Valley Industry & Commerce Association |
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- VICA PAC Endorsements
- June 7 Ballot Measure - Support Local Bid Preference
- VICA Advocates for Landlord Security
- Stop Government Interference at Kids Camps
- Single-Use Plastic Ordinance Adopted at LA City Council
- VICA Victory: NoHo to Pasadena Transit Corridor Approved
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"Sometimes I’ll write what I think is an amazing tweet about a very important policy point and get only a few likes or retweets. But an evening observation that scotch and peanut butter make a tasty combination will yield astronomical engagement." |
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Congressmember Ted Lieu
Statement in regard to a study conducted on politicians' tweets.
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VICA PAC Announces Endorsements |
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The VICA PAC has endorsed the following candidates:
Los Angeles City Council - District 3
Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
Los Angeles City Council - District 7
Councilmember Monica Rodriguez
Los Angeles City Council - District 13
Councilmember Mitch O'Farrell
Los Angeles City Council - District 15
Tim McOsker
The PAC will continue to meet with candidates from other races to determine further endorsements.
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VICA Supports Local Bid Preference for LA City |
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The VICA Board officially supports the City of LA Ballot Measure: BB, which would amend the City Charter by adding “City of Los Angeles” to the definition of “local.”
The City Charter provides that competitive bid City contracts be awarded to the lowest responsive and responsible bidder. It currently provides for a bid preference for businesses that are local.
Charter Amendment BB would amend the City Charter by adding “City of Los Angeles” to the definition of “local.” Therefore, the City would then be permitted to provide an additional bid preference for businesses which are located within the geographic boundaries of the City of Los Angeles.
Los Angeles is one of the ten most expensive places in the country to do business. Smaller cities have a competitive advantage because they do not have the same costs for doing business. Local bid preferences have assisted local municipalities in setting and achieving social policy goals. Local tax dollars spent in a local economy generate jobs and income for the City.
Charter Amendment BB would level the playing field for businesses located in the City of Los Angeles by allowing the City to provide an additional scoring preference for those businesses located in the City of Los Angeles. This means that businesses in the City of Los Angeles - paying City of LA wages, rents, insurance, and business tax - receive the same point reference on contracting bids as a business operating in Alhambra, Lancaster, Santa Clarita or Torrance.
In advance of large regional and global events like the World Cup and 2028 Olympics, this will help bring local businesses into regional supply chains and create much needed economic growth and jobs.
The Measure will appear on the June 7 ballot.
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VICA Advocates for Landlord Security |
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The VICA Board of Directors voted to oppose the Los Angeles City Council Proposal Package: Fair Access for Renters, which would prohibit screening prospecting tenants based on their criminal, eviction, or credit histories.
There are some security concerns with provisions included in this proposal. There have been similar efforts to prevent landlords from considering potential renters’ criminal records in the past, and yet none have been fruitful. There is a reason for that. Nobody will ever rent out their apartments if they cannot check on something like whether somebody has a criminal record. It is a security threat, especially for those in the surrounding community. This proposal accomplishes nothing to get homeless people off the streets, build more homes that Angelenos can afford, or ensure that existing tenants are protected from criminal neighbors. This is a continued demonstration that some council members are out of touch.
This package ensures fair access for renters with criminal backgrounds, irresponsible credit histories, and other qualities that make for a bad tenant and a bad neighbor, while unjustly punishing renters with clean records.
Analyzing a credit report is not about determining whether a person is high income or low-income. It demonstrates how an individual has managed debt in the past. It demonstrates the level of risk the individual poses to a borrower or to a rental property owner. If an individual has a history of making on-time payments and managing debt responsibly, they will likely have good credit.
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VICA Fights Against Government Interference at Kids Camps |
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VICA officially opposes Assembly Bill 1737 (Holden) which would establish onerous, expensive and duplicative rules and regulations for camps.
While AB 1737 has noble intent, it is too broad and vague, and could potentially do more harm than good. The definition of children’s camp in this bill is broad, potentially including regularly offered public library programs and events. This would set a precedent for DPH interfering with already safe and successful local services. Additionally, the AB 1737 does not clarify who is responsible for carrying the enforcement of this bill and states that cities are not the right entities to be overseeing these types of requirements.
For cities to monitor every children's camp in their community, they would have to hire additional staff to do these inspections and update records and data management systems to track and compile the information for these required reports. This is at a time when many cities are continuing to face staffing challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic. AB 1737 imposes the regulatory burden on cities which, historically, have not had the responsibility or infrastructure to manage public health.
Further, the bill requires a medical staff person on site at all times or an inspection by health officials during camp. Most camps in suburban and urban areas are within minutes of emergency care and hospitals and have paramedic’s services close by, so there is no need for there to be any onsite. Also, it would be difficult to find the appropriate number of medical staff to be able to perform the duties.
