LOS ANGELES – Eric Garcetti officially assumed office as the next LA City Mayor and took his ceremonial oath of office on the steps of City Hall on Sunday afternoon, June 30.
“You’ll have a local government that’s off your back and on your side,” Garcetti promised in his inaugural speech.
The former Council District 13 Councilmember took over the post from outgoing Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who just ended his second term at the city’s helm.
Garcetti was elected into office in the May 2013 runoff elections, where he defeated City Controller Wendy Greuel for the position.
Garcetti secured 54 percent of votes, versus Greuel’s 46 percent.
In his speech, Garcetti laid out an agenda, which includes cultivating ideas with the private and education sectors, keeping Hollywood productions in Los Angeles, and cutting down red tape and business taxes to promote job growth.
Although Garcetti’s speech was rife with optimism, he acknowledged that he has a tough job ahead of him.
“These times demand a back-to-basics mayor focused above all else on our economy and jobs,” Garcetti was quoted saying in an AP report.
“We have to accept that the days of seemingly spontaneous growth in huge, mega industries are gone, maybe for good,” he added.
Garcetti is expected to take on a wide array of the city’s issues, including traffic, unemployment, education, infrastructure, and the homeless.
The city budget, while expected to remain as a central issue of Garcetti’s administration, was not directly addressed by the new mayor.
Instead, Garcetti said that he plans to make the city government “leaner and more efficient.”
The inaugural festivities included appearances from TV talk show host, Jimmy Kimmel and 90’s electronic musician, Moby.
Kimmel, known for his humor, poked fun at the hot weather, blaming the previous administration for it.
As a seeming testament to the diversity of Los Angeles, Garcetti is the city’s first-elected Jewish mayor. His diverse background includes Italian, Mexican, Polish, and Russian roots.
(With reports from the Assocated Press)
(www.asianjournal.com)
(LA Midweek July 3-5, 2013 Sec A pg.1)
