A series of motions aimed at preparing Los Angeles to host this year’s Summit of the Americas were passed by City Council on Friday ahead of the June meeting, which is held every three years as an opportunity for North American leaders , South and Central and Caribbean to meet.
The summit will focus on “Building a Sustainable, Resilient and Equitable Future” in the Americas, according to the White House.
In preparation, the city council on Friday passed a series of motions presented by Councilman Paul Krekorian.
A motion, co-introduced with Council Chairman Nury Martinez and Councilor Curren Price, directs the Department of Economic Development and Workforce to report on how to use the summit to promote foreign direct investment in Los Angeles and expand international business opportunities for Los Angeles. The motion also directs the ministry to report on options for giving local businesses the opportunity to compete for summit-related contracts.
A second motion co-introduced with Councilwoman Monica Rodriguez asks the Los Angeles Police Department and the city’s administrative officer to report on safety and security requirements related to the summit, partnerships with federal agencies and states to prepare, budgetary requirements and efforts to ensure cost recovery.
The final motion was co-introduced with Martinez and Councilman Gil Cedillo and directs the City of Los Angeles Department of Tourism to report on preparations to host the event and whether the city should highlight its leadership on the themes discussed at the summit, in particular sustainable growth, economic recovery. of COVID-19, youth development and immigration.
The United States has not hosted the summit since its inaugural meeting in Miami in 1994. This year’s summit, which is the ninth of its kind, was originally scheduled for 2021 but was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 19.
Los Angeles has submitted a bid to host the summit in September. In announcing that the city would host the summit, Mayor Eric Garcetti’s office noted that Los Angeles has the largest Latin American population in the United States – as well as many diaspora populations – the third busiest airport in the world , the busiest port in the Western Hemisphere and the third largest consular corps in the world.
“Los Angeles has a rich history of bringing the world together to share ideas and celebrate what we all have in common as members of the global community,” Garcetti said.
“With our deep cultural and economic ties throughout the hemisphere, LA is the perfect host for this gathering, and we know this gathering will benefit our communities and our local economy. I am grateful to the Biden administration for selecting our candidacy, and I am delighted to host the summit in our city.
According to the US State Department, the meeting promotes regional cooperation and helps address the region’s most pressing issues, including increasing economic competitiveness, improving access to technology, combating human trafficking and the promotion of democracy and human rights throughout the Americas.
At the last summit, held in Peru in 2018, leaders from the region pledged to fight corruption, according to the US State Department.
