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The Business Perspective
Los Angeles is Moving America Forward
Gary Toebben on May 3, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
This week, business and community leaders from Southern California are in Washington, D.C. advocating for job creation to ensure that Los Angeles is a driver in the nation’s economic recovery. As Congress and the Obama Administration continue to address the budget deficit, the delegation is advocating strategic investments in critical priorities to establish a long-term plan for economic growth.
The delegation is presenting 25 different recommendations in the areas of economy and infrastructure, education, energy and sustainability, health care, housing and water.
The delegation is presenting 25 different recommendations in the areas of economy and infrastructure, education, energy and sustainability, health care, housing and water.
A Plan to Save Jobs and Clean Up Vernon
Gary Toebben on April 26, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
The City of Vernon, located just south of Downtown Los Angeles, has less than 100 full-time residents and its motto is "Exclusively Industrial." That motto took hold in the early 1920s when stockyards and meat packing plants were the backbone of the city. Later, major companies such as U.S. Steel, Alcoa Inc., General Mills, and the Studebaker Assembly Plant defined Vernon, until recent years when BCBG Max Azria, Farmer John, Tapatio Hot Sauce, True Religion Apparel Inc. and Papa Cantella’s Sausage became the modern face of this jobs Mecca.Vernon offers a unique mix of benefits for industry. Its city-owned utility provides water and power rates below those of neighboring cities. Its zoning code allows for industrial operations that other local cities do not offer. Red tape is virtually non-existent and businesses have access to first-rate police and fire services. In total, Vernon is home to 50,000 jobs and a cumulative $4.5 billion annual payroll ...
Thank You Ray Cortines For Your Leadership
Gary Toebben on April 19, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
Angelenos should all take a moment and thank Ray Cortines, retiring Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendant. Thursday was the last official day for the 78-year-old life-long teacher and educator. During his tenure the past two and half years, Cortines has had a "laser like" focus on putting children first and last. This focus may seem obvious, yet with boards, budgets and unions, educational leaders often do not maintain the discipline and priority of putting students first During Cortines' term, LAUSD’s base budget of $8 billion was decreased by $1.5 billion—a severe management crisis for any enterprise. Cortines navigated these waters and made tough decisions in order to minimize the negative impact on students. He dramatically cut the central support office by nearly half and increased the portion of resources going directly to schools and classrooms...
City Hall Thinks It Knows What is Good For Business
Gary Toebben on April 12, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
When L.A. City Hall thinks it knows what's good for business, the business community usually ends up with a raw deal. As if Councilmembers don't have enough of their own issues to grapple with—starting with the City's own budget deficit—now they want to make hiring decisions for you. That's right, the “Hotel Worker Right of Recall” proposal from Councilmembers Paul Koretz and Janice Hahn would require all 50-room or more hotels that close for renovation or reconstruction to offer former employees their former job when the new facility opens...
Wilshire Grand Project Will Help Jumpstart Recovery in L.A.
Gary Toebben on April 5, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
The approval by the Los Angeles City Council last week of the $1.2 billion Wilshire Grand redevelopment project at 7th and Figueroa in downtown Los Angeles is an example of how to escape from a recession and begin creating jobs again ...
America Fast Forward Kicks Off Tomorrow
Gary Toebben on March 29, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
In November 2008, as the Great Recession was gripping our nation, 68 percent of the voters of Los Angeles County agreed to increase the county sales tax by one-half percent to fund road and mass transit
projects over the next 30 years. The voters spoke loudly in support of traffic relief and the new jobs that would be created through dozens of high priority projects outlined in a master plan.
projects over the next 30 years. The voters spoke loudly in support of traffic relief and the new jobs that would be created through dozens of high priority projects outlined in a master plan.
Budget Deficit IV Now Showing in L.A.
Gary Toebben on March 22, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
When Hollywood produces a sequel, it is because the first film was a hit. This spring's Budget Deficit IV, starring the City of Los Angeles, does not fall into that category. What started out as a PG rated show three years ago and gained little attention has turned into a horror movie that should scare every resident and taxpayer of Los Angeles ...
How to Send Texas and Other States Back Home
Gary Toebben on March 15, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
The recent headline, "Texas isn't rustling from State" in the Los Angeles Times implies that few California companies are picking up and moving their operations from California to Texas. That's good news, but it is not the end of the story and it does not indicate that California can rest on its massive assets and assume that the world will beat a path to our door.
In any given year, very few corporations relocate their headquarters or major operations to another state. Corporate boards and CEO's in California and elsewhere try every strategy possible before undertaking the costly and dramatic decision of moving to another state. Business CEOs are particularly concerned about the possible loss of existing employees and the value that these employees bring to the company.
In any given year, very few corporations relocate their headquarters or major operations to another state. Corporate boards and CEO's in California and elsewhere try every strategy possible before undertaking the costly and dramatic decision of moving to another state. Business CEOs are particularly concerned about the possible loss of existing employees and the value that these employees bring to the company.
What Happens When City Retirees Outnumber City Employees?
Gary Toebben on March 8, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
Today is Election Day and we encourage all registered voters to go to the polls. Tomorrow, we encourage those same registered voters to vigorously press on incumbents and newly-elected office holders that reducing the publics' cost of pensions and health care for retirees should be the top priority in balancing the 2011-12 budgets that will go into effect on July 1, 2011.
In the City of Los Angeles, the budget deficit for 2011-12 begins at $350 million fueled in large part by the rapidly growing cost of pensions and health care for retirees. Last week, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for two significant reforms to keep the problem from getting worse. He called for raising the retirement age for non-sworn city employees to 65 and he urged the members of the Fire and Police Pensions Board to reject a 7 percent increase in the health care subsidy given to public safety retirees. The current health care subsidy for fire and police retirees is $1,025 per month and the 7 percent monthly increase would add another $4.8 million dollars to the City's budget deficit. The Chamber and other business and community organizations joined the mayor in support of both proposals ....
In the City of Los Angeles, the budget deficit for 2011-12 begins at $350 million fueled in large part by the rapidly growing cost of pensions and health care for retirees. Last week, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa called for two significant reforms to keep the problem from getting worse. He called for raising the retirement age for non-sworn city employees to 65 and he urged the members of the Fire and Police Pensions Board to reject a 7 percent increase in the health care subsidy given to public safety retirees. The current health care subsidy for fire and police retirees is $1,025 per month and the 7 percent monthly increase would add another $4.8 million dollars to the City's budget deficit. The Chamber and other business and community organizations joined the mayor in support of both proposals ....
Chamber Supports Gov. Brown's Proposal for a Special Election in June on the State Budget
Gary Toebben on February 28, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
As you may have read, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce announced Friday at a news conference its endorsement of Gov. Jerry Brown's proposal to hold a special election ...