L.A. Mayoral Debate Tackles Troubled Economy
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(L.A. Mayoral Forum at UCLA/Brianna Sacks
Candidates Eric Garcetti, Wendy Greuel, Emanuel Pleitez, Jan Perry and Kevin James tackled an array of issues tied to Los Angeles' struggling economy and chronic budget shortfalls such as, bankruptcy, pension reform, proposed improvements to Los Angeles International Airport, job creation, green technology, transportation and education.
The debate, broadcasted on NBC4, is the highest profile event in the campaign so far, with the potential of attracting thousands of potential viewers and launching the candidates into the voter's living rooms across L.A. a week before residents start casting ballots by mail in the non-partisan primary.
Moderator Conan Nolan, Anchor of NBC4's News Conference, successfully led the candidates through a string of questions concerning L.A.'s nearly bankrupt economy without any notably disruptive disputes from candidates.
Observations from December's debate
He was aided by Panelists Franklin Gilliam, Dean of UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs; Russell Goldsmith, Chair of the Los Angeles Coalition for the Economy and jobs and Chairman and CEO of City National Bank; and Carol Schatz, President and CEO of the Central City Association of Los Angeles.
The forum attracted a decently sized crowd of reporters, students and professionals. The hall rung with a few occasional laughs, bursts of applause and the constant clicking of camera shutters as the candidates worked to convince the audience, and viewers at home, that they were the right person to save Los Angeles.
But even from the balcony of section of Royce Hall it was obvious that no candidate outshown another, and a few refused to give concrete answers to panelists' questions concerning current issues like LAX and the Port of Los Angeles.
Bankruptcy
Los Angeles has predicted budget shortfalls totaling more than $1 billion over the next few years and is still on the rise, according to the City Budget Analysts Office.
"How will Los Angeles avoid bankruptcy with you as mayor?" Nolan asked.
Perry was first to respond. She supports the transient occupancy tax, which brings in millions in new city revenue, attracts tourism and creates thousands of jobs. She also said that she will be honest with city employees about salaries and consolidating Council departments and positions.
James said the best way to avoid bankruptcy is to have an independent candidate in the office to work with unions "at arms length," a phrase he used frequently throughout the debate to set himself apart from the three current city officials.
Garcetti addressed pension reform and the need to reduce the number of city employees.
"We can't cut and tax our way out of this economy," he said. "We need to reduce."
Los Angeles needs to be more business friendly to attract outside revenue, said Greuel. She, like the others, called for pension reform and an end to "double dipping."
She also suggested an audit on fuel. But the main problem facing L.A.'s budget deficit, according to Gruel, is missing funds.
Greuel referenced her years as City Controller and how she discovered "waste, fraud and abuse" in City Hall. She used fuel as an example, and said that her office's audits showed that out of the $28 million L.A. spent on fuel, they could not find where $7 million of it went. Greuel referred to herself as a "tough watch dog" over government spending, differentiating herself from current government officials.
Pleitez cited his experience as an assistant to the Economic Recovery Advisory Board for the Obama Administration and touted that he was the only candidate who has applicable experience working in the private sector.
"I have done this at the highest levels," he said, arguing that he is the only candidate that knows what it takes to balance this city's troubled budget.
Pleitez also advocated for getting municipal workers their earnings faster.
Pension Reform
From 2007-2008, 15 percent of L.A.'s general funds went to pensions, which will increase to about 25 percent when the new Mayor takes office.
"What are you going to do about this?" Nolan asked the five candidates.
James likened the city's situation to San Bernardino, which filed for bankruptcy this past summer. But bankruptcy gives a city a certain amount of leverage, James explained.
He described himself as an independent candidate and the perfect solution to cutting down on pensions, and insinuated that his rival candidates Wendy Greuel, Eric Garcetti and Jan Perry, were too close with city workforce unions to enact any real change.
"Bankruptcy doesn't happen overnight," said James. "This happened over a period of time and it happened because of a series of bad decisions.
He wants to create a new five-year plan to solvency and said the Department of Water and Power can no longer be immune from pension reform.
Greuel and Garcetti said they supported pension reforms and defended their work as elected city officials. Greuel pointed out that she had already highlighted the pension problems to Mayor Villaraigosa's council, and Garcetti said that he had fixed pension problems before during his time as City Council Representative for District 13.
"25 percent could grow to 40 percent," said Greuel, "and that is absolutely unsustainable."
Pleitez, partaking in James' independent candidate rhetoric, accused the current mayoral administration of not understanding what bankruptcy truly means, therefore being unable to fix it.
Panelist Carol Schatz paused the conversation and addressed the audience.
"Just so you know, 25 percent of general funds is about $2 billion," she said. "So the modest pension reform passed in 2012 is not going to work four years from now."
Schatz asked the candidates what they would cut to reduce spending.
Garcetti, a councilman for more than a decade, explained that economy grows through small businesses. He referred to his district's success, which includes expanding areas like Hollywood, Silverlake and Echo Park.
Greuel said she would cut cell phone usage and consolidate departments.
Proposed changes to Los Angeles International Airport
"The second biggest job generator in the region is the airport and it's owned by City Council," said panelist Russell Goldsmith.
Goldsmith addressed the controversial proposition to move LAX's north runway 260 feet north away from the terminals and closer to the Westchester residential community. Supporters of the move say it would make the airport safer and more competitive, as it would allow the massive jumbo jet Airbus A380 to land, bringing more international cargo and tourists into L.A.'s economy.
"Are you in favor of moving the runway?" Goldsmith asked the candidates. "And if so, how?"
The candidates were hesitant to give a definitive answer, with the majority saying more discussion and negotiation with community members was needed before making a final decision.
"LAX has to improve Westchester and we have to promise that we won't take away homes," said Garcetti.
