July 3, 2025 The Best Source of News, Culture, Lifestyle for Culver City, Mar Vista, Del Rey, Palms and West Los Angeles

Los Angeles mayor Eric Garcetti hails deal that provides tax incentives for screen productions

 

m
Eric Garcetti hailed the governor’s announcement that a deal was struck on a bill that would provide up to $330 million to keep screen productions in California. (Thinkstock)

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti was joined by film and television workers and other leaders Wednesday in hailing the governor’s announcement that a deal was struck on a bill to provide up to $330 million in tax incentives annually to keep big and small screen productions in California.

The agreement between Gov. Jerry Brown and legislative leaders calls for extending the California Film and Television Tax Credit Program for five years, starting in fiscal year 2015-16, and increasing the tax incentives offered by the state from the current $100 million.

The deal also calls for abandoning the lottery process to pick the recipients. Instead, applicants will be judged based on the number of jobs they provide and their economic impact.

The bill now awaits a vote on the state Senate floor.

Garcetti said the agreement will help Los Angeles hang onto its standing as “the entertainment capital of the world.” He also declared it a “success for California’s middle class,” saying it will benefit the “heart and soul of the entertainment industry” such as “artisans, craftspeople and trades people who you never see on screen.”

Earlier this year, the mayor appointed a film czar to lobby for increased tax incentives.

Assemblymen Mike Gatto and Raul J. Bocanegra, D-Los Angeles, wanted to increase the incentives to $400 million to compete with tax credits offered by other states. New York’s program provides about $450 million annually in tax incentives for film and television projects.

Gatto said he is “pleased” with the agreed-upon language, which contains important features such as allowing blockbuster movies, as well as pilots and dramas, to become eligible for the incentives.

Those productions are usually the “biggest source of employment” in the film industry for the state, he said.

“We set out at the beginning of this year to create a program that will not only be bigger, but also smarter and more thoughtful,” Gatto said. “We have an agreement on a program that is just that.”

Gatto said he was not worried the incentives pot would still be smaller than New York’s, noting that California enjoys some “inherent advantages” that will attract productions regardless.

“We just need to be competitive again,” he said. “I personally don’t want to compete too directly on a financial basis with those states.”

If the bill wins passage on the Senate floor — with a vote scheduled for tomorrow — and clears a concurrence vote in Assembly, it will go to the governor’s desk for signing, he said.

Los Angeles City Councilman Paul Krekorian, who authored 2009 legislation that led to the original film tax incentive program, called it “a great day for California and our signature industry.”

He predicted that with an “influx of filming in our cities and counties,” Los Angeles and other communities in the Southern California area will need to redouble efforts to make it easier for productions to be filmed locally.

The deal also drew praise from a coalition of off-camera film and television workers.

“Gov. Brown and legislative leaders have delivered a production incentive program that makes California jobs priority number one,” said Thom Davis, business manager of IATSE Local 80, which represents film and TV technicians.

Ed Duffy of the Teamsters Local 399, a union representing drivers, location managers and casting directors, voiced support for the proposed legislation tying the incentives to job creation, calling it “a win for workers and California’s economy.”

Related Posts

Hot Dogs & Rosé: Something About Her and The Culver Hotel Roll Out Summer Specials

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Westside Venues to Serve Playful Bites and Seasonal Sips For the Holiday Weekend A bold new offering is making its...

NeueHouse Hosts Bold One-Night Dinner With Culinary Phenomenon Diego Argoti

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Acclaimed Chef Brings Culinary Mischief With a Five-Course Tasting Experience. NeueHouse Hollywood will host an exclusive, one-night-only dining event on...

(Video) Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Go To Homefrontbuild.com For More Information @home_front_build Legacy, Reimagined: Architecture, Design & Construction by Home Front Build Los Angeles Go...

405 Crash Near the Getty Sends Three to Hospital: Two Seriously Hurt Near Site Where LAPD Sgt. Died

July 2, 2025

July 2, 2025

Early Morning Multi-Vehicle Collision Shut Down Lanes Near Brentwood Three men were injured and traffic was snarled for hours following...

(Video) Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp from celebrated cookbook author Kiano Moju Has Been Extended Until July 3 at Citizen Public Market

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Bold Flavors and Spice Merge with Crisp, Chewy Chapati. Delicious With a Caring Chef and Staff. Jikoni, the AfriCali PopUp...

Pentagon Orders Troop Drawdown in LA: 150 National Guard Members Reassigned to Wildfire Duty

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Federal Forces Begin Partial Withdrawal From Protest Response as California Leaders Push Back U.S. Northern Command announced Tuesday that 150...

California Highway Patrol Deploys for Independence Day Enforcement Surge

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

All Available Officers to Hit California Highways for Holiday Weekend As Californians gear up for Fourth of July festivities, the...

Court Postpones Arraignment for Driver in Malibu Crash That Killed Four Students

July 1, 2025

July 1, 2025

Fraser Michael Bohm Faces Murder Charges in Fatal PCH Wreck  The arraignment for Fraser Michael Bohm, the 23-year-old man accused...

(Video) Los Angeles County Supervisor from the 2nd district, Holly J. Mitchel, Gives a Powerful Speech

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Supervisor Mitchell Called on Residents to take action at the rally for Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano in Culver City.

Top Military Commander Urges Return of Troops Deployed to ICE Protest Response

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

General Requests 200 National Guard Soldiers Be Returned to California Wildfire Unit The senior U.S. military officer overseeing federal forces...

Second Victim Killed Alongside LAPD Sergeant in Brentwood 405 Crash Identified

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

Authorities Confirm Garcia, 34, Died at the Scene, GoFundMe Launched  Authorities have identified the civilian who was killed alongside a...

The Westside Lights Up for July 4: Fireworks, Drone Shows, and Parades Return Across West Los Angeles

June 30, 2025

June 30, 2025

From Marina Del Rey’s Fireworks to Culver City’s 1980s-Themed Drone Show, Get Ready to Celebrate From fireworks over Marina del...

California Judge Rules FAIR Plan’s Smoke Damage Policy Unlawful

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Court Says Wildfire Insurance Program Illegally Denied Claims Legal protections for California homeowners took a step forward this week after...

(Video) Culver City Residents and City and County Leaders Rally for Disappeared Ice Cream Man Ambrocio “Enrique” Lozano

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

US Representative for California’s 37th Congressional District, Sydney Kamlager-Dove Speaks About What is happening to the disappeared.

Historic Sawtelle Nursery Site Could Become 40-Unit Townhome Complex

June 29, 2025

June 29, 2025

Sawtelle Continues to Change as Nursery Site Faces Redevelopment Plans have been submitted to redevelop a nursery site, F.K. Nursery,...