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Helping Struggling Families Get Back on Their Feet
2/8/10 @ 5:02p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
When I delivered last year’s State of the City address, it was already clear that we were dealing with the worst economic downturn in at least a generation, and that more and more families were going to need help getting through this recession. So I pledged to reinvent the way Los Angeles provides services to those in need by creating twenty-one Family Source centers throughout our city.
Today, I am proud to announce that all twenty-one Family Source Centers are now open and serving their communities. These centers are remarkable one-stop shops that provide free counseling and connect struggling Angelenos directly to the government services available to them.
When someone visits one of these centers, they will be asked to fill out a single form - the One-E-App - that upon completion will detail their eligibility for a variety of programs including: healthy families, the Earned Income Tax Credit Program, food stamps, Temporary Assistance for Needy Families, Low Cost Auto Liability Insurance, Cash for College, and the City’s own workforce development programs.
This is a sea change in the way citizens get access to government assistance. Too often, many government programs are either too byzantine to take advantage of or go unnoticed by those who would benefit from them most.
With the opening of these twenty-one Family Source Centers, struggling Angelenos will be able to take advantage of the full range of resources available to them, in the most efficient manner possible. No one should have to suffer through foreclosure and unemployment, only to find themselves trapped in a web of bureaucracy.
See this website for a full list of our Family Source Centers.
Tough Choices to Secure Our Economic Future
2/4/10 @ 3:43p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Everyday throughout our city, from breakfast tables to board rooms, Angelenos are working hard to make it through these tough economic times. People are forced to make difficult choices everyday. Families are examining their values and businesses are setting their priorities.
Every budget is a balancing act. Every budget is a statement of values. And every budget is an opportunity to secure our future.
Here at City Hall, it is no different. We are living beyond our means and have difficult choices to make. We must protect our economic future.
Unfortunately, instead of making progress, we are headed in the wrong direction…up until today.
With the authority invested in me by the City Charter and the people of Los Angeles, I’m taking immediate action toward balancing this fiscal year’s budget, strengthening the city’s credit rating and restoring the city’s long-term fiscal health.
Today, I am directing the elimination of 1,000 filled, full-time position authorities and instructing the Personnel Department to immediately begin calculating layoff, displacement seniority and/or transfers of employees filling these targeted positions.
I am also instructing the Personnel Department to place general funded employees into special funded positions and proprietary departments effective February 16, 2010. These transfers will generate savings to the city’s general fund while permitting up to 360 employees to avoid layoffs.
Employees interested in volunteering for transfer to Special Funded or Proprietary departments will have until 5:00 PM on Monday, February 8 to inform their respective department heads.I will work with the Personnel Department and our general managers to effectuate these transfers from the list of volunteers. But I will reserve my right as Mayor to transfer any employee at any time as needed to protect the City’s General and Reserve Funds.
I'm also calling on the Council to adopt an ordinance to allow City employees to retire without the usual 30 to 60 day advance application requirement. Waiving this requirement will expedite retirements and provide needed relief to the General Fund. It will also allow those employees who are facing layoffs and who are retirement eligible to leave the City in the most humane way possible.
Finally, I am asking the City Council to move their uncommitted funds, totaling up to $40 million, into the Reserve Fund until such time that the City Reserve Fund reaches 5% of the overall budget.
To be clear, these decisions are not easy. When I propose a layoff, I think of the single mother with three kids, one of whom may have urgent healthcare needs. When I contemplate eliminating a department, I think of the important services, that department provides to Angelenos and the hard-working people who run it.
But like most families in this city I know we can't afford to do everything, so we have to set priorities and make tough choices. If we have to choose between funding fire fighters and police officers or continuing to operate golf courses and parking meters across Los Angeles, I will choose public safety.
I do not relish these decisions. But neither will I shy away from them or pretend they don’t exist. Angelenos all over our city, are making tougher choices between food or their prescription drugs, between school supplies and a doctor visit for their child, between their electric bill and their rent. It is time we at City Hall follow their lead, set priorities, and make the tough choices necessary to protect our core responsibilities.
