The Policy Nexus: Analytics & Equity

Happy Black History Month, y'all! ✊🏾 This year, I’m focusing on the power of intersectionality . We can’t talk about Black history without talking about the Black queer and trans people who have been on the frontlines since day one. 🧵

Today, we honor Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., but in an era of backlash, where Black history is censored and LGBTQ+ existence is legislated against, passive remembrance is not enough. The fight to defend history is intensifying. As the African American Policy Forum notes, our institutions are under attack under the false banner of "eliminating DEI." Let us remember that Dr. King’s vision of a Beloved Community was radically inclusive. You cannot support Black liberation while ignoring the violence facing Black trans people. You cannot honor civil rights history while banning books that teach it. We are taking inspiration from the 2026 Liberation Calendar to commit to an intersectional daily practice. We must connect the dots between racial justice, queer liberation, and the concrete policies needed to secure them both.

Moving forward with purpose at CBU. As I continue my work in Public Administration, my commitment remains the same: developing equitable and sustainable policies that enhance community health and serve our underserved populations. 🦁✨

  Cheers to the New Year! As we step into a brand-new year, I'm wishing you fresh beginnings, exciting opportunities, and plenty of reasons to celebrate. Thank you for being part of our community. Here’s to a wonderful year ahead!

Metanoia, Maps, and the Courage to Save 2,200 Homes in San Jacinto. We often speak of the housing crisis as if it is a weather event—something that just happens to us, driven by market forces we cannot control. We see the encampments in the San Jacinto riverbed, we cheer for the $12 million grants to clear them, and we think we are solving the problem. But while we are looking at the riverbed, we are missing the map. In my work as a Doctor of Public Administration student, I study the gap  between digital governance (the paperwork) and on-the-ground reality (the people). Recently, I found a gap so wide it threatens to swallow the future of our city. It is called the Stoneridge Commerce Center .  The Fear Equation: Why We Freeze. Before I explain the project, I want to talk about why we usually ignore these things. Harvard Business School professor Ranjay Gulati argues that fear = uncertainty + loss of control. When developers drop a 500-page Environmental Impact Report o...

  As 2025 draws to a close, I express my deepest gratitude for your partnership and trust. You are an invaluable part of this community, and your support is the engine that drives our work to protect, educate, and advocate for California’s most underserved populations—including older adults, diverse communities, and those navigating economic challenges or limited English proficiency. While 2025 brought its share of uncertainty, it also proved the power of collective resilience. As we look toward 2026, we know significant challenges remain in the fight for equity. I invite you to stay engaged in the coming year as we work to turn policy into progress. Together, we can meet these challenges with expertise, compassion, and unwavering dedication. Thank you for believing in this mission. With gratitude and appreciation,  Eric

 From $13 Billion to One Senior: Unmasking the 'Submerged State' in Housing Policy photo by Don Leach This isn't a shelter, it's a permanent home for people like Robert Taylor—a small business owner who paid taxes for 40 years before getting sick. The funding we are voting on today (TEFRA/Bonds) is what allows 'Robert' to move out of his truck and back into our community. If we vote 'No' on this bond, we aren't stopping 'homelessness'—we are keeping Robert in his truck. We often speak of housing policy in the abstract language of liquidity, collateralized advances, and z-scores. A new report from the Urban Institute estimates that the Federal Home Loan Bank (FHLBank) system generates between $13.2 and $21.4 billion in economic stability annually. But what does $21 billion actually look like? It seems like Robert Taylor. A former motorcycle shop owner in Huntington Beach, Robert spent years sleeping in his truck until a complex web of invisib...