The Society for the Promotion of Japanese Animation (SPJA) is the parent organization of Anime Expo, and Anime Expo has historically generated significant economic impact for Los Angeles (estimates have ranged in the tens of millions in past years). However, the specific figure of $55 million annually requires verification against the most recent economic impact reports from SPJA or the Los Angeles tourism/convention authorities. Without access to the 2025–2026 official report, the exact figure cannot be confirmed with high certainty, though the general scale is plausible.

Eric Garcetti served as Los Angeles mayor from 2013 to 2022, so he could not have made a statement as mayor in May 2026. Additionally, while Anime Expo’s economic impact is often cited around $50‑$55 million, the exact $55 million yearly figure is not consistently verified for every year.