Newton: Getting L. A. Growing Again

MONDAY, JULY 23, 2012, HOME EDITION, OPINION, PAGE A-13 COPYRIGHT 2012 / THE LOS ANGELES TIMES OP-ED Newton: Getting L. A. Growing Again A wide range of influential Californians, despite their range of vantage points and political leanings, identified many of the same opportunities for growth. than later. Here are some of employment. (The coalition’s JIM NEWTON shortfalls of the city, county or state governments? their ideas: report on jobs is available at http://www.thelacoalition. There is no more consistent Those were the questions Accelerate local rail com/site/resources.php). refrain among elected I posed to a wide range of projects officials and candidates these influential Californians in Ridley-Thomas highlighted days than that they will do recent days. They included Many of those I talked transportation as the most everything they can to create business leaders — Russell to, including Durazo and important infrastructure jobs. It’s a worthy goal given Goldsmith, chairman of City Goldsmith, applauded the undertaking of local the sluggish state of the National Bank, and AEG transportation bill that governments, noting that economy, and it’s particularly President Tim Leiweke. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa it can provide both traffic crucial in California, There were current and recently helped push through relief and opportunities to put which has the third-highest former public officials — Congress. Goldsmith, who people to work. unemployment rate in the Los Angeles Councilman chairs the Los Angeles nation (behind Nevada and Eric Garcetti, L.A. County Coalition for the Economy Expand the airport Rhode Island). Supervisor Mark Ridley- and Jobs, noted that and port Thomas, former U.S. construction of some of the But putting people to work Secretary of Labor Robert projects could begin almost No single project attracted is a lot easier to talk about Reich, Lt. Gov. Gavin immediately and could broader and more enthusiastic than it is to do. Government Newsom and former L.A. provide a significant infusion support from those I spoke budgets at all levels are tight, Mayor Richard Riordan. of jobs, both in construction to than revitalizing LAX, so any thought of launching And there were passionate and in long-term employment which would both create large-scale public works advocates on opposite sides created by new economic immediate construction jobs projects runs up against of big issues — Carol Schatz, activity. and help local industries and depleted revenue; there are president of the Central businesses over the long run. no Hoover Dams in the City Assn., and Maria Elena “We’re seeing progress Step one would be to move works. Politicians bicker over Durazo, secretary-treasurer like we rarely see in this the north runway, which which ideas are most worthy. of the Los Angeles County city,” Goldsmith said of would enhance safety, make Neighborhoods resist projects Federation of Labor. the opportunities created room for larger planes and that would be good for the by the transportation bill. clear the way for renovation region but impose a burden on Naturally, these people And though accelerating of more terminals. An specific communities. disagreed on plenty. But the region’s ambitious set airport that Schatz described what was most striking is of transportation projects to hyperbolically as “Third Does that mean that Los that, despite their range of complete them in a decade World” could be transformed Angeles, which has lost vantage points and political will require voter approval into something that presents about 30,000 jobs since leanings, they identified many to extend an existing half- tourists with an inviting first 1995, is destined to continue of the same opportunities for cent sales tax, Goldsmith and look at Los Angeles. Leiweke shedding them? Or are there growth. From them emerged others said the combination in particular emphasized the tools the government could a coherent and workable plan of federal support and local importance of that project, use to spur local job growth for putting people in this area funding offers the chance which he said should anchor a quickly without deepening the back to work, sooner rather to significantly increase broader regional commitment

Note: May not be reproduced or retransmitted without permission. For permission call LAT Reprints at 1-800-LA Times. The sale of this reprint does not constitute or imply the publisher’s endorsement of any product, service, company, individual or organization. Newton: Getting L. A. Growing Again to expanding L.A.’s tourism business growth, reforming reputation as anti-business. directly stimulate job growth and convention business. city taxes and identifying Like Riordan, he argued that in California by helping state Durazo, who disagrees with key industries to lure to Los too many local agencies move and local governments, as Schatz about most things, Angeles. slowly and that they instead well as school districts, rehire agrees with her on this. should push to speed up the workers they’ve been forced On taxes, he echoed Riordan’s issuing of permits, streamline to lay off to balance budgets. The port also brims with concern that the gross receipts applications and allow Those workers would start opportunities for job- tax discourages business businesses to file just one set spending and paying taxes producing expansion. and costs the city more than of documents that could be again, he said, providing “a A proposed rail loading it raises. The tax, which shared by the city, county and major shot in the arm.” yard near the port has skims a small percentage state. “If we start changing hung in limbo for more off every business sale, has attitudes … we can start Hold the private sector than seven years, in part helped to chase away 95 car turning the corner,” he said. responsible too because of Villaraigosa’s dealerships since the Los unwillingness to take a firm Angeles riots in 1992. The Leverage purchasing power Finally, there is a piece of the stand. Approving it would return of just five of those puzzle emphasized by both create construction jobs dealerships would make up in Although Durazo and the Durazo and Riordan that I’ll right away and, by speeding sales taxes all that the city has business leaders agree on the call, for lack of a better term, commerce through the lost in gross receipts taxes. need to modernize LAX and moral responsibility. As the port, exponentially add to Garcetti sponsored legislation, expand the capacity of the profits of private employers the workforce in Southern signed by Villaraigosa, to port, they part ways on some rebound, all too many of them California. All this one takes suspend those taxes for car issues. Durazo, for instance, are hoarding money rather is a yes from the mayor and dealerships. wants to see government than putting people back to a willingness to overrule the agencies such as the MTA work. Business leaders who objections of a few neighbors Next up: Garcetti is preparing use their purchasing power complain about government and some misguided to urge the City Council to to favor suppliers who make inaction but refuse to use their environmental objections. abolish the tax. Swift council products here, reestablishing money to create jobs share action, he says, would create a manufacturing base that in the blame for this slow Change laws that depress jobs. has been badly battered in recovery. Banks need to lend, job creation recent years. Ridley-Thomas and businesses need to hire. Durazo suggested some work agrees. Leiweke, however, is Without those, the recovery Former Mayor Riordan, for the Legislature. After skeptical that L.A. can again will drag on and the suffering along with Goldsmith and the abolition of community be a manufacturing center. will continue. a few others, suggested that redevelopment last year, Those jobs are gone, he California’s environmental she argued that legislation argues, and pouring resources What these leaders make protection laws are too was needed to restore the into trying to bring them back clear is that job creation isn’t restrictive. They propose not ability of cities to encourage distracts from more promising simple, but it’s possible. Clear to gut them but rather to speed development. Senate industries, such as tourism. thinking and focused effort up the legal process and limit President Pro Tem Darrell can put people back to work. who can sue to block projects. Steinberg (D-Sacramento) Get federal help The open question is whether Riordan and Garcetti — a is carrying a bill that would Los Angeles leaders can business-oriented Republican do that, and Durazo urged Many projects that could help muster the focus and political and a liberal Democrat, lawmakers to act on it. turn around the local economy will to act. respectively — think the can be handled locally. But, city and state should lower Newsom, who is spearheading as Reich and others said, business taxes and make them job creation from Sacramento the federal government also Jim Newton’s column appears more rational. and also owns a number of has a role to play. One area Mondays. His latest book private businesses, agrees where federal intervention is “Eisenhower: The White Garcetti sees a number of that there’s room for state could help is in mortgage House Years.” Reach him at opportunities for the city action, but he makes the relief. “Far too many people [email protected] government too. He divided point that changes need are under water” on their or follow him on Twitter: @ his job-creation ideas into to happen at a “granular mortgages, Reich noted. newton_jim. three categories: aiding small- level” to combat the state’s Moreover, Washington could