This board endorses Eric Garcetti for mayor because he understands the specific problems that different parts of Los Angeles face and has tailored solutions for each, along with economically feasible ways of funding their implementation.

In an interview with the editorial board, Garcetti provided more thorough solutions than his opponents to problems in education, community and transportation, to name just a few areas.

Garcetti wants to work with the major colleges of Los Angeles in order to help students get employed after graduation, and this board sees him as the best candidate for UCLA students, as well as for Los Angeles as a whole.

One such plan is to work with UCLA, the University of Southern California and California Technological Institute to keep engineering students in Los Angeles after they graduate. Not only would this help college graduates and employment within the city, but it would make Los Angeles more startup-friendly, and contribute to the growth of the technology and engineering sectors, where employees are in demand.

Another plan is to establish a public-private partnership with the city’s research universities to expand green jobs.

Garcetti was able to discuss the ways in which he wants to fund his plans, which set him apart from the other candidates.

To make better use of the city’s funds, Garcetti said he plans to have the city’s general managers, who are in charge of all the city’s projects, reapply for their jobs. This demonstrates his commitment to follow through on new programs and cut where the old administration should or could have.

Still, it could be dangerous to rely on reallocation of existing funds for new projects.

Public transportation is one of the city’s greatest weaknesses, and Garcetti has several ideas for stretching the system to reach more Angelenos and better connect the city.

He would look to light rail primarily and heavy rail where it is necessary, something that would help college students become better embedded in the L.A. community, rather than staying solely in the Westwood bubble. While these rail lines may take more time to come together than students will spend here in college, they will be beneficial in the long run.

He also understands that there needs to be short-term solutions, like using a system of smaller buses that would connect to larger lines, to ease access to public transportation.

The West Side is unlikely to be the mayor’s focus for improvement. But this board is sure that were residents to go to Garcetti with problems, he would be prepared to help them based on the improvements he’s made to areas in his district that bear some similarity to Westwood, like Echo Park and Silver Lake.

Garcetti is clearly the best choice because he has a detailed plan for the city and the capability to see it through.

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10 Comments

  1. As a UCLA alum, I am embarrassed. Garcetti’s ideas don’t matter much when 1) he has a history of not keeping promises and 2) implementation of those ideas requires compliance by the full CC and multiple agencies, i.e. not something he could guarantee even if he did intend to honor his promises. Land use issues alone clearly reveal that Garcetti does not care about quality of life and does not care about the environment. Look at his district.

      1. Yes. It’s self-evident that Hollywood, Silverlake, and other eastside neighborhoods have greatly improved under his stewardship.

        1. Really? he only cares about being a celebrity there was a whole article about housing issues he has caused in his district/the fact he tries to ride off being “hispanic” when he is not Latino at all

    1. I second this disappointment. The board clearly didn’t do their research when making this endorsement. As a young voter I find often that others in my age group are often impressed by Garcetti’s shine and charm without looking at his history. Giving credit for the success of a district such as his, which is bound by its social and cultural relevancy to improve regardless of stewardship, is commensurate with this lack of background research.

  2. Bruin Alum, Class of ’03. Extremely proud to see the Daily Bruin make the smart choice here and endorse Eric Garcetti. He has been a stalwart on the Westside subway extension. Other candidates have hedged on the issue, but Eric has been steadfast in insisting that we’re going to get this done, done fast and done with right the Century City stop at Constellation. Eric has also heavily touted the idea of a Sepulveda line along the 405.

    Eric speaks in specifics, not generalities. He has bold ideas and talks about how he wants to implement them–and his track record in the 13th Council District proves what his innovative leadership is capable of. Great choice.

  3. You guys know LA is going bankrupt and he is doing nothing to address this right? Just kick the can down the road. The Daily Bruin is an embarrassment to economic minded alumni.

  4. I am annoyed by this crazy idea; we need to build a football stadium at all, and for what team? Paid for with tax payers dollars for city returns, years down the road. And why in hell does it have to be next door to Staples?.. A congested area with the new Nokea center next to the 101 fwy. Tearing down 1/3 of the LA Convention Center, will also have to be re structured, sending large conventions to places like Anaheim Convention Center. City convention workers become jobless. BOTH Candidates support this grandiose Tony V. idea for what kick backs? Some one give me some feedback please. -Todd Homer

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