Local Health Agencies (LHA) exists to protect communities from public health threats, including but not limited to infectious diseases, climate-related illness, and chronic diseases and their expertise does not include enforcing appropriate child supervision measures. For the serious responsibility of enforcing child supervision measures, camps should defer to the experts, not LHA. Finally, expanding local health department responsibilities beyond the scope of LHA’s expertise is of concern.
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LA City Council Adopts Plastic Reduction - VICA Expresses Strong Opposition |
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The City Council unanimously approved more than a dozen measures Wednesday to tighten restrictions on plastic bags, utensils, food containers and other disposables with a goal of making Los Angeles a “zero waste” city.
The measures, 14 in all, direct the city attorney to draft ordinances to expand the already existing plastic bag ban and bind city government to uphold zero-waste endeavors across its facilities and events, among other initiatives.
The VICA Legislative Team expressed its concerns about the potential negative impacts of the policies recommended in the LA Sanitation report on various motions to reduce single use plastics.
While VICA understands the goals of reducing plastic litter and debris, it is not clear that these policies will lead to a decrease in littler, increase in diversion from landfills or reduce greenhouse gases.
These policies will significantly impact small businesses in a broad range of industries – especially mom and pop restaurants that are barely surviving. The proposed policies will ban products that are efficient, effective, and affordable. There is an opportunity to develop meaningful and impactful recycling policies that considers the environmental attributes of various products in the market.
Instead, the report does not recommend improving our recycling infrastructure, but reduces the materials the city recycles. These policies don’t look at the full lifecycle pros and cons nor does it look at innovating technologies for waste reduction. These policies must be thought through, and stakeholders must have a seat at the table as these policies are being developed. To-Go Plastic affordability has been a lifeline for businesses during the pandemic, as many have had to adjust to changing mandates and amend procedures to keep staff safe.
This ordinance will shift the responsibility of plastic recycling efforts from the City to the businesses at a time when rising costs of eco-friendly packaging could push restaurants over the edge.
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VICA Victory: Metro Approves NoHo to Pasadena Transit Corridor |
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Yesterday, the Metro Board of Directors voted to approve the Final Environmental Impact Report (FEIR) for one of VICA's top transportation priorities, the North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit Corridor Project.
VICA President, Stuart Waldman, expressed his full support, stating the corridor will connect the communities of North Hollywood and Eagle Rock to Burbank, Glendale, and Pasadena, improving access to jobs, education, and other important destinations.
This 19-mile corridor is one of the region’s most heavily traveled corridors without a premium bus service. The Transit Corridor Project fills that gap.
Connecting the San Fernando Valley to the San Gabriel Valley, the project passes through several dense residential areas as well as many cultural, entertainment, shopping, and employment centers. It also passes by Pasadena City College.
This project is a critical part of Metro’s plan to improve transit in Southern California. It will advance a premium transit service that is more competitive with auto travel, improve accessibility to disadvantaged communities, and support community plans and transit oriented community goals.
Implementation of the project will make no significant impacts on community aesthetics, local resources, or local environment. This project will benefit intervalley travelers as well as the many businesses along the corridor.
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Sacramento Two-Day
Advocacy Trip
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VICA, in partnership with the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce, invite you to an exclusive two-day Sacramento advocacy trip.
Details as follows:
June 1 - June 2
Trip Agenda
Wednesday, June 1
- CalChamber Capitol Summit (10:00 AM - 1:15 PM)
- VICA Delegation Meetings
- Sacramento Host Reception (5:30 - 7:00 PM)
- The Host Reception is a networking opportunity for California business leaders from all industries to discuss key issues facing our great state with their elected officials.
- VICA Delegation Dinner (Optional)
Thursday, June 2
- 96th Annual Host Breakfast with Governor Gavin Newsom (7:30 - 9:00 AM)
- VICA Delegation Meetings
The cost of the trip is $215, which includes CalChamber Capitol Summit registration, reception, breakfast, lunch, VICA delegation meetings, VICA dinner, and group transportation between airport and Capitol (if at similar times). Cost of flight and hotel are not included.
For more information or to register, please email Cathy@vica.com or call 818.817.0545.
No Refunds after May 20, 2022.
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Click the image to learn more and apply today! |
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VICA Welcomes Our Renewing & New Members |
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Silver Member:
New Silver Member:
Bronze Member:
New Bronze Member:
Members:
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VICA Leaders Forum with Rick Caruso
Friday, May 6 | 12:00 PM
Sheraton Universal Hotel
Rick Caruso is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Caruso, an American real-estate company. He previously served as chair of the board of trustees at the University of Southern California and was president of the Los Angeles Police Commission and a member of the LADWP Commissioners.
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VICA SFV Business Hall of Fame
Friday, June 10 | 5:30 PM
Sheraton Universal Hotel
VICA invites you to the San Fernando Valley Hall of Fame Dinner.
Join VICA members, business leaders and officeholders, as we celebrate recognized businesses during a reception, program, dinner and dessert.
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VICA After Dark: LAFD Chief Kristen Crowley
Thursday, June 23 | 5:30 PM
FIVE on the Hill
VICA After Dark is a regular evening reception designed to give VICA members and guests the opportunity to hear updates about policies and legislation impacting the business community from a featured opinion leader and network with other prominent business leaders from the community.
