All posts by LosAdmin

LA Infrastructure Advancements

Infrastructure,

A proposal was recently revealed by city planners that would advance infrastructure development in Hollywood. What made this newsworthy was that it came more than three years after a plan indicating faulty growth assumptions was thrown out by a judge.

This plan is more focused on keeping single-family homes in neighborhoods while keeping tools for historic preservation such as overlay zones, height limits for buildings (that are near historic preservation zones) and more.  As Mitch O’Farrell, Hollywood Councilman explained:

“The update to the Hollywood Community Plan will create the necessary tools to preserve our historic structures, promote transit-oriented and pedestrian-friendly development, encourage production of affordable housing, and provide the ability to re-imagine and re-purpose our surface parking lots to make Hollywood more livable and more walkable.  I encourage my constituents to participate in the public process and provide input that will help create a plan that benefits every stakeholder in Hollywood.”

The real goal is to preserve the single-family homes as well as entire hillside areas. That will hopefully lead to bolstering “smart development and investment in the community.”

LA: Port Business Booming

Economy, ,

In May of this year, compared to May 2016, growth was encountered in the volume of container cargoes from the port of LA.  This has caused optimism while consumer demand remains static.  The increase was 3.1 percent with a 4.4 percent escalation in exports from the LA port.

According to LA Port executive director Gene Seroka:

We continue to see balanced year-over-year growth both on the import and export side of our operations.  With nearly one million jobs — one in nine jobs in the region — tied to San Pedro Bay port complex operations, we continue to focus on supply chain efficiency, optimization and sustainability.”

This was also the second consecutive year that the LA Port enjoyed record May volumes with a total 796,216 TEUs moving through the port.  This is good for the economy of LA in so many areas, particularly with the close to one million jobs for which it is responsible.

LA: Expanding Clean Energy Economy

Environment, ,

At the end of last month, Energize California (the “energy innovation hub for Santa Barbara, Ventura, Los Angeles and Orange counties”) was launched.  The initiative – developed by the Los Angeles Cleantech Incubator (LACI) – is seen as a way to bolster LA’s clan energy economy by backing the industry ecosystem and helping people access the business and technical industry that is needed to bring new technologies to market successful.

The funding from the program is coming from the California Energy Commission (CEC) over a six year period.  Energize California is getting $5 million over six years as part of the CEC’s goal of responding to escalating demand for innovation in the energy sector with the deployment of more renewable resources. Robert Weisenmiller, Chairman of Energy Commission said:

“You never know where the next great clean energy idea will come from, but having a centralized program like Energize California, where innovators can easily network with academia, industry, business and professional development resources, greatly enhances the chances of that happening here in Southern California.”

For LA businessmen and women in the clean energy industry, Energize California will help them expedite product commercialization and market entry by facilitating their connection to mentors, testing and prototyping facilities and pilot programs.

LA: A Solution for Traffic Nightmares?

Infrastructure

Los Angeles is notorious for its traffic issues. People have complained about it for years and even left the region as it’s become so burdensome. Indeed, earlier this year with the report from INRIX finding that locals spent a total of 104 hours stuck in traffic in 2016, with that and congestion adding up to a price of “$2,408 each and the city as a whole $9.6 billion from direct and indirect costs. Direct costs relate to the value of fuel and time wasted, and indirect costs refer to freight and business fees from company vehicles idling in traffic, which are passed on to households through higher prices,” LA was officially given the title of ‘World’s Worst Traffic.’

Now however, it is possible that there might actually be a real solution to that. Today, Waze is launching a carpooling app throughout the state of California which will give drivers the opportunity to offer rides to people traveling the same general route. The way it will work is for those interested in joining an already-driving car, through the Waze Carpool (separate) app they will be able to request a ride.

The other benefit of this app is that no commission is taken (like comparable services Uber and Lyft). This has been developed purely for the use of the consumer and in a general effort to ease terrible traffic issues. Instead, users just chip in to cover the cost of gas.

Let’s hope this is at least the start of a solution to a truly now out-of-control situation.

LA Budgeting

Economy,

An approval was given by the Los Angeles City Council of a $9.2 billion budget.  The money will be put toward the following important issues: public safety, transportation and homelessness.

The money will be put in use at the beginning of the next fiscal year (July 1, 2017).  It is hoped that it will assist in a reduction in the number of automobile fatalities, hiring additional firefighters and establishing a $1 million legal fund for undocumented immigrants facing deportation.   As well as giving money toward two more fire engine companies and adding 75 to the firefighter numbers, Garetti has in the past indicated a desire to increase the amount of female firefighters in the state, part of this budget plan will go toward a girls recruitment camp.  At the 2-day program, teenage girls between the ages of 14 and 18 are paired with active duty LAFD female firefighters and cadets to engage in practical activities using firefighting equipment and tools etc.

Since LA has had a notoriously challenging homeless situation, a $176 million budget has been put toward shelters, sanitation programs, and more. $9 million to transportation and police departments and $17 million for Vision Zero projects.

 

Quality Living in Los Angeles

Environment, ,

There is often negative speak about living in LA, relating to driving matters, environmental issues or just plain expense. In this article we look to some of the (very many) positive reasons life in LA is not only good but often getting better.

First, a recent report produced by the California Association of Realtors found that “housing affordability continues to trend much lower in Los Angeles and Orange counties than in San Bernardino County,” with almost 30 percent of households in the region having the ability to purchase its median-priced home of $485,800 in Q117 (an increase of 28 percent from Q416).

