Should We End Los Angeles' Business Tax?

The City of Los Angeles faces a $250 million deficit. Tree trimming, sidewalk repair and other services have been cut back or eliminated. Now Mayor Garcetti wants to get rid of the business tax at a cost of $400 million in existing revenue. Will that be made up when fewer companies leave town and more come as the Mayor says? How long will that take, and what happens to services in the meantime? Also, LA is about to complete the process of fitting out street lamps with LED bulbs to save energy and money. Night scene in TV shows and movies will never look the same as they have in the days of sodium and mercury vapor.

Later on To the Point, President Obama won't be on the scene for the Winter Olympics, but there's a lot at stake in Sochi for Russian President Vladimir Putin. The opening ceremonies are tomorrow, but qualifying for some events began today. We get updates on those and on the many controversies surrounding the most expensive Olympics in history.

Banner image: Bunker Hill in downtown Los Angeles as seen from City Hall. Photo: Geographer