Political Expert Addresses Los Angeles Alarm Group

STUDIO CITY, Calif.

October 22, 2003 SSI Staff

Electronic security leaders shouldn’t expect to say “hasta la vista” to the problems coming from Sacramento with the rise of Arnold Schwarzenegger to California governor. So says Cal State Fullerton political professor Richard Groper who was the keynote speaker at the Greater Los Angeles Security Alarm Association’s (GLASAA) general meeting on Oct. 21.

Addressing how the leadership change will affect the alarm industry and other businesses through alleviating the state’s economic woes, Groper says Schwarzenegger will find too many programs locked in and unable to be cut. Despite that, he says the recall of Gov. Gray Davis and the ascension of the “Terminator” actor is significant for the message it sent.

“We’ve been known for our craziness, but there are times in our craziness where we take back our government. This is one of those times,” says Groper, who is running next year for the California Assembly. “Is [Schwarzenegger] going to be able to terminate Sacramento? I’m not sure he’ll be able to do that, but this is a mini-revolution and that’s the message to take from this election.”

Groper, a Democrat, calls California the “least friendly business state” and blames trial lawyers for that climate. He also sees health care as becoming an issue for businesses and says the solution will need to come from the federal government. While not advocating a national health care system, Groper says businesses need help on the national level.

“We are burdening businesses with providing health care. We need a more holistic view. We have to look more to the national level,” Groper told the GLASAA meeting. “Not socialized medicine, but we as a country need to provide basic heath care to remove the burden from businesses.”

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