Getting Working Families the Tax Credit They Deserve
1/28/10 @ 5:00p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Today at El Centro del Pueblo in Echo Park, we got this tax season off to the right start by letting residents know that FREE tax assistance is available. During this period of financial instability, families throughout Los Angeles need as much support as possible.
Most residents can’t afford to hire an accountant to sift through the pages of the federal tax code and too many assume that they have nowhere to turn for assistance. So today, we sent a clear message to low-income residents: We will not allow you to miss the opportunity to cash in on your hard work.
We want to ensure that ALL qualifying households can reap the benefits of the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC. Local families can visit Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) sites and receive FREE help with their tax returns.
Tax preparation experts will be on-hand to take you step-by-step through the process and make sure low-income, working Angelenos claim the EITC - one of the most effective ways to alleviate poverty and one of the surest routes to sound financial footing.
In 2009, local VITA and AARP Tax-Aide sites helped residents collect approximately $13.5 million in extra tax credits–a 23% increase from previous year–and $36.8 million in total tax refunds–a 45% increase. Through the help of nearly 2,000 volunteers, we saved over 39,000 low-to-moderate income tax filers $6 million in basic tax preparation fees.
This year, the credit can translate to a refund of up to $5,657, a figure that can equal nearly two months of income for many families.
And this year, through our FamilySource Centers and One-e-App system, we have added 21 additional free tax preparation sites which include screening for EITC eligibility.
The success of this effort rests on volunteers, so if you believe in this program like I do consider donating some time to make sure Los Angeles families get the tax credits they deserve.
To determine your eligibility for EITC or learn about volunteer opportunities, dial 2-1-1 or go to http://www.EITC-LA.com.
No hard-working family should ever lose the chance to get ahead – especially when resources exist and assistance is available. Together, let’s make this tax season a bit more pleasant for everyone.
High Speed Rail Is Coming Right On Time
1/28/10 @ 11:01a by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Today is a great day for California. We were just awarded $2.3+ billion to build our high speed rail network.
With 14% unemployment in L.A., we're ready to get people back to work and this funding couldn't have come at a better time. Not only will high speed rail bring jobs to California when we need them most, it will build a sustainable and state of the art transit network, and provide an environmentally friendly way to travel.
This federal funding will jump start our high speed rail line. Together with $9.95 billion in state bonds from Prop 1A - the Safe, Reliable High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act approved by voters on November 4, 2008 - we will make high speed rail in California a reality.
The jobs and environmental benefits are incredible, and for the first time we'll have a sustainable alternative to air travel within the state. High-speed trains use 1/3 of the energy vs an airplane and 1/5 vs a car trip. Eventually the system will save 12.7 million barrels of oil per year by 2030, even with future improvements in auto fuel efficiency. For more info about the environmental benefits at http://www.cahighspeedrail.ca.gov/news.asp?type=faqs&cat=8162
One important component to achieving high speed rail's full potential and promise is connecting the network to the LA region's transit network, including our hub at Union Station. And the twelve transit projects voters approved in Measure R will dramatically expand that network, bringing rail farther to South LA, the Westside, the San Gabriel Valley, and East LA.
And, my 30/10 initiative would build those twelve projects in 10 years instead of 30. Put 30/10 together with high speed rail, and as US Secretary of Transportation Ray LaHood says, "an absolute game-changer." (check out LaHood's blog at http://bit.ly/chMdol)
I am grateful to the Obama Administration, Senators Boxer and Feinstein, and our congressional delegation for leveraging the investment we have made in ourselves to turn the economy around. I've always dreamed big, and for my transit vision for LA, it is so rewarding to see my dreams coming true.
Fixing MTA’s Budget Deficit and Creating Jobs
1/27/09 @ 10:27a by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Yesterday's LA Times editorial took on the MTA’s $250+ million budget deficit, and they raise a valid point - short term fixes can’t go on forever. But the Times gets it wrong when they say the Subway is my only priority as a transit legacy.
