Dear Los Angeles.....

Dear Los Angeles....To all my friends and colleagues in Los Angeles, I have some good news for you in what has to be one of the more painful moments in California's history: Los Angeles is not over. Far from it. You WILL recover, but you will do much more than that......you will recover, and rebuild, BETTER!

I am no fortune teller: ?all I have to do is look at Ground Zero in Manhattan to know that it's in our DNA to rebuild bigger, better, smarter. We in New York City have also been told several times that our city is 'over'....'dead!' L.A. is not dead either. Far from it. Neither is Miami or Venice because of flooding. Neither is Oklahoma City blown away by a tornado. And yes, the imminent death?of San Francisco appears to be somewhat exaggerated?too. All will take time. Honest evaluation. And it will cost lots of time, sweat and tears. And then it will be magical again. Los Angeles is the impossible, miraculous city where dreams come true. Like?all big cities it deals with equally big, complex, costly challenges. Who can show me another city that has grown over 8X in population in a century without big?challenges? What has been created in the past century is unreal, spectacular, magical, magnificent. A very small percent of this impossible dream has been brutalized, but I'm extremely hopeful and confident that it will be rebuilt with a new wealth of knowledge, awareness, tenacity, creativity..... and blow us all away.

Nature can be ruthless and cruel at times. As can humans. Nature does not discriminate. The vast majority of this world is rooting for your success. You have given the world the gift of magic via the movie and television business, not to mention a host of other industries where you lead the world with an economy larger than all of Switzerland's. You have given millions of kids around the globe laughter and joy via Mickey Mouse. Around 50 million people visit LA annually for a taste of the American dream, California sunshine, palm trees and so much more. Now it's time for us to return that gift with our full support and kindness.

Wishing all in Los Angeles only the very best future.