CITY, BUSINESSES SEE NEED FOR HIGH-PAYING JOBS.Byline: RICK ORLOV Orlov (Орлóв) is the name of a Russian noble family which produced several distinguished statesmen, diplomatists and soldiers. The family first gained distinction in the person of four Orlov brothers, of whom the senior was Catherine the Great's Staff Writer Los Angeles Los Angeles (lôs ăn`jələs, lŏs, ăn`jəlēz'), city (1990 pop. 3,485,398), seat of Los Angeles co., S Calif.; inc. 1850. City Hall opened its doors to business leaders Thursday with broad agreement on the need for the city to become more business-friendly and help create more high-paying jobs. ``This is about the quality of life of Los Angeles,'' Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa Antonio Ramon Villaraigosa (born Antonio (Tony) Ramon Villar, Jr. on January 23, 1953) is the mayor of Los Angeles, California. He is the first Latino mayor of Los Angeles since Cristobal Aguilar in 1872. told 500 business leaders gathered for the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce's seventh annual Access L.A. Program. ``I keep saying that Los Angeles is the Venice of the 21st century. That is not hyperbole hyperbole (hīpûr`bəlē), a figure of speech in which exceptional exaggeration is deliberately used for emphasis rather than deception. ... It is a reality of what this city means to the world.'' Villaraigosa said he appreciated the support he has received from the chamber on his various initiatives including an increase in the trash fee to pay for more police officers and taking control of the Los Angeles Unified School District The Los Angeles Unified School District (the "LAUSD") is the largest (in terms of number of students) public school system in California and the second-largest in the United States. Only the New York City Department of Education has a larger student population. . But he said it is only the start. ``I need you to continue to work with us as partners.'' City Council President Eric Garcetti Eric Garcetti (born 1971) is the son of former Los Angeles county district attorney Gil Garcetti, and was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001. He was reelected in 2005. said the city has changed in recent years and should no longer be viewed as the enemy of business. ``We are showing them that City Hall is open to them, that we recognize how important it is to create good, high-paying jobs to keep the middle class in this city,'' Garcetti said. He also assured business leaders that officials are willing to listen. ``I think a lot of business people have this preconception pre·con·cep·tion n. An opinion or conception formed in advance of adequate knowledge or experience, especially a prejudice or bias. Noun 1. that we aren't listening. That's why it is important for us to open our doors to them.'' Chamber President Gary Toebben said he is encouraged by the response from City Hall and has received commitments from the mayor to join chamber leaders on a trip to Washington, D.C., in March. ``We want to be able to have some impact when Congress considers its appropriations,'' Toebben said. ``What's important here is that we can hear directly from our city officials on what they are doing, and it gives us a chance to question them on our priorities.'' Toebben said it's also important to show businesses they need to be involved if they want to see improvements in the business climate and on issues from transportation to housing and public safety. rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com (213) 978-0390 |
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