Let’s set the record straight - my transit legacy will be the twelve rail and bus projects that the voters approved in Measure R and the jobs and economic recovery that they bring to Los Angeles.
That half-penny sales tax for transit was exactly the kind of funding commitment that the Times wants to see.
To take it even farther, with my 30/10 initiative, we can build 30 years of projects in 10, creating tens of thousands of construction jobs and thousands of permanent jobs to operate the system. That’s the kind of legacy worth fighting for, and I’m making the case to Washington DC to help us get there.
But about the MTA budget shortfall. If not for the State robbing local transit funds, the MTA would not have this deficit. And raising fares is not the way to get out of this hole.
Measure R delayed a planned 2009 fare increase and froze fares for five years for seniors, students, and the disabled. Our average bus rider doesn’t have a lot of extra income. These folks can’t afford a fare increase.
We can find a way out of MTA’s budget hole, build a countywide transit network that gets people where they want to go and stimulates recovery, without putting the burden on the most vulnerable transit dependent population.
Three Events, One Message: Creating Jobs
1/25/09 @ 6:32p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Today, I spoke at three events with one, clear resounding message: LA is open for business and focused on getting Angelenos back to work.
I say it everyday and I'll repeat it now: the number ONE priority of my administration is job creation. The challenges facing our economy right now are unlike anything we’ve seen in a generation, however, if the times are tough, so too must be our resolve. And in times like these, it is absolutely critical that we use every tool available to restore our economy and build the foundation for our recovery.
I began my day at the third annual VerdeXchange Global Marketplace Conference, where I joined business and community leaders from Western states to discuss how our mission to cut carbon emissions is not just an environmental imperative, but an economic one as well. In Los Angeles, we are using policies and opportunities in clean technology and renewable resources that will create thousands of new, green-collar jobs.
Building on the success of the Clean Truck program at the Port of Los Angeles, which reduced emissions by nearly 70% at the nation's largest container port and making the air cleaner and healthier than it's been in decades, we are looking to upgrade LA's existing 400 electric vehicle charger stations. This commitment to electric vehicle infrastructure will reduce air pollution and its harmful health effects, and just as importantly it will create good jobs for Angelenos. It's a win-win situation for our local environment and local economy.
After kicking off the conference, I had the pleasure of celebrating the grand opening of the Playa Vista Job Opportunities and Business Services (PVJOBS) center in South LA. PVJOBS is a true partner in our commitment to getting Angelenos back to work, providing job placement resources and opportunities for disadvantaged youth and adults. At the new center self-directed jobs seekers will have access to free internet, phones and fax lines, in addition to counseling services.The new PVJOBS Center is strategically located in the heart of the community it serves, bringing its wide array of job placement services--formerly based at three different locations--into one facility.
These are exactly the kind of programs we need to help jumpstart the economy. We need to keep LA working by investing in our workers and providing them with the resources they need to get on a career track and into living wage jobs.
After that inspiring, hopeful scene in South LA, I was given a forum by the East Area Chambers of Commerce to explain my vision for getting LA back to work. With the unemployment rate in California above the national average and over 14% in parts of our City, it's time to rethink the way we can stimulate job creation, and take a strategic, comprehensive approach to economic development.
That's why I hired Austin Beutner, the brilliant business-man with both private and government experience, to be the first Deputy Mayor of Economic and Business Policies. Austin's first task is to change the culture of City government so that job-creation is the focus of every City department, and is a factor in every decision that gets made. At the East Area Chamber, I shared our plans to jumpstart the economy by making LA a top destination for business in new markets, and Working with the DWP, the Port of Los Angeles, and our airports, Austin will work to ensure LA can plug into emerging high tech, bio-tech, and clean tech industries, and attract new business to our City.
I am glad to see so many community and business leaders working side by side to create more jobs, bring in more opportunities, and build more promise for our future as the cleanest and greenest big city in America. By working together, by engaging in public-private partnerships, and by thinking strategically, we can give our economy the boost it so desperately needs.
