Garcetti Talks Jobs, Transportation at Valley Business Lunch

L.A. Mayor Eric Garcetti spoke to Valley business leaders Wednesday to garner support for his initiatives at the United Chambers of Commerce of the San Fernando Valley’s yearly Mayor’s Luncheon. More than 400 members of area chambers of commerce gathered at the Woodland Hills Marriott for the address, Garcetti’s first official appearance before local business-owners since his re-election to the mayoral post in May. After touting successes accomplished during his previous term – such as Los Angeles County reaching its lowest unemployment rate in decades and the passage of various ballot measures in last November’s elections – he framed his solutions to the challenges of transportation and housing through a business lens. “We can continue our job growth by creating jobs in construction of affordable housing and transportation,” Garcetti said. While foreign investment in Los Angeles is good for the local economy, attracting U.S. businesses to the region to replace jobs lost in aerospace and manufacturing would be “amazing,” he added. The city should consider the 2028 Olympics as its deadline for making marked improvements on homelessness, housing and transit infrastructure, Garcetti added. L.A. stands to profit significantly from the games, some of which will take place at sites in the San Fernando Valley. Small businesses in particular will reap the benefits, Garcetti said. “Good jobs, affordable housing and a transportation system that works for all of us will be the key to preserving all the gains we have made,” he said. “With the Olympics coming here, we need to ask ourselves: Who do we want to be when the world comes to us in 2028?”