Los Angeles Business Leaders, Mayor Villaraigosa and City Officials 'Get Down to Business' at Annual Access L.A. City Hall Advocacy Day

LOS ANGELES, CA – The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, together with more than 400 business, labor and community leaders today convened at Los Angeles City Hall to meet with Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and city elected officials on key issues facing the City of Los Angeles.  Attended by the L.A./O.C. Building, Construction and Trades Council, Neighborhood Council Commissioners and business leaders from across the city, this year’s advocacy day focused on business collaboration with labor and neighborhood councils to grow business, create jobs and address some of the city’s most pressing planning and development issues.

“The City of Los Angeles is making progress on revitalizing our economcy and creating jobs for more Angelenos,” said Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa.  “But we must continue to work together to build the partnerships that will keep us on a path to prosperity.  I applaud the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce and the business, labor and community leaders who have come to City Hall today to roll up their sleeves and discuss solutions that can benefit everyone.”

In conjunction with this year’s Access L.A. City Hall event, the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce highlighted sixteen policy goals to help recover, reform and revitalize Los Angeles.  Top policy goals include: improving the city’s business tax code; implementing an economic impact analysis for city motions placing new regulations or costs on business; streamlining planning and permitting processes; addressing the city’s looming pension crisis; upgrading the city’s aging water and power infrastructure; and many other issues.  The L.A. Area Chamber will continue working with Mayor Villaraigosa, the City’s Business Team and council members to address and report progress against its recommendations.

“Creating jobs and ensuring long-term prosperity in the City of Los Angeles requires a renewed commitment to improving the business climate,” said Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce.  “Today’s Access L.A. Citiy Hall event is about ‘getting down to business’ and addressing the greatest economic challenges facing Los Angeles, working in partnership with labor and neighborhood councils.”

More information on the L.A. Area Chamber is available at www.lachamber.com.  The L.A. Area Chamber’s checklist of policy recommendations is available at: www.lachamber.com/accesslacityhallagenda.

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The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce represents the interests of business in L.A. County. Founded in 1888, the Chamber promotes a prosperous economy and quality of life in the Los Angeles region. For more information, visit www.lachamber.com.