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The Los Angeles Economy and Jobs Committee, established in October 2006, is a broad-based coalition of leaders from business, academia, labor and the non-profit sector who were asked by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa to develop specific action recommendations for economic development and the creation of quality jobs in Los Angeles.
The Los Angeles Economy and Jobs Committee believes that Los Angeles must have a clear and effective commitment to environmentally sustainable, long-term economic and job growth as well as a well-defined set of policies and priorities that support those objectives for the greater good of Los Angeles and its many diverse communities.
The population of our city is projected to grow by at least 50,000 residents annually. With that growth – and the many improvements that already are needed in our city – come greater demands for housing, public safety, education, healthcare, transportation, environmental protection, parks, workforce development and more. These demands can be met only with the type of economic growth and quality job creation that support a sound and expanding tax revenue base.
Unfortunately, the number of quality jobs in the city and county of Los Angeles has been on the decline since 1995 – due in part to job reductions in manufacturing, aerospace and certain high-tech sectors as well as the exodus of some important corporate headquarters. The Mayor and this committee are committed to reversing this trend.
The committee’s 26 independent business, labor, academic and non-profit leaders self-funded this project and devoted more than one year to develop 100 specific action recommendations. These recommendations are intended to support and enhance environmentally sustainable economic development and job creation in the City of Los Angeles.
I want to express my deep appreciation to all of the members of the committee and our executive director Libby Williams, Corey Carleton and our interns. We are all grateful to the Mayor’s team: Robin Kramer, Dan Grunfeld, Bud Ovrom and Helmi Hisserich and their staffs. We also appreciate Thom Miller at City National and former Assemblyman Richard Katz for all of their hard work, contributions and counsel. Most importantly, this committee and all of its fine work would not have happened without the active engagement of Mayor Villaraigosa.
However, these 100 recommendations are the responsibility solely of the committee. It is our hope and belief that they warrant the attention of and implementation by the policy-makers and elected officials, the opinion leaders, economic stakeholders and citizens of the City of Los Angeles.
While there are certainly other good ideas not included here, and more work is required for nearly all of our recommendations, if fully implemented they will facilitate the creation of many quality jobs and a more vibrant economy that will greatly benefit all Angelenos, the city and the broader region it serves.
Los Angeles is truly a great city with enormous resources, talent, opportunities and challenges. We believe that in order to truly be a world-class city for the 21st century, the recommendations of the LAEJC should be developed further and implemented as soon as possible.
Sincerely,
Chairman
Los Angeles Economy & Jobs Committee
Chairman and CEO
City National Bank
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