Happy New Year - Here’s What A Great 2015 Would Look Like

by Gary Toebben

Most economists predict that 2015 will be a better year than 2014. That’s good, but my question is “What would make 2015 a great year for Los Angeles County?” What would dramatically contribute to the growth of our regional economy and cause a significant reduction in our unemployment rate? Here are 10 headlines that I would like to read in the coming year:

• A federal mediator aids in bringing a quick settlement to the contract negotiations between the Pacific Maritime Association and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union. Thousands of long-term jobs were at risk as the negotiations dragged on. 
• The U.S. Olympic Committee selects Los Angeles as the host city for the U.S. Olympic Committee’s bid to host the 2024 Olympic Games. Later, the International Olympic Committee selects Los Angeles to host the 2024 Games.
• A record-setting attendance at the Special Olympics World Games on July 25 - Aug. 2 in Los Angeles creates excitement and economic stimulus for the region. More than 7,000 athletes from 177 nations made the Special Olympics the largest athletic event in the world during 2015.
• A huge snowpack amasses in the Sierras and rain falls freely across all regions of the State.
• L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti is successful in his plan to streamline the bureaucracy at City Hall.
• The California Legislature and Governor Brown reform the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) to reduce the number of abusive lawsuits, but retain the vast majority of the law to protect our environment.
• BNSF Railroad breaks ground on the construction of its new Southern California International Gateway to reduce the number of trucks on the 710 Freeway and speed up the flow of containers from the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach to the rest of the nation. Improvements to the Union Pacific Rail Yard are next.
• Home For Good, a partnership of the United Way and the Chamber, declares victory in its goal to eliminate Veteran homelessness by the end of 2015. 
• Congress passes comprehensive immigration reform and a new surface transportation bill that includes America Fast Forward Transportation bonds. 
• The Los Angeles City Council passes three years of reductions to the Gross Receipts Tax and signals its intent to continue making more reductions in future years. 

As a community, we must all work together to make 2015 the Happiest of New Years.  With the exception of rain and snow, we have the ability to control our destiny.    

And that's The Business Perspective.