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Labor & Employment Committee
Wednesday, May 4
8:30 - 10:30 AM
Hosted at the Hilton Universal City
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Education Committee
Thursday, May 5
8:30 - 10:00 AM
Hosted at Los Angeles Valley College
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Transportation Committee
Tuesday, May 10
8:30 - 10:30 AM
Hosted at The Garland
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Energy, Environment, Manufacturing & Utilities Committee
Sponsored by MWD
Wednesday, May 11
12:00 - 1:30 PM
VICA Office
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May Sacramento Advocacy Day
Tuesday, May 17
All Day
Sacramento, CA
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Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, May 18
12:00 - 2:00 PM
VICA Office
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Grist | April 21
SFVBJ | April 25
LA Times | April 27
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Gas Rebates
Millions of California families would receive cash rebates of $200 per person under a plan unveiled Thursday by state Senate Democrats, with additional boosts to those enrolled in government assistance programs and subsidies provided to small businesses that could be extended for a decade. The effort to divvy up the state’s towering tax surplus would be more far-reaching than recent proposals by Gov. Gavin Newsom and others to provide one-time cash payments in response to the recent spike in gas prices — ideas that have largely fallen flat at the state Capitol, even as a state gas tax increase looms on the horizon in July.
Online Betting
One of the measures Californians will likely get to vote on this fall does more than just allow betting on sports: Critics are concerned it will effectively block smaller gaming companies and startups from operating in the state. Those are high stakes for an industry that could rake in over $3.5 billion each year from California bettors — and for a state that prefers to see itself as the startup capital of the world. Of the four sports betting initiatives competing to make November’s ballot, one would allow gaming companies and Native American tribes to provide sports betting online across the state.
Medical Malpractice
Legislators and advocates on both sides have reached a deal, potentially averting a ballot measure that would have put the decision to voters. The agreement would replace the ballot measure with legislation raising the cap for a patient’s “non-economic damages,” or pain and suffering, although in a more incremental approach than the initiative would have. Under the legislative deal, starting Jan. 1, 2023, cases not involving a patient death will have a new limit of $350,000, with an increase over the next 10 years to $750,000 and a 2% annual adjustment for inflation after that. Meanwhile, cases involving a death will have an increased limit of $500,000 that will grow over the next 10 years to $1 million, with a 2% annual increase thereafter.
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Project Homekey
The Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles received $9.5 million from the state to purchase a 34-unit multi-family property and turn it into permanent supportive housing for people experiencing homelessness, Gov. Gavin Newsom announced on Wednesday, April 27. The building at 10150 Hillhaven Ave. in Tujunga will include on-site case management, service coordination, education and employment services and transportation, according to the governor’s office. Residents will have access to public transportation, a full-service grocery store, a health facility and a pharmacy within a half-mile.
Water
Millions of Southern California residents are bracing for less water and many brown lawns as drought and climate change leave a large swath of the region with a growing water shortage. In a remarkable indication of drought severity, officials with the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California have declared a first-of-its-kind action limiting outdoor water use to one day a week for nearly 6 million residents.
Much remains to be determined about how daily life will change as people adjust to a drier normal. But officials are warning the situation is dire and could lead to even more severe limits later in the year.
Housing
Across the state, Californians in search of more open space, a sense of community and affordable housing are trading city life in major urban centers like the Bay Area or Los Angeles for suburban and rural communities. A growing number of families have moved inland over the last few years, data show, but the migratory shift grew even more pronounced amid the pandemic as the barriers to moving dropped for many in large cities, spurred by a newfound ability to work remotely. Both Los Angeles and San Francisco saw sizable declines in population during the first year of the pandemic, census data show, underscoring how California’s housing crisis and other demographic forces are reshaping two of its largest cities.
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Are you interested in a Membership Spotlight?
Answer the below questions, send responses and a professional photo,
and we'll ensure your in the line up for 2022!
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MUST BE A CURRENT VICA MEMBER TO BE FEATURED!
Please keep each question response to 2-4 sentences maximum.
- Please share a bit about your background and a fun fact that people would love to learn, ie: scrapbooking is your favorite hobby, you were in a band, you have traveled around the world…
- What has been your organization’s largest accomplishment or efforts made over the past year?
- Please share how VICA has supported your business strategy or expanded your footprint with the business community?
Send responses and headshot to Peter Warda
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Member Messages
Get Your Message in VICA Weekly!
VICA members can promote their business, events and news in VICA Weekly. Member messages are available for $50 per week or $175 for four weeks. Messages are text-based and may not contain more than 70 words. A logo may be added for an additional $5 per week. For more information or to schedule your member message, contact cathy@vica.com or call (818) 817-0545.
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ABOUT VICA
Presenting the business perspective on behalf of employers in the
San Fernando Valley cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Calabasas,
Hidden Hills, San Fernando and Santa Clarita.
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