LA's Finest
1/22/09 @ 12:13p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
I want to thank the LAFD and the LAPD for stepping up and performing at their best this week when Los Angeles was hit with several, severe rainstorms that prompted warnings of mudslides and flooding. We are proud to have one of the best trained and highly equipped Fire Departments who stood by waiting for any potential emergency response that may have arisen.
I also witnessed first hand the courageous work of the LAPD, when I went door to door with them in affected areas to deliver evacuation orders and to inform residents of potential dangers and shelters. And it's not just this week; everyday these brave men and women put their lives on the line to serve and protect the safety of all Angelenos.
I also want to thank all City agencies who braved the harsh conditions for the well being of our city.
From the from South LA to West LA, to the Valley to San Pedro, our city responded when called upon and worked to coordinate a fast, effective response to protect homes, property and most importantly the lives of our residents.
Weathering the Storm
1/20/09 @ 1:26p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Today, during Los Angeles' heaviest rain storms in recent memory, I’m in the field with our hardworking and dedicated fire fighters and police officers. In these times of need, we can all count our blessings that the LAPD and LAFD are here risking their own safety to protect ours.
For information related to evacuations, shelters or any other needs you may have please call 3-1-1 or (800) 439-2909. The City stands ready to serve.
We will continue to operate on high alert through the week and are fully prepared for what these rains may bring us.
The fire department is constantly monitoring burn areas for mudslides and debris, and our search and rescue units standing by ready to respond.
And with the help of the Red Cross, we are currently operating two shelters for residents who have been evacuated.
Valley residents can go to the Sunland Park Recreation Center at 8651 Foothill Boulevard, and San Pedro residents are welcome at the Anderson Senior Center at 828 S. Mesa Street, San Pedro.
I'll be following new developments closely and posting new information on my twitter page.
Faith Community Joins Census Partnership
1/19/09 @ 6:00p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Today I called on the City’s faith leaders to join in our efforts to ensure that every Angeleno is counted in the 2010 census.
Every 10 years our Constitution requires the federal government to make an accurate count of all of its residents. This count affects countless decisions the government makes--from congressional district lines to funding appropriations. And over the last decade, Los Angeles has lost more than $200 million in federal funding because approximately 80,000 residents went uncounted.
We must make sure that every resident understands that the Census is safe and confidential. The entire form is just ten simple questions. Answering those ten questions helps provide additional funding for police, firefighters, health clinics and more for future generations.
My census office is working with Community Action Partners from the African American, Korean American, Latino and Jewish faith communities to will encourage the City’s congregations to complete and return the forms during the Census Sundays in March.
Our partners all across the City include government agencies, community groups, faith-based organizations, labor unions, and businesses. There are also hundreds of volunteers who are working to guarantee that all residents understand how to fill out the Census form.
Fore more information on how you can become a Community Action Partner, visit the Mayor’s Office of the Census website here.
We Need an Open Debate on Prop 8
1/14/10 @2:05p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Yesterday, the Supreme Court ruled to extend a ban on releasing the footage of Proposition 8 trial currently taking place in San Francisco to the public. The ruling, written by the court's five conservative justices, stated that defenders of the ban on same-sex marriage ban would face “irreparable harm” if the footage from the trial was accessible to the public.
The greater harm to the public, however, is keeping from them the facts on how homophobia has fueled the testimonies of the defense’s witnesses. The public deserves to see the true face of intolerance and prejudice behind Proposition 8.
Yesterday's court decision is yet another unjust ruling in the fight for equal rights for all people, regardless of their sexual orientation.
The Supreme Court should be committed to transparency and openness, especially on a case with such real, human, potentially painful implications. It is incumbent upon the courts to right this wrong as well as grant equal rights to all Californians - and all Americans - to marry.
Providing 21st Century Tools to Find 21st Century Jobs
1/13/09 @3:40p by Gary Locke, Secretary of Commerce
The last few years have been difficult for people in Los Angeles and across America. Too many are struggling to find work, pay their bills, and afford health care.
I know that putting Angelenos back to work is the number one priority of Mayor Villaraigosa, and I was honored to join him today to make an announcement that represents another small but important step in that direction.
