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Paul's Blog:
Raising the Wage to Elevate Our City
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| The Economic Development Committee following Wednesday's deliberations. | Photo: CD2 |
Dear Friend:
It's been a big week for the City of Los Angeles. In fact, I don't think I'm overstating things by saying it has been historic.
I'm proud to say that this week the City Council voted overwhelmingly to increase the citywide minimum wage and lift 800,000 people out of poverty. Just two days later, we unanimously approved an $8.6 billion city budget that restores critical neighborhood services and also sets aside hundreds of millions of dollars to protect our city from any future economic downturn. These are monumental achievements that will positively impact so many people's lives.
On Tuesday, the City Council voted 14-1 to raise the minimum wage in Los Angeles to $15.00 an hour by 2020 for employees of large businesses and getting there one year later for small businesses, bringing all low-wage workers to $15.00 by 2021. LA became the largest city in the country to raise the wage. It's a big step forward for our city and it shows Los Angeles is leading the nation in tackling the problem of income inequality. Click here to watch what I had to say before the vote.
I know how hard it is to get by on low-wage work.
My mother raised me while working a minimum wage job at a restaurant in the San Fernando Valley. Her sacrifices allowed me to be the first of my family to go to college.
It was really tough to get by then and it's gotten a lot worse over the last few decades. Los Angeles has become one of the most unaffordable cities in the country. Our wages have not kept pace with the cost of food, the cost of housing and the cost of transportation. More than 18 percent of Angelenos live in poverty and close to 40 percent of our population makes under $15 an hour today. Our great city is home to the highest number of urban poor in the country-and it's unacceptable. Raising the minimum wage will help close that gap and bring more people into the middle class.
We didn't do this blindly and we don't take its possible consequences lightly. Over the last nine months, the City Council's Economic Development Committee-on which I serve as vice chair-studied reports from three different economists and had them peer reviewed, heard from close to 600 members of the public and held meetings across the city. In the end, I think we did the right thing. We were able to take action to lift up hardworking Angelenos and also mitigate the impact on businesses.
Because of my proposal to slow down the phase-in period for small businesses, close to 89 percent of businesses in the city will get an extra year to prepare and plan for the gradual increase. That means, the first increase these businesses will see is in July 2017.
Here are the wage schedules.
Beginning July 1, 2016, for businesses with 26 or more employees:
2016: $10.50
2017: $12.00
2018: $13.25
2019: $14.25
2020: $15.00
Beginning on July 1, 2017, businesses with 25 or fewer employees:
2017: $10.50
2018: $12.00
2019: $13.25
2020: $14.25
2021: $15.00
We're going to continue to study the issue and closely review its impacts on working families and businesses, which are the engine of our growing economy. I hope you'll agree with me that this is a good policy that will help our city, our residents and our economy.
Click here to watch me discuss the issue on MSNBC.
Let me know what you think. Email me at
[email protected] or call 213.473.7002.
Councilmember Paul Krekorian, District 2
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City Council Approves $8.6 Billion City Budget
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The Budget and Finance Committee (top row) with Chief Legislative Analyst Sharon Tso (right) and the City Administrative Officer Miguel Santana (center). | Photo: CD2
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LOS ANGELES - On Thursday, after three weeks of day-long budget meetings and exhaustive input from city departments and the public, the Los Angeles City Council approved an $8.6 billion balanced city budget for Fiscal Year 2015-2016, which begins July 1.
The budget increases funding for public safety, including a 10 percent increase in Fire Dept. funding and 270 new firefighters. It provides for 2,400 miles of street repairs, 57,000 trimmed trees, 350,000 pothole repairs and puts $20 million toward fixing sidewalks, among many other things.
"Without a doubt, our city's budget situation has taken a turn for the better," said Councilmember Krekorian, Chair of the City Council's Budget and Finance Committee. "We experienced significant growth, added neighborhood services, and established the largest rainy day fund in the city's history. This is the best budget we've had in years and it is because of responsible budgeting that will protect Los Angeles for years to come.
"Our work isn't done yet," Krekorian continued. "There is still an ongoing structural deficit that we need to eliminate as soon as we can. I'm confident we will get there through continued collaboration. As the economy continues to grow, I look forward to doing even more to restore services across the city."
Here's a Budget Infographic from Councilmember Krekorian. Please share it widely.
