Mayor Nominates Valley Business Leader to CRA Board

Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa has nominated a local business leader to serve on the Community Redevelopment Agency’s Board of Commissioners for the city of Los Angeles. City council must first approve the nomination of Greg Lippe for the appointment to become official. Lippe, a certified public accountant, is immediate past chair of Valley Industry & Commerce Association’s board of directors and is currently a member of the board and government affairs committee co-chair. He additionally serves as a member of the board of directors and the audit committee chair for First Commerce Bank, and as a member of the state’s Board of Pharmacy. “I’m very honored to be appointed,” Lippe said. “I’d like to assist in beefing up the economy of the city by creating jobs and development. It’s extremely important for the Valley, which represents a large segment of the city of Los Angeles, to have a voice in the decision making regarding the economic development of the city.” The nomination follows a report released by VICA in October that concluded that Valley stakeholders only make up 23 percent of citywide commissioners while the region accounts for 38 percent of the city’s population. VICA President Stuart Waldman said Lippe has a lot to bring to the board of commissioners. “Greg is an actively engaged member of the community and fierce advocate for business,” Waldman said. “VICA appreciates the mayor’s nomination of such an outstanding member of the business community to serve on a commission that is such a vital part of the city’s economic development efforts.” The board formerly had San Fernando Valley representation before its chairman, Bruce Ackerman, died on Aug. 26. Jessica Vernabe