By Crystal Swann
February 2, 2009

Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Chair for the Task Force on Poverty Work and Opportunity, challenged the mayors to embrace the green economy as the new economy January 18. "We are at a cross road for our country and our economy. We must abandon old ways of doing thing and embrace this opportunity to change," stated Villaraigosa.

Acknowledging "this a time for tough decisions and bold action and our future economic vitality goes hand in hand with our commitment to environmental innovation," Villaraigosa highlighted how Los Angeles was changing to meet the new challenges. Villaraigosa has taken steps to change Los Angeles' industrial core into centers of sustainability and growth. His administration has begun to replace their dirty diesel trucks at Port of LA and Long Beach with new biodiesel trucks. In the city, he's invested $15 million in technology advancement programs that investments in private sector companies to develop next generation of green technology. The city's created an infrastructure academy in lowest performing schools in South LA and the students are learning to put solar panel on homes and businesses. Villaraigosa has taken many more steps to green Los Angeles and prepare the city to meet the challenges of a 21st century economy.

In closing Villaraigosa suggested that the creation of an innovation fund would help foster and grow the local innovation that will be needed to compete in the global market. This fund would send money directly to cities and projects that are good for workers, the economy and the environment. He challenged the mayors to embrace this new chapter in American history. "At this defining moment, when the stakes are so high, we are going to have leave past practices behind and think out side of the box; rise to the challenge before us and adopt a pragmatic progressive agenda of sustainability and economic vitality for every city," he said.