I came to L.A. to announce an investment of $7.5 million in Recovery Act funding for the City of Los Angeles to expand Los Angeles’ Computer Access Network, which will provide badly needed resources for education and workforce development.
This funding will be used to expand and upgrade nearly 200 public computer centers at libraries, workforce centers, parks, and youth and family centers.
With this funding, Los Angeles expects to deploy more than 2,700 computer workstations, bringing the total number of public access computer workstations in the city to over 4,000.
Thanks to this funding:
* Internet access will also be expanded to vulnerable communities, such as those without English speakers or with low to moderate income levels.
* And perhaps most importantly, in these difficult economic times, city residents will be provided with access to job and computer training and online search engines, including the new Job Hunting Guide developed by the Los Angeles Public Library.
Investments like the one I announced today address a fundamental issue of equality and fairness.
Having access to the Internet’s economic, health and educational benefits should be as much of a fundamental American right as attending a quality school or feeling safe when you walk down the street. We don't always reach these goals, but we have to try.
By expanding computer and Internet access to Los Angeles residents most in need, we’re bringing closer the day when every child in this city will be able to take online classes at UCLA or access everything Stanford’s library has to offer.
We’ll make it easier for displaced workers to retrain themselves and aspiring entrepreneurs to access ideas and markets hundreds or even thousands of miles away.
And in the process, we’ll be taking another step toward getting the city of Los Angeles thriving again.
Austin Beutner, Welcome to the Team
1/11/10 @12:15 by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Today, I am proud to announce the appointment of Austin Beutner as First Deputy Mayor and Chief Executive for Economic and Business Policy. Through this newly created position, he will drastically change the City’s approach to job creation and economic development. It's a huge task, and one of the utmost importance; I am confident Austin up for the challenge.
He has a real vision for economic development and job creation in Los Angeles -- but more importantly, he has the know-how and wherewithal to make this vision a reality. His appointment is the first step towards a total refocusing of economic development and job creation in LA.
Austin is man who has the rare combination of public and private sector experience. A son of a school teacher and manufacturing engineer, Austin began his career in the private sector. At the age of 29, he became the youngest partner ever at The Blackstone Group, one of the world’s leading investment firms. In 1994, he transitioned into the public sector by working at the US Department of State in Russia following the collapse of the Soviet Union. There he led a team, which helped the struggling Russian people in their transition to a market economy. He is also the co-founder of the investment banking firm Evercore Partners, where he created a world-class financial services firm.
With Austin at the helm, we will change our approach to economic development by leveraging every resource, tool and asset at the city’s disposal to create jobs. Austin will be given a large portfolio with unprecedented oversight of City resources. He will have a direct line of authority over the Department of Water and Power, the Port of Los Angeles, and economic development and business policy issues at Los Angeles World Airports.
He will be charged with creating new markets for emerging industries such as high tech, bio-tech, and clean technology and he will focus on encouraging local preference for Los Angeles businesses to ensure that LA tax dollars are being spent right here in Los Angeles. And on his first day, he has already saved us money by agreeing to work for the high salary of one dollar per year!
I want to thank Austin for accepting this position and giving back to LA, the City he calls home and the City he loves. I’m confident that Austin will set L.A. on-course toward progress and prosperity long into the future.
A New Job Creation Strategy
1/11/10 @ 10:30a by Austin Beutner, First Deputy Mayor
I am humbled that the Mayor is putting his faith in me during this critical juncture in the history of Los Angeles. With unemployment at record highs and local companies becoming more and more frustrated with bureaucratic red tape, business as usual is not working in Los Angeles. Yes, government can't fix everything. But what we can do is create a foundation to foster job creation and business development.
I have worked in the private sector, and I've worked in the public sector. Business and government each have their own language and their own specific way of doing things, and I hope my experience will help me improve communication between both these worlds. This is going to be a huge undertaking, but I know that the Mayor and I are ready to lead the City’s economic development efforts in a new direction.
