I Will Fight for You – Op-ed by Eric Garcetti

03 Apr I Will Fight for You – Op-ed by Eric Garcetti

By Eric Garcetti

I am running for mayor to create jobs and solve problems for Los Angeles residents. I have delivered proven results in my district, which is ranked number one in job growth by the L.A. Chamber of Commerce. Working with the community, we led dramatic turnarounds in Hollywood, Echo Park, Silver Lake and Atwater Village; tripled the number of parks from sixteen to forty-seven (thirty-one new parks in the district with the least land); cut violent crime by two-thirds and graffiti by 80%; and ensured that an after-school program is accessible to every school.

I will take this block-by-block approach to working with the community citywide and especially to underserved communities in South L.A. I will build on the work I’ve already started. I am proud to have co-written with Councilwoman Jan Perry Proposition O, which helped restore wetlands and clean water in South L.A. I have worked with leaders in South L.A. to fight banks and save families from foreclosures. Together, we passed the nation’s first foreclosure eviction moratorium and levied stiff fines for blighted properties.

As mayor, I will lead an agenda to prepare L.A. for the jobs of tomorrow. I have a detailed plan to create tens of thousands of jobs through solar installation, increasing energy efficiency in buildings, and cleaning our water. I will reform our job training system and teach the skills our kids need to compete for high-tech jobs — computer programming, science and math.

I want to invest in the beautiful neighborhoods throughout L.A. and feel it’s critical that we value South L.A.’s uniqueness and history. We must do the basics better and reform City Hall to ensure we are responsive to every neighborhood. I created the first one-stop online hub for business licenses; deployed L.A.’s first constituent services smartphone application so people can get problems such as graffiti and potholes fixed anytime, anywhere; and helped establish Business and Family Resource Centers so people can get services in one place.

I will require every department head to reapply for his or her job on my first day in office to ensure we reform City Hall and make it faster and responsive to every community. I will ensure my administration reflects the people we serve, like my council office does today. I will also deploy clear performance-based metrics so departments are held accountable for efficiency and customer service.

As mayor, I will aggressively fight for the rail stop in Leimert Park to improve safety and the local economy. I’m proud to have stood up and told Metro to build this stop and put the Crenshaw line underground. I want to invest in a Great Streets program and identify streets that need basic infrastructure, economic development and green investment to turn them into thriving small business and community centers.

I am also proud of my leadership nationally on important issues, including stepping forward as an early supporter of President Barack Obama and serving as state co-chair of his campaign. I was an Obama superdelegate and campaigned for him nationwide.

I am a fighter for what’s right and I will fight for you as mayor.

Final Mayor Chart English1

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