Indianapolis Mayor to Address VICA

Indianapolis Mayor Stephen Goldsmith, who during his two terms in office has set a record pace for new construction and record lows for unemployment in his city, will be the keynote speaker Thursday at a general membership meeting of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn.

In the past four years, Goldsmith has reduced government spending, cut the city’s bureaucracy, held the line on taxes, eliminated counterproductive regulations and streamlined services, said Bob Scott, co-chairman of the VICA Local Issues Committee.

Goldsmith is the author of the recently published book, “The Twenty-First Century City: Resurrecting Urban America,” and was named Public Official of the Year by Governing magazine. He is also the recipient of the Innovations in American Government Award from the Ford Foundation and the President’s Award from the Free Congress Foundation.

Goldsmith “will share with us some of the tricks of the trade which he has employed at Indianapolis,” Scott said. “Hopefully, we can apply that to the local leadership here and there’s certainly a lot we can include for the city of Los Angeles.”

After his speech, Goldsmith will field questions from those attending the meeting, including all Los Angeles charter reform commissioners.

The VICA meeting, co-sponsored by the Reason Foundation, a national research and educational organization, will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m. Thursday at the Beverly Garland Holiday Inn, 4222 Vineland Ave.

Cost is $25. Seating is limited and reservations are required.

For more information, call the VICA office at (818) 888-2228.