylor

Center for Policy Research

There are thousands of studies on the gay and lesbian population. Because of the difficulty of sampling this population, most studies have used “convenience samples” for analysis. Until recently, it was extremely rare that survey data on gays and lesbians were collected from a known sampling frame, and equally rare that the same survey instrument was fielded to the gay and lesbian population and to a comparison group of other men and women. Comparative analysis of the gay and lesbian population has thus been difficult, and researchers have been properly reluctant to draw general inferences from available samples of gays …

Trends. Global Warming, Policymaking, And Asymmetries Of Time, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

The author discusses one of the most significant subtexts to political discourse on global warming, that of time.

The Other Illicit Drug Trafficking, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article discusses the deleterious consequences for segments of a nation's population when dealing with the psychological effects of psychoactive substances.

Weapons Against Weapons: Effecting Gun Control Policy, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article critiques a recent editorial in The New Republic that compares lawsuit and lawmaking routes to effecting gun control policy.

Nuclear Psychologies: On The First Use Of Nuclear Weapons And Reductions In Nuclear Arsenals, Ibpp Editor

International Bulletin of Political Psychology

This article describes how the psychological rationales for, and the consequences of, the same nuclear policies can be constructed very differently by different groups of nuclear policymakers. Some possible rationales for these differences are offered.

The U.S. Trade Deficit: A Misleading Economic Indicator, Murray L. Weidenbaum

Murray Weidenbaum Publications

The U.S. trade deficit is the most misleading indicator of economic performance in our statistical tool kit. More often than not, bad news for the economy is good news for the trade deficit, and vice versa. In 1992, the economy was in recession and our trade deficit came down. One year later, the opposite was true. When we look beyond the short-run gyrations of the trade balance and the business cycle, more fundamental, longer-run problems do involve the trade deficit. Indeed, it is a symptom of a more basic economic imbalance.