City of Los Angeles | March 1st, 2018
Summary
Los Angeles has always been a global destination for dreamers, doers, thinkers, and creators. We have blue skies and pristine beaches and a rich culture of diversity, c
Los Angeles has always been a global destination for dreamers, doers, thinkers, and creators. We have blue skies and pristine beaches and a rich culture of diversity, creativity, and entrepreneurism. The opportunities of tomorrow are limitless, as we work to build Los Angeles into a vibrant, thriving model city of the 21st century.
Yet this dream comes with the growing pressures of our susceptibility to the impacts of climate change and aging infrastructure. We are all deeply aware that it is a question of when, not if Los Angeles will face the next Big One—whether it’s an earthquake, flood, heatwave, fire, or other disaster with long-term impacts. While we have made great strides over the past 25 years, it’s time to do more—to strengthen and create new partnerships, to change the way our government collaborates and to empower and secure our communities—so that we can work together to make L.A. a global model of resilience.
Building a more resilient Los Angeles starts with addressing the needs of our most vulnerable populations and neighborhoods. Too often, those who are least equipped to handle the effects of catastrophic events end up suffering the most. And empowering our most vulnerable—children, immigrants, and lower-income residents, among others—is not just about emergency preparedness. It is about directly addressing those underlying daily stresses—such as poverty, financial security, and affordable housing—and ensuring that all Angelenos feel safe and secure in their daily lives. It also means bringing neighbors together to strengthen our collective resources and social bonds and innovating creative solutions along the way.