California IN BRIEF : SAN FRANCISCO : Wilson Urges Less Control on Business

Ignoring a gay rights protest outside, Gov. Pete Wilson on Wednesday urged city officials from around the state to create local councils to study ways to loosen government controls on the business community. Wilson, delivering a campaign-style speech touting his record when polls show his popularity slipping, said California needs a combined state and local effort to help improve the business environment. “We must be partners in identifying and removing obstacles, burdens, costs and delays that artificially constrain California’s economic activity and cost our state needed jobs,” Wilson told delegates to the annual convention of the League of California Cities. The Republican governor urged the city officials to create “competitive councils” to complement a panel he intends to name to study state business issues, including workers’ compensation and civil liability laws.