New Jobs Committee

I had the pleasure to welcome businesses from across Los Angeles to council chambers as the LA Area Chamber of Commerce sponsored the 10th annual Access City Hall. In those ten years, participants have visited three different mayors and have seen the name above every council district’s office door change (and one change back).

When I first came to office, I decided that the time had come to get real business tax reform done. I was greeted by ten years of shelved reports and big ideas that had fallen by the wayside. nonetheless, I pushed with Councilmember Wendy Greuel to pass the Greuel-Garcetti business tax reform. That legislation has seen taxes fall and receipts rise as Los Angeles officially nailed its “Open for Business” sign to the door.

Our next step to bring economic prosperity to Los Angeles begins October 1st, when Councilmember Greig Smith will officially be appointed chair of the Jobs, Business Growth, and Tax Reform committee. As Council President, I created this committee to give the issues critical to business a single, focused home. The committee and the chair will champion the middle-class jobs that have made Los Angeles great, bringing together government, industry, and community groups to explore new enterprises such as the exploding renewable energy market.

Los Angeles has the raw material of a 21st century city. The challenge before all of us to transform our city into an economic hub for the entire world.