Tom, how about http://departments.oxy.edu/uepi/ The Urban & Environmental Policy Institute is dedicated to the development of a more just, livable, and democratic region through research, education, community partnerships, organizing, and policy analysis and advocacy.
http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/9799.html http://www.ucpress.edu/books/pages/9799/9799.intro.html Robert Gottlieb, Mark Vallianatos, Regina M. Freer, and Peter Dreier. "The Next Los Angeles:The Struggle for a Livable City
"At its most lively, this book provides an intelligent insider's account of the construction of Progressive Los Angeles Network, or PLAN, and the emergence of a powerful labor-Latino bloc that provides progressive L.A. with much of its heart and soul. But the book offers readers more, including details of a grassroots-driving progressive agenda and a revealing social and political history. . . .The authors don't shy away from discussing problems and challenges. . . .A good starting point for any serious student of forward-looking municipal politics."--James Goodno, San Francisco Chronicle
Peter Dreier there is a good lefty. Gottlieb was SDS.(Dave Gilbert {later WU], Bob Gottlieb and Susan Sutheim, "Consumption: domestic imperialism, " SDS New Left Notes piece.)
Planning for a Livable City: An Open Letter to the next Director of the Los Angeles Department of City Planning (details)
Keep Moving Forward, Keep Moving Left LA Times Op-Ed by Robert Gottlieb and Regina Freer (details)
Report on Wal-Mart, Food Access, Labor and Landuse (details)
-- Michael Pugliese