Blog / The Business Perspective
New Focus on Jobs and Budget Needed at L.A. City Hall
May 16, 2012
by Gary Toebben
The Los Angeles Times ran a story over the weekend that missed the mark about the influence of the business community at L.A. City Hall, which prompted me to send a letter to the editor on Sunday afternoon.In my response to the story, I pointed out that business is an aggressive advocate at City Hall and actively engaged in city elections.
For example, on Jan. 17, 2012, Joe Buscaino trounced the candidate backed by the County Federation of Labor in the race for Council District 15. The L.A. Area Chamber’s L.A. Jobs Political Action Committee (PAC)vigorously supported Buscaino, providing $82,000 in an independent expenditure campaign to support his election.
In 2011, in the much closer re-election of Councilmember Bernard Parks, the Chamber’s PAC and other business groups stepped up and provided critical independent expenditure funding for mailers and phone calls, helping to secure his re-election to the City Council.
Yes, there are fewer large corporate headquarters in Los Angeles than 20 years ago and the focus of many L.A. businesses is now global rather than local. But that does not mean that the Chamber and the dozens of other business organizations in Los Angeles have abrogated their passion for the welfare of America’s second largest city to other interest groups. When one looks at the high unemployment rate in Los Angeles and a City budget that is structurally imbalanced every year and according to the CAO, teeters on the brink of bankruptcy, it is clear that a business perspective is needed more at L.A. City Hall today than ever before.
We invite all businesses and individual citizens in Los Angeles to join us in electing more pro-jobs and pro-economic growth candidates to the L.A. City Council. We need 15 Councilmembers who wake up every morning thinking about ways to put several hundred thousand Angelenos back to work and balance the city budget by adding new and growing businesses to the tax base.
We’re tired of city leaders who place jawboning ahead of jobs and public employee pensions ahead of potholes. The economic pain that is facing the residents of Los Angeles because of unemployment and the L.A. City budget is not just a business issue — the results will determine the quality of life for every citizen of Los Angeles in the years ahead.
If you would like to join us in this campaign for the future of our city, contact the PAC today. Electing pro-jobs, pro-economic growth representatives to City Hall is not just a business issue, it’s everyone’s issue.
And that's The Business Perspective.
Comments
LA is very weak politically, I don't believe we have the right people in office that can attract businesses, especially ones that are creating new jobs. I think that flows up hill all the way to Sacramento.
Your business isn't going to thrive just anywhere. You need the right climate for success, where the pressure from taxes, investment costs and red tape are at their lowest. California used to have this formula, the business environment you need to successfully meet your objectives, and the industry initiatives designed to stimulate growth, innovation and profits, but it has gone down hill since the late 80's driving businesses out seeking more attractive areas for business.
Programs needed include tax credits to improve capital access for fast-growing California companies and deductions based on new job creation and training.
California, with its 16 billion debt problem will only get worse with the current proposal of taxing your way out of a spending problem. What is needed for Los Angeles to keep businesses and attract new ones is a complete change of thinking which I believe requires a new management team. The current Mayor is clueless on a plan and I don't see much movement by the City Council on ideas that will make a difference. It's the same story, promise, promise, please reelect me!
Some ideas that are woking in other states showing aggressive turn around like Indiana, Ohio and Texas are:
Very competitive business tax structure, including a flat state corporate tax rate on adjusted gross income and no gross receipts tax or inventory tax. New legislation will decrease corporate income tax anywhere from 8.5% to 6.5%, a reduction of nearly 25%. The tax rate will drop by 0.5% per year until 2015 as the decrease is phased-in.
Many states realizing success are offering business tax incentives, corporate tax credits and economic development programs for companies creating jobs and raising income in those states, including tax credits based on job creation and capital investment, workforce training grants, and public infrastructure assistance.
Or I guess bankruptcy or Federal bailout is another option.
My 2 cents.
Your business isn't going to thrive just anywhere. You need the right climate for success, where the pressure from taxes, investment costs and red tape are at their lowest. California used to have this formula, the business environment you need to successfully meet your objectives, and the industry initiatives designed to stimulate growth, innovation and profits, but it has gone down hill since the late 80's driving businesses out seeking more attractive areas for business.
Programs needed include tax credits to improve capital access for fast-growing California companies and deductions based on new job creation and training.
California, with its 16 billion debt problem will only get worse with the current proposal of taxing your way out of a spending problem. What is needed for Los Angeles to keep businesses and attract new ones is a complete change of thinking which I believe requires a new management team. The current Mayor is clueless on a plan and I don't see much movement by the City Council on ideas that will make a difference. It's the same story, promise, promise, please reelect me!
Some ideas that are woking in other states showing aggressive turn around like Indiana, Ohio and Texas are:
Very competitive business tax structure, including a flat state corporate tax rate on adjusted gross income and no gross receipts tax or inventory tax. New legislation will decrease corporate income tax anywhere from 8.5% to 6.5%, a reduction of nearly 25%. The tax rate will drop by 0.5% per year until 2015 as the decrease is phased-in.
Many states realizing success are offering business tax incentives, corporate tax credits and economic development programs for companies creating jobs and raising income in those states, including tax credits based on job creation and capital investment, workforce training grants, and public infrastructure assistance.
Or I guess bankruptcy or Federal bailout is another option.
My 2 cents.
Posted by: Mike O @ 3:13:00 pm
LA City need to restructure itself to operate more cost effective and results oriented. With weak Mayor, 15 Council Districts and elected Controller and City Attorney, it is difficult to impose accountability.
Posted by: Robert L. @ 2:03:00 pm
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