Zócalo Public Square

Los Angeles isn’t fantasizing when it calls itself America’s creative capital: 355,000 jobs are directly tied to the city’s creative industries, and 620,000 jobs are related in some way. But just because creativity is one of Los Angeles’ defining features doesn’t mean it doesn’t have to be defended. Economist and principal contributor of the Otis Report on the Creative Economy Kimberly Ritter-Martinez, City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural affairs general manager Danielle Brazell, and Maker City L.A. co-founder Sharon Ann Lee joined moderator Lisa Fung, the founding editor of the "Los Angeles Times Culture Monster," in a panel sponsored by the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs on what Los Angeles needs to do to hold onto its creative edge.