Some people have asked me already, why am I taking this job? Especially as the city faces a 500 million dollar deficit…
Well, that’s exactly why I am taking this job. It’s time for me to serve the city that has blessed me with so much… I have lived here for the past ten years with my wife. My four children all call LA home. I love this city - it’s that simple.
Also, I believe in the Mayor and his commitment to Los Angeles. He understands that in order to succeed we are going to have to change our approach and way of doing things. First of all, we have to do a better job of serving our customers - the businesses of Los Angeles which provide jobs. I include in that all businesses large and small as well as the many great cultural institutions, educational institutions and medical facilities in our city.
Secondly, The Mayor has put under my direct authority not only the traditional tools and departments involved in economic development but also the DWP, the largest municipally owned utility in the country; our Port, one of the largest in the country; and our airports, including LAX, one of the busiest airports in the country. These resources can and will be incredible assets in attracting businesses and high paying jobs to Los Angeles.
Finally, we need to develop, articulate and implement a broad strategic framework for what we hope the economy of our city will look like 10-20 years from now. While we need to cut red tape so we can quickly seize opportunities to create jobs in the short term, thinking about our long term goals his will help us to identify where to best spend our precious time and resources.
I've been in business too long to make any uniformed decisions. I have been meeting with the Mayor for the past month and a half discussing what isn't working and what we can do to fix it. I always came away from our meetings confident in his dedication to improving the economic climate in Los Angeles.
This is about driving actual policies and doing everything in our power to make substantive changes that will yield real results.
We cannot waste another day on the traditional model of economic development in Los Angeles. I look forward to serving our city and ensuring that Los Angeles becomes an international destination for high-paying jobs, thriving businesses, and emerging industries.
Austin Beutner is the new First Deputy Mayor and Chief Executive for Economic and Business Policy
First of its Kind Gang Intervention Academy
1/8/10 @ 4:04p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Although overall crime continues to drop in Los Angeles - we continue to see gang violence as one of the serious threats facing our City. Most of our communities are safer than they have been in decades, but we are losing too many of our youth to senseless gun and gang violence. Too many of our brightest children are losing hope, are dropping out of schools, and are entering into cycles of violence and incarcerations.
Over the last four years we have worked to boldly transform the way our City works to reduce gang violence. We put in motion a plan to radically change the way our City prevents and suppresses crime -- a plan that recognizes that fundamentally fighting gangs is a question of putting people on a path to a productive live.
Today, our efforts to fight gangs in our City is taking a monumental step forward by developing the first comprehensive gang intervention academy in the country. Through a contract with the Advancement Project, this new academy will work with individuals who choose to join us on the front lines of our gang fighting efforts.
The Los Angeles Gang Intervention Training Academy will professionalize the work of intervention workers by developing a professional standard, an academic curriculum and the oversight needed to create clear lines of accountability. As it would be in any professional practice, we will challenge the true commitment of each individual to improve by providing the critical platform in the classroom and in our communities for continual learning and improvement.
Lastly, this academy will provide the tools necessary to deal with the high stress and high risk of being a gang intervention worker.These brave men and women have chosen to correct their life path by working side by side with our police department to bridge the gap of cooperation for the sake of saving lives; their efforts deserve to be rewarded.
We will continue to build on a comprehensive gang strategy that is addressing not only gang crime, but the root causes of gang crime. Public safety is the foundation for everything we are trying to build, the context for economic growth, and the building blocks for good jobs and a brighter future. We have laid the foundation; now we must continue to build a future that allows our youth the opportunities to decide their own fate.
City at Safest Level in 50 Years
1/6/10 @ 4:02p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
One year ago, we were faced with the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression that brought about long unemployment lines and with it a forecast of rising crime rates. But despite all of this, our unparalleled commitment to public safety helped the City of Los Angeles lower its crime rate. Our City continues to experience the lowest crime rate in over 50 years, and the lowest number of homicides since 1967.
