Los Angeles County economic guru Jack Kyser has died, the Southern California Association of Governments announced. Kyser was most recently chief economic advisor for SCAG and was former chief economist of the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation. “We at the LAEDC are deeply saddened by the passing of our beloved colleague and true friend, Jack Kyser,” the organization’s president and CEO Bill Allen said in a statement. “Jack was a tireless champion of Los Angeles County. He loved the county’s varied communities, its diverse people and the boundless opportunities available here. The statement by the organization said Kyser was dubbed as the “Guru,” the “Godfather,” and the “voice of the Los Angeles economy.” He was known for his ability to articulate complex economic concepts and issues into simple and understandable terms. Kyser joined the LAEDC in 1991, building up the organization’s economic research practice in the years to follow. The organization named its economic department the Kyser Center for Economic Research in 2007 for his contributions. SCAG leaders also commended him for his work. “His passion, integrity, knowledge and devotion to the study of economics have aided in the development of countless public and private sector contributions,” SCAG released in a statement. “Jack’s unique ability to work across sectors and engage diverse groups of stakeholders will be admired and will surely be a part of his continued legacy.
