Issue Position: Keeping Critical Industries in California

Issue Position

Ben understands the importance of creating a competitive tax-incentive program to not only keep critical industries from leaving California but to encourage these industries to relocate and start up in California. These critical industries include the technology sector, scientific and medical research, manufacturing, and the entertainment industry.

The $17 billion dollar a year entertainment industry has created hundreds of thousands of jobs in Southern California and plays a pivotal role in our local and state economy. But runaway production threatens this critical industry and has led to the loss of good paying jobs.

In order to secure entertainment industry jobs for our residents, California must remain competitive by offering tax incentives that will retain television and film production within Los Angeles.

That is why Ben is supporting Assembly Bill 1839, authored by Assemblyman Raul Bocanegra, to combat runaway production in the entertainment industry. The bill will offer competitive tax credits for major film productions and incentivize companies to stay in California and avoid the costs associated with relocation. Ben will also support efforts to reward those who invest in television and film production that occurs in California and entertainment industry companies that stay in California. With the right public policy, we can maintain Los Angeles as the entertainment industry capital of the globe

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