PALMDALE – Mayor Jim Ledford encouraged business owners to be optimistic despite economic conditions that forced the city this year to eliminate public events, decrease services, increase fees and lay off workers. Even though the economic downturn has cost the city about $20 million in revenue, Palmdale has added numerous businesses in the past 18 months and expects to add even more, Ledford told members of the Palmdale Chamber of Commerce on Wednesday. For the full story click here