Councilman Bernard Parks

Councilman Bernard Parks (8th District)

The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce reported positive job growth in the Eighth District in their 2010 Los Angeles City Council District: 2010 Economic Report, presented during a City Council meeting on Wednesday.

Although the report contained generally dismal economic news, one notable exception was South LA’s Eighth Council District, represented by Councilmember Bernard C. Parks.

According to the report, District 8 has weathered the start of the recession better than the rest of the city, adding 1.7 % more jobs in 2008 and 2.4 % more in 2009. No other district reported positive job growth in 2009.

“I am thrilled that our efforts to attract new businesses to the Eight District and improve the business climate have been so successful,” Councilmember Parks said. “While this growth is promising news, we have much more work to do to provide incentives for businesses to locate in the Eighth as well as cut out the needless bureaucratic red tape that discourages so many entrepreneurs from starting new businesses and taking risks.”

Average wages paid in the district have also shown strong growth over the last four years, a 5.1 % wage increase in 2009 alone.

The 8th Council District includes the communities of Baldwin Hills, Crenshaw, Leimert Park, West Adams, Jefferson Park, Angeles Mesa, Chesterfield Square, Hyde Park, Park Mesa Heights and other areas of South Los Angeles.