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Serving the San Fernando Valley cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, San Fernando, and Santa Clarita
Valley Industry & Commerce Association || vica.com
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- VICA Visits Sacramento on Two-Day Advocacy Trip
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"California is transforming education to make schools a place where every family and student can succeed. Today we are expanding community schools across the state, offering everything from free meals twice a day, to mental health counseling, to before, after, and summer school programs to thousands more students."
Governor Gavin Newsom
Statement on the State Board of Education approving nearly $1.3 billion in grants to transform thousands of California schools into community schools
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VICA Visits Sacramento on Two-Day Advocacy Trip | |
From Left to Right: VICA President Stuart Waldman, Dulce Vasquez (Arizona State University), Jim Theiring (Mission Community Hospital), Josh Warner and Nancy Hoffman Vanyek (Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce), Tom Ross (Tekwerks) | |
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On Wednesday, VICA and the Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce traveled to Sacramento on a two-day joint advocacy trip to meet with elected officials.
The VICA and GSFV Chamber Delegation met with various legislators, including State Senators Ben Allen, Steven Bradford, Josh Newman, and Scott Wilk, as well as Assemblymembers Juan Alanis, James Gallagher, Pilar Schiavo, and Tri Ta. They also met with the staffs of Senators Toni Atkins, Catherine Blakespear, Lena Gonzalez, Melissa Hurtado, Caroline Menjivar, Rosilicie Ochoa-Bogh, and Tom Umberg, along with the offices of Assemblymembers Josh Hoover, Blanca Rubio, Miguel Santiago, Lori Wilson.
During the advocacy trip, members discussed their support for various initiatives, including measures to mitigate organized retail crime throughout the state and extending the deadline for acute care hospitals to comply with seismic safety standards. The Delegation also voiced their opposition to anti-business efforts such as establishing a statewide single-payer healthcare system, creating harmful ordinances to regulate autonomous vehicle (AV) services, and implementing harmful updates to the Employment Training Panel (ETP).
The Delegation also attended the California Chamber of Commerce's (CalChamber) 2024 Capitol Summit & Host Breakfast, which offered attendees an opportunity to hear from policy makers on solutions to navigating our evolving policy environment. Guests included Sacramento Host Committee Chair Benjamin F. Carter, CalChamber Chair Greg Bielli, The Honorable Willie Brown, and Governor Gavin Newsom.
|  | From Left to Right: VICA President Stuart Waldman, Maricela Gomez (Jacobs), Senator Scott Wilk, Jim Theiring (Mission Community Hospital) | From Left to Right: Michael Fiore (GSFV Chamber), Humberto Estratalán (UNITE-LA), VICA President Stuart Waldman, Maricela Gomez (Jacobs), Tom Ross (Tekwerks), Assemblymember Isaac Bryan | VICA and GSFV Chamber Members with Assemblymember Tri Ta | VICA and GSFV Chamber Members with Assemblymember Juan Alanis | VICA and GSFV Chamber Members with Assemblymember James Gallagher | |
Governor Gavin Newsom and Jennifer Barrera (CalChamber) | |
VICA Accepts CalChamber Award for Business Advocacy | |
From Left to Right: Janet Liang (CalChamber), VICA Chairman Lupita Sanchez Cornejo (AT&T), VICA President Stuart Waldman, Jennifer Barrera (CalChamber) | |
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While attending the CalChamber's Capitol Summit & Host Breakfast, VICA was a proud recipient of their 2024 Advocacy Champion Award.
The award, which was established in 2023, is meant to recognize local chambers of commerce that have demonstrated excellence in business advocacy. VICA Chairman and AT&T Director of External Affairs Lupita Sanchez Cornejo accepted the award on our behalf.
Advocacy Champions published vote records of their state legislators on key business issues, joined coalition efforts to let state elected officials know about community sentiment on issues of interest to members, voiced the local chamber’s position at legislative policy committee hearings, and met with state elected officials on important policy issues.
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VICA President Stuart Waldman and Lupita Sanchez Cornejo (AT&T) alongside fellow 2024 Advocacy Champions | |
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VICA After Dark with LAPD Deputy Chief Ruby Flores and LA City Councilman John Lee
Tuesday, May 14
5:30 - 7:30 PM
PALS - LAPD Devonshire Youth Center
(8721 Wilbur Ave, Northridge)
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In January 2024, Deputy Chief Ruby Flores became the first Latina promoted to Deputy Chief within the LAPD, and the first woman to lead the Operations-Valley Bureau - the largest command within the Department, spanning Devonshire, Foothill, Mission, North Hollywood, Topanga, Van Nuys, and West Valley.
