Mixer: LA County CEO headed out, so’s Hollywood production

Los Angeles County CEO

Bill Fujioka will retire in November, after more than seven years as the county’s top official.

Abby Sewell reports for the Los Angeles Times.

She says the county CEO has purview over 100,000 county employees and budgets and whatnot, but gets little attention aside from political writers and journalists.

Citing frustration with “the pace of reform”, Los Angeles County Supervisors scaled back Fujioka’s powers in 2011, taking the LA County Probation Department, which has been under federal review and purview, and Department of Children and Family Services out of his direct oversight. The child welfare office has been bombarded with complaints because of recent deaths of children under its review in recent years.

Fujioka is stepping down as we’re seeing a dramatic change in county leadership.

There are two new supervisors coming in, as well as new Sheriff. And the current board will have to decide whether to select his replacement before longtime supervisors Zev Yaroslavsky and Gloria Molina are termed out in December, or wait for their successors to take office.

Also this week, we found out the city of Los Angeles now lags behind New York City in the number of locally shot television dramas this season, according to a new report.

The group FilmLA says New York City was the backdrop for 24 drama pilots in this year’s season, compared with just 19 produced in Los Angeles.

Film LA says the latest figures show California production is losing out to tax incentives in other states.

Bob Strauss with the LA Daily News says there are no real surprises in the report. But, he says, what could be surprising is the fact that Sacramento seems likely to do something about it.

What’s uncertain right now is how much state lawmakers will increase incentives to compete with other states.