Second, green living is getting easier.  There are a few examples of that.  Each Saturday night, the sanitation department of LA is hosting free workshops on backyard composting, smart gardening, worm composting, and grasscycling.  As well, for cyclists, there are a few ways to bike around the city thanks to Metro Bike and the Social Bicycles app which work in the area.  And then LA residents can apply for free trees for their yards/businesses etc., adding to the landscape’s greenery.

Third, education is getting a boost in the state as well. Last week, the professional networking and education initiative, Destination California took place for three days at the LA Hotel Downtown.  Presenting participants with an opportunity to network with CVBs, DMCs and top hotels, the Northstar Meetings Group-hosted event was attended by around 60 meeting planner professionals and 75+ industry suppliers.  Attendees were also invited to take part in CMP-accredited educational sessions.

Optimism on LA’s Economy?

Economy, , , ,

It seems that there is no reason for the people of LA to not be optimistic about the economy.  According to a recent video put out by Investment Counsel Michael J. D., McCall, the economy has been surprising to investors.  Economic data has been far better than anticipated.

Further, based on data from the Citigroup U.S. economic surprise index, (which measures how often economic news is better than expected) soared until early 2017.  The sudden plunge panicked economists; journalists picked up on this and WSJ and FT articles indicated investors were dealing with “a new economic landslide.”

McCall in this video explains however, that the situation in LA is not all doom and gloom.  He explains how there are often fluctuations and these do not need to lead to panic.

In addition, whether one is optimistic about the economy or not, could depend on the color of their skin.  According to a survey put out by The Lowe Institute’s Los Angeles Consumer Sentiment Index, the Hispanics and blacks in LA County are not optimistic, but whites are. With a substantial decline in Q416 (followed by a smaller one in Q117), consumers are indicating a reduced expected consumption of products and services.  According to Marc Weidenmier, Institute Director, the Q117 decline was probably due to the Q416 one together with the Presidential election.  But what did not happen (that was partly anticipated) was a rebound in consumer sentiment.  Given that, there is currently more pessimism on the economy, which McCall says is not necessary.

Perhaps backing McCall’s sentiment is some of the job creation growth that the region has been encountering.  In an article in a local newspaper of the area, job creation was recorded as most impressive. Due to one of the 111 area projects worked on by economic development agencies in 2016, a staggering $1.1 billion new investment was made, with the creation of 1,253 new jobs and a retaining of 3,092 jobs.

There is room for caution for sure, but there is also cause for optimism.

Success of Granada Hills Charter School

Education, , ,

When students have good teachers and work hard, it pays off.  This was evidenced with the third consecutive win of the national Academic Decathlon by San Fernando Valley’s Granada Hills Charter School. Not only that, but there has only been one year (out of the last seventh) that the school has not taken home the trophy.

Perhaps this should not come as such a surprise given the fact that according to Wiki, its Performance Index is 878, substantially higher than the 800 target API score for Californian schools.

On this year’s topic of World War II, the nine-student team scored a staggering 54,507 out of 60,000 points which their coaches attributed to “hard work and dedication.” But it’s also schooling and the teachers should take pride in this achievement as well.   As school Executive Director (who has been a staff member for 17 years), Brian Bauer said the win should be put down to a combination of “powerful teaching” and “[student] perseverance and grit.”

We’ve heard for a while that charter schools in New York are extremely successful, but there has not been as much data on their Californian counterparts.  Success of the Granada Hills Charter School in this as in other recognitions (being named a 2011 California Distinguished School) is a good indicator of the same going on across the nation.  Indeed, knowing that charter schools are good is especially important for LA given that it is has more of them than any other place throughout the United States, with one-in-five located in the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).  In addition, it has been found that these schools are making substantial efforts to “close the achievement gap” in the region which is clearly happening with Granada as an example.

Honoring LA

Entertainment, ,

How better to honor a city than with acrobats?  Dancing along to “Another Day of Sun,” on April 25th, rope-suspended acrobats danced around City Hall walls following the Mayor’s declaration of “La La Land” day. Given that the musical took home six Academy Awards (and 14 Oscar nominations) earlier this year (giving the city of LA quite a spotlight), the honor was most well deserved.  So much so that Garcetti himself got involved, accompanying a jazz ensemble on the piano with various songs from the film.

Honoring director Damien Chazelle, composer Justin Hurwitz and some of the movie producers, Garcetti explained it like this: “This film held a mirror up to our city – showing the world our passion, our creativity, our optimism, and of course, the deep-seated desire of every Angeleno to jump out of their car in traffic and to just start dancing.”  It was noted that since the movie honored the city, having the compliment paid back was most appreciated.

LA Jobs

Employment,

For job seekers in Los Angeles, Home Depot might be a good place to start.  Earlier this month, the company had 225 part-time and seasonal vacancies available in the greater LA region. Nationwide, the availability of spring positions reached 80,000, given that Home Depot is busiest then.

The main vacancies were in cashier and sales.  Hires were made on the spot and all those in line up to a certain time were at least guaranteed an interview.

Home Depot it seems could be part of an area-wide trend in job hiring.  Figures for unemployment in California plummeted to 5% in February, marking a decade low on eight consecutive months of job growth. According to the Employment Development Department, 22,900 employees were added to California businesses and in the last year, there has been an increase of 1.9% jobs (as compared to 1.6% throughout America).

Given that according to previous-EDD director, Michael Bernick, California has not encountered a “jobless rate below 5% since 2006,” now could be just the time for unemployed Californians to turn things around.