From the Valley to Boyle Heights - from West LA to South LA - the results have proven indisputable. In 2009, violence in our neighborhoods continued to decline, gang crime declined, and less Angelenos were victims of robbery or assault. Angelenos have reaped the benefits of a comprehensive crime strategy that has put more cops in our communities and more resources on our neighborhoods. This strategy has given the department the numbers it needs to engage the communities they serve.
Last year, we also expanded the successful Summer Night Lights program to keep the lights on at 16 parks in some of our most vulnerable communities. This program keeps at-risk youth active and out of trouble.
We have made great strides, yet more needs to be done to ensure not one more Angeleno is the victim of a serious crime. Nothing is more valuable than keeping our streets safe and our neighborhoods secure; safety is the cornerstone of our economic prosperity and the base for the Los Angeles we want for future generations.
Welcome Joan!
12/22/09 @ 3:32p by Angela Bass, Supt. of Instruction, PLAS
"I was very excited to learn of Mayor Villaraigosa's appointment of Joan Sullivan as Deputy Mayor of Education for the City of Los Angeles. Joan brings a wealth of education-related experience and knowledge to the Mayor's reform agenda. Her experience as a teacher and principal will be invaluable to the Mayor as he pushes for dramatic transformation of Los Angeles' failing schools.
Joan's experience working in New York Public Schools as a high school and middle school principal during much of Joel Klein's reform efforts gives her a unique view on the work that lies ahead of her. We at the Partnership for Los Angeles Schools look forward to working closely with Joan to make the Mayor's vision of quality schools for all Angelenos a reality."
A progressive thinker
12/21/09 @ 11:40a by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Today, I am proud to announce the appointment of Joan Sullivan to be the new Deputy Mayor of Education for the City of Los Angeles.
For this position, the Mayor’s office conducted an exhaustive national search. We are lucky to have found Joan, an award-winning teacher, principal, and an educational trailblazer, who will be an invaluable resource to implement our ambitious education policy agenda.
Joan has already illustrated her propensity to get things done with few resources. After teaching for several years in New York City, Joan wanted to do more than pick up the pieces of the shattered system from her classroom -- she wanted to create her own educational paradigm. In 2003, she raised the money to found the Bronx Academy of Letters High School. As a principal, Joan instituted programs that emphasized parent engagement and resulted in 80% parent turnout at school events. To ensure her students had every opportunity possible to compete in the global economy, she raised over $5 million in public and private grants to pay for tools such as computers and lab equipment.
Her progressive thinking and hard work paid off. The school consistently outperforms all of its peer schools in every category across the board by as much as 200% while maintaining a 94.5% attendance rate. She started the Bronx Letters Middle School in 2007 so that more children could get access to a higher quality of education.
One of Joan’s most important tasks will be to ensure that the City pursues funding levels on the federal, state and county level. Her appointment could not be timelier, as the Obama administration is ramping up efforts to give out to states $4.25 billion worth of competitive grants called "Race to the Top" funds.
This is not a race to mediocrity -- we do not just want to be eligible for these funds by meeting the baseline requirements. We need to go above and beyond to be competitive for all of the $700 million in potential grants for California. Learn more about our race to the top.
Make no mistake, we are in an educational crisis and need this money. However, we are not going to wait around for state legislation to make us more competitive. Here in Los Angeles, we are going to lead the way for California and the country by showing that we are serious about overhauling our educational system by reconstituting our failing schools as charters, as partnership campuses or as district schools committed to metrics-driven, measurable progress. We are going to make it clear that we can no longer accept the current pace of progress.
As a former teacher and principal, Joan understands all the different worlds of bureaucracy and how they are inexorably intertwined when it comes to our student's success. I am confident that Joan hands-on style and progressive vision will be instrumental in taking on the status quo -- she has the experience to affect the change our children so desperately deserve.
Visit my Ask the Mayor page to submit any comments or questions you'd like Joan or myself to see.
Environmental Leadership at LA's Port
12/16/09 @ 4:18p by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
"Mayor Aboutaleb of Rotterdam has only been in office a year but he has represented his City with distinction for a long time. I first met him over a year ago, when the Dutch ambassador brought him to my office and told me that he (Aboutaleb) would be the next Mayor of Rotterdam."