James agreed. He said that moving the runway would be good for airport safety and commerce but that he was "not there yet" in terms of making a concrete decision.
"Neighborhoods in Westchester have posed interesting arguments that satisfies the airport's wants without moving the runway," said James. "And I want to hear more."
Pleitez confidently answered that he was for moving the runway, but local communities had to be on board. Greuel also said she was for the reconstruction, but that she wanted to keep negotiating and was not certain about the recommended 260 feet.
Perry said the County of Los Angeles had to further review the matter before she would give her final vote.
Transportation
The candidates all largely agreed on a few of the most contentious transportation issues plaguing the city, particularly the creation of a rail stop on the Crenshaw line at Leimert park.
The Leimert Park question was introduced by panelist Franklin Gilliam, Dean of UCLA's Luskin School of Public Affairs.
Gilliam asked the candidates if they would pledge resources for a Leimert Park stop tonight, right there at the podium. The answer was a resounding, overarching "yes."
As a veteran of the South L.A. community, Perry said the Leimert Park stop was one of her top priorities.
"Leimert Park is a historical part of South L.A. and a metro stop would bring more travelers and tourists to the area," said Perry.
Garcetti shared a similar connection to the area, recounting stories about his immigrant grandfather opening a store in South L.A.
But Garcetti wants to do it right. He mentioned the failed Hollywood Bowl and Wilshire metro stops that "were done wrong." Garcetti blamed the current metro's mishandling and planning and also advocated for below-grade rail crossings.
"I was for this a year ago," said Greuel, "and I can find the money for this."
James touted that he, too, could find the immediate funds to make the Leimert Park stop a reality.
Job Creation
Los Angeles' unemployment rate topped 11.3 percent in 2011, higher than the county and the state, Nolan explained. How would the new mayor fix this?
The candidates all advocated for more workforce training through L.A. Unified, as well as other programs sponsored by the city.
Garcetti complained that residents should not have to hire a lobbyist to open a business, and that he would streamline the process to obtain permits to help more small businesses open across Los Angeles.
Perry struck a similar chord, saying that she would set aside jobs for low-skilled, homeless people, community college students and no-skilled workers.
Greuel cited the importance of creating economic hubs of activity and imploring universities to be "job incubators" for students by recruiting them to stay and work after they graduate.
Pleitez knocked Greuel's term, "economic hub of activity," and said that a mayor should facilitate district-wide entrepreneurship programs, not just hubs.
The big problem, said Pleitez, is that Los Angeles residents do not have enough opportunities to learn new skill sets, and if elected, he would create a more skilled workforce.
The two did agree that unnecessary taxes, such as the gross receipts sales tax, should be eliminated.
Green Economy and Technology
Panelist Gilliam asked the candidates how they would fix L.A.'s lack of environment friendly jobs and technology.
Los Angeles only created 60 percent of the clean jobs New York did, said Gilliam, and they all mostly go to white males.
"How would you fix this?" He asked.
The majority promised to hold the Department of Water and Power accountable and create a stronger solar power industry in Los Angeles.
James called for fuel cell technology as a way to heat businesses and homes. Garcetti mentioned Proposition O and his ability to create 20,000 green jobs through solar power, clean water initiatives and energy audits. Greuel introduced the idea of an energy trust fund, which would loan innovation funds to green businesses trying to develop in L.A.
The candidates also agreed on making the Port of Los Angeles cleaner, greener and more competitive through on and near-dock rail systems.
And despite a few jabs from Pleitez about his experience growing up in South and East L.A. gave him the greatest understanding of the issue, the candidates mostly agreed on regulating wages to support an equitable living wage across Los Angeles.
"We need diverse economy in L.A.," said Perry. "We need spur growth and opportunity first in areas without a strong economic nexus."
Education
All five candidates said they believed the mayor should continue to be involved with L.A. Unified to create a more successful, community-centered public school system. Perry explained that change was incremental and that through her initiatives to create new schools and after school programs, South L.A. elementary school test scores gradually rose. She also said she would ask for new volunteers passionate about education and not push a slate of school board candidates, like Villaraigosa did in the past.
Greuel stressed her experience as an L.A. Unified parent and gave a shot out to her sons' 4th grade teacher. She vowed to work closely with Sacramento to alleviate Los Angeles' embarrassingly low rank-47th in the country-in per pupil spending. She also cited her influence in creating L.A.'s Best after-school program, which is now in 188 schools.
James stressed the importance of workforce readiness and suggested the school district create trade-tech diplomas to give students more of a choice.
"If students are passionate about something, like woodshop or technology, they will stay in school," said James.
Candidates lay out education reforms
Garcetti said he wants to create a summer job program for teenagers, as well as a "cash for college" initiative. He cited his experience as a former educator and his success using funds for District 13 to create ball fields, libraries, after school programs and other facilities for the area's public schools.
Pleitez reiterated his South L.A. roots and told the audience how his best friend dropped out of school and was killed because of gang violence. Having graduated from L.A. Unified and went on to Stanford, Pleitez has first-hand experience on how to connect with students from low-income areas and get them on the college and career pathway.
He said there are unequal opportunities for L.A. Unified students, and that it is vital to transform public schools into community centers to build a real partnership across the whole city.
The road to March
With 36 days left before the March 5 primary, the five candidates will be upping their campaign efforts across all areas of Los Angeles.
Though top candidates, City Controller Wendy Greuel and Councilman Eric Garcetti, are leading the pack, the others are not far behind. The candidates mainly agree on the big issues, and the only real difference between them seems to be their biographies and styles, according to the Los Angeles Times.
The UCLA mayoral debate yielded no clear winner, and at this point, it's still anyone's game.
Read more of Neon Tommy's L.A. mayoral race here
Reach Editor-At-Large Brianna Sacks here.