Deputy Chief Flores is the President of the Los Angeles Women Police Officers and Associates, and she has also been honored with the prestigious "Champion of Women Award" by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2022. The Deputy is also a member of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the Police Executive Research Forum, the Latin American Law Enforcement Association, the California Peace Officers' Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
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LA Councilman John Lee (CD12) was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council during an August 2019 special election, and he was re-elected to his first full term in March 2020. As a CD12 resident of over 40 years with John found his passion for public service at an early age when he first began volunteering for local nonprofits while in middle school.
A lifelong public servant, Lee has been serving this community his entire adult life. His extensive understanding of the City’s legislative and budget processes and day-to-day operations gives him tremendous insight into what works and what doesn’t at City Hall. With an agenda focused on public safety, supporting local businesses, and providing core city services, Lee is committed to putting the neighborhoods of the Twelfth District first and ensuring that his constituents have a voice at City Hall.
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Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be provided by Presenting Sponsor & Host
LAPD Devonshire PALS.
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VICA Congressional Officeholders Breakfast
Thursday, May 30
8:30 to 10:30 AM
Burbank Airport Mariott
This event is a unique and fun opportunity to directly engage elected officials from Washington D.C., who represent the San Fernando Valley in a "Talk Show" format.
VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsor Amazon and
Co-Sponsors The Garland and SoCalGas.
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Congressman Tony Cardenas | |
Congresswoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove | |
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SPECIAL: International Trade Committee with Consul General of India: Dr. K Srikar Reddy
Tuesday, May 14
8:30 to 10:00 AM
At the VICA Office
RSVP
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Government Affairs
Committee
Wednesday, May 15
Noon to 2:00 PM
At the VICA Office
RSVP
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Transportation Committee
Tuesday, May 21
8:30 to 10:30 AM
Hosted by The Garland
RSVP
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VICA Thanks Our Renewing & New Members! | | |
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Renewing Members
Platinum Member
Gold Member
Silver Member
Bronze Member
Members
New Members
Bronze Member
Members
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TikTok Sues US Government to Prevent Potential Ban
TikTok sued the US government on Tuesday, claiming that a new law potentially banning the app violates the First Amendment rights to free speech. President Biden signed a bill last month that could ban the popular social media app in the US if Chinese owner ByteDance, doesn't sell its US operations by January 19, 2025. TikTok's legal battle with the US government revolves around national security and user privacy concerns due to its Chinese ownership. The app, launched internationally in 2017, has over 1 billion users worldwide and has become integral to small businesses and video creators' ecosystem.
Most LA Voters Considering Leaving City Due to Housing Costs
A majority of Los Angeles voters, including young adults and renters, are considering abandoning the city due to high housing costs, according to a poll conducted by Hart Research in partnership with the Los Angeles Times. Approximately 60% of Angelenos have considered leaving the city, with 35% seriously considering it, according to figures published on Wednesday. Concerns about homelessness and housing affordability are widespread, with 93% and 87% of respondents, respectively, viewing them as serious issues. These results come in the wake of worsening housing challenges across Los Angeles, with average rents for new listings increasing by nearly $400 and home values skyrocketing by more than a third since 2019.
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California Supreme Court Hears Arguments on Taxpayer Protection Act
The California Supreme Court heard arguments Wednesday regarding efforts to remove the Taxpayer Protection and Government Accountability Act from the November ballot. The Act, supported by business and taxpayer advocacy groups, would grant voters more authority in the taxation process by mandating final approval for future taxes and fees imposed by state and local governments. It would also annul new taxes and fees initiated since 2022 unless sanctioned by voters within a year of the act taking effect. The measure gathered 1,075,585 valid signatures to qualify for the 2024 ballot, although lawyers for Newsom and other Democrats argued it would be unconstitutional by removing power from the legislature and governor.
US House Blocks Bid to Remove Speaker Mike Johnson
Speaker Mike Johnson successfully defeated Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene's attempt to remove him from his post, with overwhelming bipartisan support in the House. The 359-43 vote in favor of blocking Greene's motion, was a unique bipartisan effort largely credited to the Speaker previously reaching across the aisle to avert a government shutdown and default on the nation’s debt. Greene's attempt, despite objections from some right-wing House members, stemmed from his push for a $95 billion national security spending package, including aid for Ukraine.
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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 yoko@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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