Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti discussed traffic and economic development Sunday, Jan. 26, at the Pacific Palisades Democratic Club’s annual meeting.
Garcetti was followed by Congressman Henry Waxman, who has since announced that he will be retiring after nearly 40 years in Congress, and Assemblymember Richard Bloom.
Each elected official gave a speech and then answered questions from the audience. The economy and poverty were common themes.
“We need to make sure that we’re a city that once again is open and embracing to business,” Garcetti said.
Rich Schmitt/Staff Photographer
The mayor said higher-paying jobs are increasing in Los Angeles while lower-paying jobs are decreasing, yet the number of Angelenos in poverty grows. He believes better education and vocational training will help local residents find better jobs.
Waxman called for an increase in the minimum wage. He criticized Republicans for wanting to rely too much on the free market, which he said is “oftentimes rigged” against people who want to advance.
“The Republicans don’t believe government has a role to play because they think we just need an opportunity society,” he said.
Local leaders also called for changes in transportation. Bloom pointed to San Francisco and Portland as two cities that can serve as models for successful transit development.
He pointed out that those cities are not dissimilar in size or population to the Westside of Los Angeles.
Bloom argues that transportation planning in Los Angeles needs a local focus rather than looking solely at regional development.
“I want us to start thinking about the Westside sub-region as an area that needs its own attention because of the problems that exist amongst our communities,” he said.
Bloom added that he has been working with local advocates on developing bike-share programs, which would start in West LA.
Garcetti said 30 percent of traffic in downtown areas, such as the central part of Pacific Palisades, is people circling the block to find a place to park.
“If you think about the space and the compression of traffic in Los Angeles, much of it is just bad planning and bad technology,” he said.
The City began placing sensors on the ground next to meters to keep a real-time account of when a vehicle leaves. Motorists can use a smartphone application to find an empty space. City officials said this service will soon be available in Pacific Palisades.
The speakers also thanked Palisadians for their support and praised the Democratic Club as one of the best in the state.
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