KTLA News: "Mayor Tom Bradley’s press conference on revenue and the Olympics" (1979)

[Mayor Tom Bradley] Has been as accessible as... we are seeking additional  access to the sales tax which is collected in [Silence]. [Bradley] We are seeking additional  access to the sales tax which is collected in the state as a long-term, predictable source of  revenue for the cities of California. That issue is, in my judgment, one of the most important  facing the cities in California. In Washington, the question of the grants which we have received,  now ranging over $800 million dollars a year, is in large measure due to the travels which I've made  to Washington and my advocacy of these programs. [Silence]. I think any politician in this country, whenever  I've had an inquiry from the press, which they wanted my direct response, have always been  able to get it. I don't remember any instance when in which I have not returned a call, not to  answer the question, not been available. That has always been true and it always will  be true as far as I'm concerned. Now you... [Unidentified Reporter] What took so long to set up this (unintelligible)... boards and their time for quite some time. I don't know how long you've been trying but I  know that as quickly as I could fit it into my schedule, I do have a number of things to do, but  as soon as I could fit it into my schedule, I did. [Unidentified Reporter] Mayor... are you spending too much time out of the city travelling? Let me put the travel into its proper context. I have always pledged to travel on behalf of the interests of the city. I make Washington and Sacramento my primary targets because the long-term financial interests of this city is  uppermost in my mind. The question of long-term financing from the State of California - it's going to be one of the critical issues facing us this year. I've been working on that matter  as Vice President of the League of California Cities for some time. ...has just asked me to assume the Co- Chairmanship of a task force on revenue sharing. That issue is going to be up for reauthorization next year. It is critical to... ...our financial problems would be very difficult and... We have been able to survive for three principal reasons: One is that the state surplus which we were told would not be available to any city in California and that was just a week before the June 6 election uh...with our efforts in lobbying we were able to get $250 million dollars distributed to the cities. Los Angeles got about $82 million of that; We froze hiring. We have not continued filling positions that became vacant. We now have something like  2,000 positions that are vacant; We did not give a salary increase. With those measures  taken we have been able to get through this year without any major disruption, without any massive layoffs. Next year we're hoping to get some of the surplus which is uh... developed in Sacramento and if we do, that we'll help. We're going to make it, I'm confident. But we have already suffered a loss  in services and that will continue as we get by with reduction in our revenues from the property  tax base amounting to one-fourth of our budget. [Unidentified Reporter] Mayor, it... it seems that a lot of precious community... ...because of this prior understanding which  we had reached. I don't think it was directed at California cities. It was, I think, the outgrowth... [Bradley] ...yesterday agreed with us that we should have an extension. They've now given us until April  1st so that a smooth and careful... ...committee, the Los Angeles organizing group and the IOC met  in Lausanne on the 29th of January and there was agreement in principle on the question,  the remaining question, of how the liability issue was going to be resolved- the assumption  of liability between the Los Angeles organizing committee and the U.S. Olympic Committee. That was agreed upon. They now have to put it in writing. The U.S. Olympic Committee will vote on that on the  10th of February and it is my guess that it will be approved and that the agreement...2nd agreement...  will then be signed with the IOC and we'll proceed with the planning for the Games. I again want to  point out we were very pleased that throughout our position has been that the City of Los Angeles  and its taxpayers would not be financially liable for the promotion of the Games. there is no longer any argument about that. That's a fact. [Unidentified Reporter] Mayor, is there still a possibility that the... [Silence]. ...No one had yet talk with Father Boulder  to determine whether or not he would take it . When they called him to advise him, he said, "I'm  sorry but I simply cannot do it for a variety of reasons" and the whole thing looked as though  it was going to fall apart. 10 o'clock that Saturday night when I was contacted and told that  development I called Father Boulder and talked to him at length. Told him of the importance of his  accepting that designation and nomination and he said he would sleep on it and call me back the  following morning. He did. He finally agreed to take the position. Now, that's the kind of style in  which you'll find Tom Bradley involved in many issues affecting this community. I may not be the  the style or the pattern that some people would like but it's been very effective for me and it's  been true in situation after situation. I think it works. I believe that that the question of getting  a resolution to a problem is more important than Tom Bradley getting a headline or getting the credit for it. I know my staff sometimes pulls their hair because I have not issued a press  release saying that I did this or I did that or I am taking credit for a certain achievement but I believe that it's more important in many cases that you exercise leadership without  it showing, without claiming credit for it. The ultimate result... I...again, will meet with the  press individually or in a group uh... based upon availability and based upon your desire. Anytime  you've got something you want to ask me and you want to ask it direct, there are times when it is  something which in just as easily be conveyed to you by my press representatives but if there's  something you want to talk to me about and you feel that you've got to hear it directly from me,  don't hesitate, say that, and I'll respond to you wherever it is. don't hesitate...say that...and I'll respond to you wherever it is. [Unidentified Reporter] Mayor Bradley, in recent weeks it's come to light both through the media and some [unintelligible]...