Donna Davis

2015 CA Summit - Perception vs. Reality: Is California Business Friendly?

Eric Garcetti, Michael Milken, John Chiang, Donna Davis, Steven Mnuchin

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and panelists highlighted the city's transformation into a global model for economic growth, driven by streamlined permitting processes, a $25 million Bolloré Group investment, and record job creation in sectors ranging from aerospace to digital media. While the event celebrated LA's surge to the second-largest U.S. financial hub and its status as the world's top green technology incubator, speakers also confronted critical challenges including high real estate costs, housing unaffordability, and a regressive tax structure that threatens to drive out talent. Forward-looking recommendations centered on creating a digital one-stop shop for business compliance and leveraging the city's diverse demographics to capture international markets.