Eric Garcetti in The Los Angeles Times


On Energy & Oil: Can't get our climate goals with India hitting its goals

An ambassadorship in India would allow him to work on such issues as pandemic relief, climate change, trade and immigration, offering him new foreign policy experience. "We can't get our climate goals without India hitting its climate goals. We can't see the economy truly reopened to international commerce and tourism until COVID is under control," Garcetti said Friday. "We're all very closely connected."
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2021 Ambassadorial Confirmation Hearing Jul 9, 2021

On Environment: No-sunset transportation sales tax to fund Los Angeles Metro

Traffic-fatigued Los Angeles County residents have long envied the cohesive transit available in the Bay Area. But that system offers warning signs too: Bay Area Rapid Transit has been hit by delays and damaged train cars and now needs a ballot measure to pass just so it can repair its aging stations.

Here in Los Angeles County, as we continue expanding the Metro system, we don't want to wind up like BART, which found the funds to build lines--but not to maintain them. Metro needs a dedicated source of operating revenue to keep our trains moving.

That is a key reason why I will vote today as a member of the Metro Board of Directors to place the Los Angeles Traffic Improvement Plan on the November ballot--funded by a "no sunset" transportation sales tax.

Source: 2016 Veepstakes: Eric Garcetti OpEd in Los Angeles Times Jun 23, 2016

On Foreign Policy: Studied Hindi & Urdu; Master's in international affairs

The mayor has traveled several times to India, most recently as a councilman. In college, he spent a year studying Hindi and Urdu--two of the dozens of languages spoken in the country--and during at least one visit stayed at the ambassador's residence. Garcetti has a master's degree in international affairs from Columbia University and studied international relations as a Rhodes scholar at Oxford University.
Source: Los Angeles Times on 2021 Ambassadorial Confirmation Hearing Jul 9, 2021

On Principles & Values: There ARE two Americas: Washington DC, and the rest of us

In his speech to SNHU, Garcetti spoke about navigating borders both physical and psychological. "To get here today, each one of you had to navigate borders--borders of geography, of opportunity, borders of identity and of your own doubt," said Garcetti. He spoke of his own grandfather, who crossed the border from Mexico as a baby, and his great-grandparents, who fled anti-Semitism in Russia. "I'm an average American. As I joke, I'm the average Mexican American Jewish Italian mayor of the most diverse city in the world," he said.

The theme of borders extended to national politics. Garcetti urged the audience to talk to people with opposing political views. "The pundits call it right now in our country that there are two Americas--there's the rural and urban divide, the immigrant and native-born, the coasts and the heartland, red and blue," Garcetti said. "I do believe there are two Americas, but it's none of those--it's Washington, D.C., and the rest of us."

Source: Los Angeles Times on 2020 presidential hopefuls May 13, 2018

On Principles & Values: Will always be an Angeleno; committed my life to service

Garcetti, in a statement announcing his nomination [as Ambassador to India], said he loves Los Angeles and "will always be an Angeleno."

"I have committed my life to service--as an activist, as a teacher, as a naval officer, as a public servant and, if confirmed, next as an ambassador," he said. "Part of that commitment means that when your nation calls, you answer that call."

Source: Los Angeles Times on 2021 Ambassadorial Confirmation Hearing Jul 9, 2021

The above quotations are from Media coverage of CA political races in The Los Angeles Times.
Click here for other excerpts from Media coverage of CA political races in The Los Angeles Times.
Click here for other excerpts by Eric Garcetti.
Click here for a profile of Eric Garcetti.
Please consider a donation to OnTheIssues.org!
Click for details -- or send donations to:
1770 Mass Ave. #630, Cambridge MA 02140
E-mail: submit@OnTheIssues.org
(We rely on your support!)

Page last updated: Aug 06, 2024