LA City Council: Where's the AMPTP?
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LA City Council: Where's the AMPTP?

At today’s Los Angeles City Council meeting, over 300 writers and supporters came to hear Councilmember Eric Garcetti speak to the City Council about the writers strike, and the need to bring the AMPTP back to the table so negotiations can resume.
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The AMPTP did not bother to send a representative, apparently feeling that the $20 million a day damage to the Los Angeles economy is more the City Council's problem than theirs.

Garcetti introduced an emergency motion asking for both parties to resume bargaining, and to come to a just and fair deal as quickly as possible. He also pointed out that the writers are still at the bargaining table, ready to negotiate, and called specifically on the AMPTP to return as well.

To see the meeting, go here for the playback; you can forward to 3hrs 36 minuts, or use the “Jump To” menu and go to “Special Motion #1 (Garcetti-Wesson)”.

Councilmember Garcetti mentions that the studios benefit from various programs and tax breaks that the city and state have given them to try and keep entertainment work in California. Aside from help with zoning and land use, expedited permits, the use of government buildings to film in for free, and the expansion of their studio space, the entertainment sector are the lowest payers of business taxes in the city, and receive state tax credits as well.

Garcetti said it clearly: “We’ve put ourselves forward helping this industry out, and now we want it to help Los Angeles and resolve this strike as quickly as possible.”

The conglomerates benefit from government tax breaks and incentives to keep them here in California. These incentives come at taxpayer expense. It seems only fair to ask that they behave as good corporate citizens in return – instead of refusing to bargain as the strike does serious damage to the economy of the city and the state.

Press conference with Eric Garcetti and John Bowman outside City Hall.

We at United Hollywood want to thank Councilmember Garcetti for his support and his honesty. We appreciate everything he is doing to help bring this strike to an end, and to protect the interests of working men and women in the entertainment industry.

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