2000

AL GORE

Former Vice President of the United States

DEMOCRATIC NATIONAL CONVENTION

I was thrilled that Los Angeles hosted the Democratic National Convention in 2000—thanks in no small part to the efforts of Eli and Edye Broad. I first met the Broads in the 1980s and was inspired by their shared commitment to making a difference, both in their adopted hometown of L.A. and across the country.

Leading up to the Democratic National Committee’s selection of host city, Eli was effective in relentlessly making the case that Los Angeles was on the rise: it had a particularly diverse population, it embraced new industries, and it had emerged from the tumultuous 1990s with a unique spirit and vision. My thinking was that Los Angeles would give us a national platform to reach a broad audience, and it did.

At the time, California had a Republican governor and Los Angeles had a Republican mayor. That made Los Angeles hosting the convention feel even more momentous, and I was honored to accept my party’s nomination as presidential candidate there. My acceptance speech was followed by one of the largest postconvention “bounces” in the polls ever recorded.

Today Los Angeles is a transformed city, still very much living up to the promise the committee gambled on. As a dedicated advocate for smart climate policy, I’ve been particularly impressed at Los Angeles’s efforts to push for greater sustainability, improved building and water efficiency, and reduced greenhouse gas emissions from transportation. Los Angeles is a leader in growing the use of electric vehicles, and it is home to more electric charging stations than any city in the country.

Los Angeles’s willingness to confront the climate crisis plays no small part in the city’s urban renaissance and is a reflection of its pioneering spirit. It’s a model for revitalizing and redeveloping city centers to attract residents and businesses while also reducing a city’s impact on the climate. When the convention was broadcast into homes across America, there was an almost contagious sense that together we can do big things that will change the world, and maybe even save it.