Becerra Promises Support for L.A.’s Small Businesses

Pledging that he would expand the city’s effort to foster economic development, Rep. Xavier Becerra said Wednesday that, if elected mayor, he would make it easier for small businesses to thrive.

“I want Los Angeles to be the premier spot for small businesses to locate,” Becerra said during a midday news conference at a Hollywood audio and video store.

The four-term congressman said he would create a small business team in the mayor’s office, modeled after Mayor Richard Riordan’s business team, and set up a “one-stop shop” where business owners could get information about city permits and zoning requirements.

In addition, Becerra said he would reform the city’s tax code, keep public service sections of City Hall open from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m and put more city services online.

Becerra was joined at the news conference by the owners of Ametron, a 50-year-old electronics store based in Hollywood. When Maury and Arlene Rosenthal wanted to expand two years ago, they said they were frustrated by the red tape they encountered at City Hall.

“We were sort of being bounced around,” said their son, Fred Rosenthal, who added that the family was set to move the business to Burbank or Culver City, until a friend helped with the city permit process.

Becerra said the city needs to make it easier for businesses like Ametron to expand.

“We’ve got to make sure we keep you in the city of Los Angeles,” he said. “We’ve got to do it by addressing your concerns in a nonbureaucratic way.”

The Democratic congressman said that if elected he would commission an independent audit of city agencies and share the findings in town hall meetings in every Los Angeles neighborhood during his first month in office.

Becerra, arguing that Los Angeles does not receive its fair share of federal funds, said he would hire a new deputy mayor in charge of soliciting grants for the city.

He would also create a Neighborhood Crisis X-Force to coordinate services during emergencies.