Today, I begin my second year as your mayor. My first day in office last year set the tone for all we did: we held office hours for anyone to come see me. We’ve invested over the past year in making your city government more efficient, open, and more accessible so that you can help me lead.
As we think about the future, let’s take a moment to celebrate, not just our world champion Los Angeles Kings, but so much more. Together, you joined me at hearings and online to insist that the federal government back the $1 billion plan to restore the LA River. And together, we won.
Is the LA River — today, or what it will be — your favorite part of the city? Or is it something else? Share it with all of us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram by using #1LA or just click here and follow the prompt to post.
Per capita crime is down to 1949 levels. A record 42 million tourists visited us this year. We launched our 10,000 strong veterans hiring initiative and a 10,000 summer youth jobs program as part of our new Summer of Success initiative that will serve tens of thousands of youth with online and in-person educational and positive outlets giving them skills that will translate into better grades and better jobs in the future.
Year one has been “Back to Basics.” And we’ve done just that:
- 405 carpool lanes opened months ahead of schedule
- The Purple Line to the Westside and a regional rail connector advanced with $2.1 billion I brought home from Washington
- Trains to planes — a real rail connection to LAX — by fixing a huge mistake of the past
- Real reform at the DWP, starting with a new employee contract with no raises for three years and demanding transparency for how ratepayer money is spent
- A website on which you can track our progress and see your city work where nearly everything is public
As we head into year two together, let’s stay more closely connected and let’s share what we love about our LA because together, we can do anything.
Let’s show the world why we are #1LA.
Eric Garcetti
Mayor
P.S. Here’s a graphic that captures a snapshot of the last year. Share it on Facebook here and Twitter here, and anything else that makes you proud to be an Angeleno with #1LA.
