Antonio Villaraigosa in 2010-2020 Mayor's Press Releases
On Free Trade:
LA economy depends on close ties to Pacific Rim
The future of Los Angeles is tied closely to our neighbors in the Pacific Rim. As we strengthen and rebuild our local economy we must leverage our assets in this global marketplace to create jobs here in Los Angeles.
Since our 2006 trade mission, we have worked to develop strong economic ties with Asia. This year we will continue to strengthen important relationships, while working to increase investment, trade and tourism in LA.
Source: City of Los Angeles Mayoral press release #019121
Dec 2, 2011
On Free Trade:
International trade is a necessity
Ninety-five percent of the world's consumers are outside of the United States, and over the next 10 years, economists project that 80 percent of global economic growth will take place outside of US borders.
With numbers like these, developing a strong export economy in the Los Angeles region in the coming years won't be a luxury. It will be a necessity.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #019024
Nov 18, 2011
On Civil Rights:
All Americans should be allowed to marry
The recent California Supreme Court ruling is the latest step in guaranteeing that all gay and lesbian Americans have the fundamental right to marry the person they love. I am confident that the 9th Circuit
Court will affirm marriage equality and right the damage Prop. 8 has done to our fellow Californians and their families. I look forward to the day when all Americans enjoy the freedom to marry.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #019021
Nov 17, 2011
On Civil Rights:
Supports gay marriage as fundamental right
Today's California Supreme Court ruling is the latest step in guaranteeing that gay and lesbian Americans have the right to marry the person they love. The Court's ruling that proponents of Proposition 8 may defend the initiative before the
Court of Appeals gives the federal court the opportunity to right this injustice. I am confident that the 9th Circuit Court will affirm marriage equality. I look forward to the day when all Americans enjoy the freedom to marry.
Source: City of Los Angeles Mayoral press release #019021
Nov 17, 2011
On Tax Reform:
Need new business tax structure to grow sales tax base
To attract and retain more businesses that generate jobs and large amounts of sales tax, I am calling for exempting auto dealers from the City's business tax.Auto dealers produce substantially more sales tax than business tax.
In 2010, auto dealers accounted for only $3.6 million in business tax revenue but a whopping $29 million in sales tax revenue.
Let's show them Los Angeles is open for their business and let's generate new jobs and revenues for our City.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #018837
Nov 8, 2011
On Tax Reform:
Business Tax Holiday should be permanent
Under the Business Tax Holiday, businesses are exempted from the City's business tax for the first three years that the business operates in LA. It is a proven tool for bringing businesses to Los Angeles and generating jobs. There should be no expiration
date on this common-sense, job-creating policy.A study shows the elimination of the tax will cost the City hundreds of millions of dollars. The Business Tax Holiday is incentive for job creators to move to Los Angeles without impacting our City budget
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015801
Oct 25, 2011
On Energy & Oil:
More energy efficiency to spur green economy in LA
The LA Commercial Building Performance Partnership will help owners of commercial properties make their buildings more energy and water efficient. Building owners can access free energy assessments, as well as competitive financing rates to cover up to
100% of the cost of their energy upgrades. With commercial buildings accounting for 57% of energy consumption, LA has a large built-in market for retrofits. LA is leading the way in promoting environmental stewardship that also benefits our local economy
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015724
Oct 14, 2011
On Environment:
Retrofitting buildings helps economy and environment
Mayor Villaraigosa launched the LA Commercial Building Performance Partnership, an innovative, Recovery Act-funded program that will help owners of commercial properties make their buildings more energy efficient. With commercial buildings accounting for
57% of the energy consumption in the City, LA has a large built-in market for these retrofits. LA is leading the way in finding innovative methods to promote environmental stewardship that also benefit our local economy.
