League of Women Voters of California Education Fund
Los Angeles County, CA March 3, 2015 Election
	Robert L. Cole, Jr. Answers Questions Candidate for Council Member; City of Los Angeles; District 8

The questions were prepared by the League of Women Voters of Los Angeles and asked of all candidates for this office.
Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

Questions & Answers

1. What do you think is the single most important issue facing the City of Los Angeles today? As Council Member, what would you do to deal with it?

I think economic development is the single most important issues facing the City of Los Angeles. The City has to figure out ways to jump start the economy to increase the number of small business owners, to increase the number of jobs for all levels of workers, to generate additional revenues from tourism and conventions so the City can have additional income to offset the deficit.

2. The City Administrative Officer has estimated a $300 million budget shortfall for 2015-2016. What steps do you propose to deal with this problem and how much do you estimate each step would reduce the shortfall?

The current estimated $300 million budget shortfall is the result of years of increased spending and will take several years to resolve. The first step would be to implement more cost control methods that serve to remedy the ongoing escalation of City expenses. This could be accomplished by determining what financial obligations could be reduced through negotiations and collective bargaining agreements. Additionally, identifying additional revenues to supplement the City's current financial obligations would be one of the main ways to do this. As Councilman, I would work to attract more businesses to the City of Los Angeles by eliminating the gross receipts tax. Working to reduce the current and ongoing financial obligations, increasing income and revenue for the City by luring more businesses back to the City and look at ways to reduce spending on supplies and equipment would all be ways to reduce the City's shortfall.

3. What is the single most important issue facing your Council District today, and how would you deal with it?

The single most important issue facing the 8th District is unemployment. The District has the fewest number of jobs, limited growth in the workforce and one of the highest unemployment rates in the City. As the next city councilman, my top priority will be job creation and strongly opposing ideology that is counter-productive to business and job stability.

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Responses to questions asked of each candidate are reproduced as submitted to the League.  Candidates' answers are presented as submitted.

Read the answers from all candidates (who have responded).

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Created from information supplied by the candidate: January 9, 2015 15:26
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