Jack Kyser say's he is ready to retire

DOWNEY - Longtime Downey resident and respected Los Angeles County Economic Development Corp. (LAEDC) economist Jack Kyser has announced his retirement effective June 25. In a June 16 phone interview, he said that after his official retirement date he will work on an hourly basis on the LAEDC mid-year economic forecast due out on July 21, which will outline his final prognostications for LAEDC's Kyser Center for Economic Research, the research facility named after him in 2008. He has since been called its founding economist. At age 76, the always accommodating, amiable, and soft-voiced Downey High School product says it's time to slow down a bit, but he will "still be around" as a consultant and perhaps do special projects, or otherwise "engage in a couple of other options." The MBA grad who has for decades been the leading economic analyst in Southern California and a frequent presence in the press, on radio and on TV, says on the whole he's optimistic about the chances of a rebound in the regional economy, although it may "lag a little bit." He sees the tourism, international trade, and technology sectors spearheading the rebound. "There is money being spent on infrastructure," he said, "There is significant construction activity going on at LAX, on Exposition Boulevard (light rail project), as well as at the two ports (container terminals, etc.)." The housing sector is still being hurt by the state deficit of $19 billion, he continued, while the state caused dislocations in local city finances when it diverted redevelopment funds for its own use. Kyser, who is a regular habitué at Stox restaurant on Imperial Highway, was quoted in a recent L.A. Times as saying, "I'm looking forward to being able to sleep in late, but I will be watching what's going on in the local economy."

********** Published: June 17, 2010 - Volume 9 - Issue 9