Source: City of Los Angeles Mayoral press release #015724
Oct 14, 2011
On Immigration:
Approves of undocumented students receiving financial aid
Today, California invests in the dreams of talented undocumented students and in the economic future of our state. I applaud Governor Brown for signing AB 131 into law and affirming the students' role in creating a bright and prosperous future for
California. With California facing a deficit of one million college graduates by 2025, this law makes the most sense for our economy and society.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015678
Oct 8, 2011
On Crime:
Reduce prison population & deal with recidivism
Over the last six years, we have made incredible progress in public safety. We must balance our budgets, and protect our people. We should start a discussion and drive an effort toward a sound solution that addresses our long-term prison population
problem, and our short-term need to keep our streets safe. We can solve this issue together. We need a plan in CA to ease our prison population. We need a strategy to deal with recidivism. We need to examine our sentencing laws to be sure they work.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015590
Oct 3, 2011
On Civil Rights:
Repeal of "Don't ask, don't tell," is a success
Today is a critical milestone for both equal rights and our national security. Effective today, no perfectly eligible candidate to serve our country will be turned away due to arbitrary, prejudicial causes allowing our military to be able to actively
recruit and retain our best and brightest officers.It is about time that all the heroic men and women in uniform have the same exact rights that they so selflessly fight to preserve everyday at home and abroad.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015551
Sep 20, 2011
On Education:
Academic performance measures need to be more comprehensive
For over a decade, the Academic Performance Index (API) has functioned as a compass by which schools and districts steer their efforts to improve. However, the API has been hindered by its over-reliance on one determining factor--standardized test
scores--to assess a student's achievement. It is time to hold schools accountable for preparing our kids for college and careers in the workplace of the 21st century. An index that takes into consideration a more comprehensive set of factors is needed.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015525
Sep 13, 2011
On Energy & Oil:
Solar power good for environment AND businesses
The Walter J Towers project represents how investing in solar is good for the environment, and good for a business' bottom line. We are providing incentives for more innovative and forward-thinking companies to invest in
LA's most abundant natural resource and in the process build a local 21st century green workforce.This announcement is another step in Los Angeles' efforts to become an environmentally-friendly, green city.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015449
Aug 26, 2011
On Education:
Invest in our schools to reform Latino education
With a persistent achievement gap in schools across Los Angeles, we must continue to invest in and reform our schools. The Boyle Heights Promise Neighborhood Initiative seeks to create a better learning environment, decrease the dropout rate, increase
college preparedness and raise the next generation of Latino leaders.The five-year action plan to improve education and college preparedness and overall housing and health options in Boyle Heights will be submitted soon.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015448
Aug 24, 2011
On Budget & Economy:
Supports higher debt ceiling to avoid government shutdown
Americans cannot afford the consequences if the country defaults on its debt. Mayors across the country unanimously resolved that an agreement must be reached to increase the debt ceiling and prevent the nation from defaulting. This can only happen
if both Houses and both parties work together with the understanding that sacrifices must be shared. The only long-term solution to our economic crisis is a national investment policy that balances both the needs of deficit reduction and job creation.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #015279
Jul 25, 2011
On Education:
Parent Trigger: supports right to demand good education
Since day one, I have supported the Parent Trigger as a grassroots effort that brings communities together in support of strong schools. This law empowers parents and gives them a voice and a vote to demand better.
I hope to see more parents throughout Los Angeles and California take action to set higher standards for our students and achieve better results for our neighborhood schools.
Source: City of Los Angeles Mayoral press release #015069
Jul 13, 2011
On Health Care:
L.A. should reduce payments to retirees' Health Care plans
In five years, the City's mandatory contribution to sworn retiree health benefits has nearly quadrupled, from $31.4 million in 2005-06 to $113.8 million in 2010-11.
Villaraigosa urged the LAFPP to reject this increase, freezing the retiree health subsidy at its current level. Increases like the one the pension board is considering are steps in the wrong direction. We need to reduce costs, not increase them.
The proposal before the pension board will only drive us deeper into a financial hole. The board should do the right thing and reject it.
Villaraigosa pledged to work with the City Council to freeze the retiree health subsidy for all employees starting on July 1, 2011.
Source: City of Los Angeles Mayoral press release, "Subsidy Freeze"
Jul 1, 2011
On Civil Rights:
Acknowledge and celebrate LGBT Awareness Month
Los Angeles has long been a staging ground for many significant firsts in the history of the LGBT equality movement, and I am proud that today we finally acknowledge and celebrate this history and the important contributions of the
LGBT community, The LGBT struggle for equality is an ongoing one and I know the City of Los Angeles will continue to stand at the forefront and pave the way for future generations.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #014684
Jun 3, 2011
On War & Peace:
Death of bin Laden reminder to guard against threats
The announcement tonight by President Obama that Osama bin Laden has been killed is indeed historic, but we must continue to be vigilant and remain on guard against those that still seek to harm us.We must also recognize that members of the
Muslim community are and have been our partners against terrorism. They have worked side by side with us for years, and we have stood together against hatred and united as one nation against terrorism.
Source: 2011 L.A. Mayoral press release #014297
May 1, 2011
Page last updated: Nov 07, 2021