trendSpotting, Richard Laermer. Penguin Putnam, 2002.
Richard Laermer’s trendSpotting tells the reader what to expect in the next decade from the economy, technology, entertainment, politics and society. In the section titled Young Politicians Change Politics by Being Antipolitical and Antipolitician, Laermer discusses Regina’s work with the NYC Political Education Leadership Coalition. Term limits were finally going into effect in 2001 for all elected positions in the City of New York from Mayor on down to local council members. As a result 38 of the 51 New York City Council seats would be open for new candidates. Regina realized that many of the candidates were unaware of substantive priority issues related to education, budget, land use, public safety and general city services. In response to this public policy gap, she proposed a training program for candidates that was then developed by the New York Women’s Agenda in coordination with Baruch College. The program ran for four weekends in February 2000 and 2001 where over 100 prospective candidates attended each training. The program was also covered by the New York Times.