Today, we spoke of our roles as mayors of large port cities and the importance of representing our cities abroad. Mayor Aboutaleb takes several trade missions each year. His goals are similar to mine - expand the local economy through an influx of foreign business investment.
In addition to being primary trade portals for Europe and America, Rotterdam and Los Angeles share another distinction - they are both pioneering leaders in port emissions reductions. During our meeting, Mayor Aboutaleb invited me to go to Rotterdam to further discuss our collective efforts to fight climate change and air pollution through our port's clean air initatives and I invited him to visit the Port of LA to do the same. The more we can get our story out there, the faster other countries, cities, and utilities can incorporate the best pracitices that are being developed in our ports.
And as proud as I am about our environmental progress at the Port, our environmental leadership has as much to do with remaining competitive against other ports. We know that we must be green to grow, and we must grow to be green. This is a lesson well understood by AP-Moller Maersk, who embraced the low carbon fuel standard in 2006.
I also visited Maersk today and we had good discussions about the clean truck program and their future at the port. As LA's largest tenant, the fortunes of Maersk strongly influence the well-being of the port. We must address our environmental challenges, but not at the expense of our competitiveness. I expressed this to Maersk, as well as our commitment to keeping them prosperous tenants of the Port of Los Angeles. Just last week, the port board approved a Customer Benefits Package that will assist customers, like Maersk, through this economic downturn.
SUPPORT FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLES
12/16/09 @ 7:23p Copenhangen, Denmark by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
This morning I had the opportunity to participate on a panel with World Bank President Robert Zoellick, Sir Richard Branson, UN OECD General Secretary Angel Gurria, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and others on the importance of public-private partnerships.
At this meeting, I was pleased to announce the "C40 Electric Vehicle Network," a new public-private partnership between 14 of the world's largest cities - including Los Angeles - car manufacturers and a leading energy company to increase electric vehicle usage and accessibility.
Over the next year, participating cities will take specific steps to make their cities more electric vehicle friendly and will collectively address four areas of municipal action that are critical to the successful introduction of electric vehicles. Those areas are: 1. Addressing charging infrastructure and related electricity supply systems; 2. Streamlining permitting processes; 3. Coordinating monetary and non-monetary incentives; and 4. Publishing plans on mobilizing demand for electric vehicles in city fleets.
At the same time, car manufacturers such as BYD, Mitsubishi, Nissan and Renault; and the energy company, EDF Energy, will provide support to the cities as they make vehicle procurement and infrastructure investment decisions.
Cities are the largest emitters of carbon and contribute the most pollutants to our environment. The conversion of major vehicle fleets to electric power, gives cities an opportunity to reduce emissions and become more sustainable.
Sharing LA's Green Programs with the World
12/16/09 @ 12:39a Copenhagen, Denmark by Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa
Earlier today, I stood with more than 80 mayors from around the world to open the Mayors Climate Conference in Copenhagen. It continues to amaze me how profound the contribution of cities is in reducing co2 emissions worldwide. Emissions from cities make up more than 75 percent of the world's carbon footprint. Think about if every big city in the world took simple steps to reduce their carbon footprint.
In LA, we have the LED Street light retrofit program, which is the largest in the world. It is not a complicated plan - we are simply replacing 140,000 streetlights with LED lights. If all cities adopted a similar program, we could reduce more than 40million tons of carbon. I was happy to share the details of this program with my fellow mayors and hope they will follow our lead.
Later in the afternoon, I chaired a discussion on energy efficiency with the mayors of Rome, Istanbul, Riga, and Taipei. It was an enlightening conversation where we shared ideas, accomplishments and best practices. I talked about the results of our aggressive green building standards, the investments we are making on energy efficiency rebates for LA customers, and our energy conservation incentives.
At the end of the discussion, it was clear that each of our cities has been doing great work, but we all still have more to do. But I am convinced that in terms of scale and scope of work, LA has a golden opportunity to create meaningful sustainable jobs because of the ability of our program(s) to create good clean/green jobs in LA.