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Working with Neighborhoods
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LOS ANGELES - Councilmember Paul Krekorian will be serving as a member of the Education and Neighborhoods Committee once again.
Krekorian was first assigned to the committee in 2010, where he served as chair until 2012. He helped increase collaboration with neighborhood councils to enhance grassroots governance by improving training for neighborhood council board members, funding, collaboration with Dept. of Neighborhood empowerment, and streamline processes that maintained.
In April, Krekorian seconded a motion that would allow neighborhood council representatives more time to address the City Council and committee on community projects and issue.
The Education and Neighborhoods Committee meets on the third Tuesday of the month at 1 pm in room 1010 of City Hall.
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Filming and the Local Economy
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STUDIO CITY - Have you spotted a film crew in your neighborhood? FilmLA shares insight on what that means for the local economy.
On any given day in Los Angeles, an average of 120 crews are filming across the city. A one-day commercial shoot with a mid-sized crew generates an estimated $100,000 for the local economy. The film shoot pictured above was composed of a seven-member cast and a 45-member crew that used local vendors and locally rented equipment and space for the production.
With the expansion of California's Film and TV Tax Credit Program, the City of Los Angeles is taking steps to accommodate an increase in production and move forward on initiatives to simplify the film-permitting process and prevent other production hassles.
"Film and TV production is essential to our city's economy and to our cultural history," said Councilmember Krekorian, who is also chair of the City Council's Ad Hoc Committee on Film and TV Production Jobs. "It creates good jobs for Angelenos, spurs economic activity and keeps L.A. on the map as the entertainment capital of the world."
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Celebrate Memorial Day this Weekend in Los Angeles
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| The Strathern Neighborhood Watch group's recently installed flag pole. | Photo: CD2 |
LOS ANGELES - We are proud to honor all the brave men and women of the armed services for their sacrifice and salute those who serve our country each day.
In celebration of Memorial Day, parades, festivals and events are scheduled throughout the San Fernando Valley and beyond to commemorate the holiday weekend. Click here for a list of events in the Valley.
Government offices, courts, schools, libraries, banks and post offices will be closed Monday but trash will be collected as usual in the city of Los Angeles.
As you head out this weekend, the LAPD would like to remind Angelenos to use caution while sharing the road with millions of other Southern Californians and to be vigilant of hazards, such as accidents and drunk drivers.
Be careful, and enjoy the holiday.
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On May 14, 2015, the Los Angeles Fire Department's Recruit Class 2014-1 took the oath of office to become City of Los Angeles Firefighters. | Photo: CD2
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Nearly 200 people gathered for the Summer outdoor movie series' first screening of Hard Day's Night starring the Beatles. | Photo: CD2
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Neighborhood Council Valley Village took part in Red Nose Day to raise awareness and donations for children and young people living in poverty. | Photo: NCVV
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Armenian Genocide Centennial Book Drive
Now - May 30th
Councilmember Krekorian launched the Armenian Genocide Centennial Book Drive to benefit the Los Angeles Public Library.
Until
May 31
, please donate new or lightly used books on the Armenian Genocide, Armenian history or culture, and other genocides. The books can be in English, Armenian or any other language. All books will be donated to the LA Library's collection.
Download a flyer here
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Los Angeles Student Film Festival
May 30, 5 p.m.
El Portal Theatre
5269 Lankershim Blvd., North Hollywood 91601
Join Councilmember Krekorian for the 5th annual Los Angeles Student Film Festival.
The LASFF is a showcase for up-and-coming student talent, and a way for budding filmmakers to hone their craft and meet industry professionals who help guide them into their future careers. Tickets only cost $2.50 per person. Buy one, two or 20 by clicking here.
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Electric Lawn Mower Exchange Program
June 6, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Van Nuys
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Outdoor Summer Movie Series Presents: The Princess Bride
June 13, 8 p.m.
North Hollywood Park
Magnolia Blvd. and Tujunga Blvd.
The North Hollywood International Film Fest, in collaboration with the office of Councilmember Krekorian, and the Midtown NoHo, NoHo East and NoHo West neighborhood councils presents the next movie in the summer
series in the park with a screening of The Princess Bride, the treasured adventure-comedy directed by Rob Reiner
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Copyright ? 2013. All Rights Reserved.
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