[Congressional Record Volume 158, Number 120 (Monday, September 10, 2012)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1460]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




         DR. MURTAZA BAXAMUSA--FELLOWSHIP HONOREE OF THE YEAR!

                                 ______
                                 

                            HON. BOB FILNER

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Monday, September 10, 2012

  Mr. FILNER. Mr. Speaker, I rise today to proclaim that there are 
several unsung community leaders in our nation that deserves our utmost 
admiration and recognition.
  One such leader hails from my 51st Congressional District, Dr. 
Murtaza Baxamusa, the Director of Planning and Development for the 
Family Housing Corporation of the San Diego County Building and Trades 
Council, as well as an Adjunct Faculty with the Sol Price School of 
Public Policy at the University of Sothern California. He is a 
certified planner by the American Planning Association. He has over 10 
years experience in economic development and sustainable urban planning 
and works with several non-profits to expand affordable housing in the 
San Diego area.
  Dr. Baxamusa is a founding board member of the Middle Class Taxpayers 
Association and serves on the Board of Directors of the San Diego City-
County Reinvestment Taskforce, Utility Consumer Action Network, and 
Cleveland National Forest Foundation. He writes the blog, Middle Class 
Thinker for VoiceofSanDiego.org and serves on the real estate panel for 
the San Diego Union Tribune.
  Dr. Baxamusa received his doctoral (PhD) in Planning from the 
University of Southern California (USC) in 2008. His study on community 
benefits agreements received the award for the best doctoral 
dissertation in planning use at USC and was published in the academic 
journal of record in American planning education. He received a 
Master's degree in Planning at USC, and a Bachelor's degree in 
Architecture from the Indian Institute of Technology.
  In his last position as the Deputy Director at the Center on Policy 
Initiatives, Dr. Baxamusa authored numerous policy briefs and studies 
on issues concerning working families and is frequently cited by the 
media and legislators as an expert on these issues. His public policy 
accomplishments include: expanding the living wage to outsourcing, 
economic prosperity in the General Plan, and responsible contracting. 
His report on city finances, ``Bottom Line,'' is one of the most 
referenced municipal budgets in the city of San Diego. The City of San 
Diego proclaimed June 17, 2008 to be ``Dr. Baxamusa Day'' in 
recognition of his work in the city.
  Prior to moving to San Diego, Dr. Baxamusa was a researcher at the 
USC Center for Economic Development. He worked on sustainable 
development strategies for several cities in Southern California. The 
Center was recognized as the National Center for Eco-Industrial 
Development by three federal agencies.
  Congratulations are indeed in order today as we honor and recognize 
Dr. Murtaza Baxamusa as the John S. Lyons Foundation's Fellowship 
Honoree of 2012!

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