VICA Weekly: Nineteen for '19 Legislative Priorities

January 4, 2019

In This Issue

Renewing Members

VICA Calendar

Hot Issues

"I will lead the effort to develop the 3.5 million new housing units we need by 2025..."

- Governor-elect Gavin Newsom

Members

VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members

____________________

GOLD MEMBER

(2012)

(1993)

BRONZE MEMBER

(1996)

(2009)

(1998)

____________________

Bieber Lighting

(2017)

Coldwell Banker

(2008)

Fiona Hutton & Associates

(2004)

Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association

(2010)

National Business Aviation Association

(2013)

Paris Industrial Parks

(1968)

Set Decorators Society of America

(2013)

Therapeutic Living Centers for the Blind

(2012)

V&A Inc.

(2014)

Valley Community Healthcare

(2000)

Calendar

The Week Ahead

Transportation Committee

Hosted by The Garland

Tuesday, Jan. 8

8:00 to 10:00 a.m.

The Garland

4222 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood

Click here to RSVP

Nonprofit Committee

Hosted by Child Care Resource Center

Thursday, Jan 10

8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Child Care Resource Center

20001 Prairie Street, Chatsworth

Click here to RSVP

After Dark with State Assemblymember Luz Rivas

Thursday, Jan. 10

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Anheuser-Busch

15800 Roscoe Blvd., Van Nuys

Click here to RSVP

Save The Date

Government Affairs Committee

Wednesday, Jan 16

Please note new time: 8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

VICA Office

16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys

Click here to RSVP

Sacramento Advocacy Day

Wednesday, Jan. 23

Sacramento

Click here to RSVP

Ambassador Committee

Tuesday, Jan 29

8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

VICA Office

16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys

Click here to RSVP

Labor & Employment Committee

Hosted by Hilton Universal City

Wednesday, Feb. 6

8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

Hilton Universal City

555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City

Click here to RSVP

Education Committee

Thursday, Feb. 7

8:30 to 10:00 a.m.

VICA Office

16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys

Click here to RSVP

Host or sponsor this committee by clicking here

VIEW FULL CALENDAR HERE

Hot Issues

Special Election

Candidates are starting to line up to fill the Los Angeles City Council seat vacated by Mitchell Englander. The special election to replace Englander will take place in June.

Early Childhood Education

Governor-elect Gavin Newsom plans to propose spending nearly $2 billion on an array of programs designed to boost California's enrollment in early education and child-care programs.

New Year, New Laws

Bills passed by the legislature in the 2018 session went into effect on January 1. New laws encompass everything from offshore drilling to wildfire mitigation.

Marijuana

After a year of legal marijuana sales, the states effort to create a unified multi-billion dollar cannabis industry remains a work in progress. With many communities banning marijuana sales, and a choppy state roll out, the industry has seen a mix of success and struggle.

Education

The Los Angeles Unified School District and the teachers union have agreed to meet Monday for negotiations to avert a planned teacher strike on January 10. VICA has urged both sides to come to an agreement to avoid a strike.

Government Shutdown

Congress is no closer to a deal despite a House vote to end a government shutdown that is stretching into its third week. Congressional leaders will meet with President Trump today to see if they can reach a compromise.

Our members voted, and we have listened. After months of suggestions from our policy committees, input from our board of directors, and a vote by our general membership, VICA is proud to release its 2019 Legislative Priorities. These are the top nineteen local and state policy issues that will shape VICA's advocacy efforts for 2019:

VICA will support the development of housing at all economic levels to address homelessness and the workforce housing crisis in Los Angeles.
VICA will push to reform and streamline the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
VICA will oppose attempts to raise the statewide cap on local sales and use taxes.
VICA will lead the effort for business tax reform in the City of Los Angeles, including implementation of the Business Tax Advisory Council's recommended plan to halve rates within five years and eliminate the onerous tax altogether within fifteen years.
VICA will work to support acceleration of all Measure M-funded Metro projects.
VICA will work to ensure the state definition of 'High Quality Transit' is sensitive to Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, and reevaluated to include Bus Rapid Transit projects and other transit options.
VICA will support the development of sports and recreational infrastructure in the Valley during preparations for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games.
VICA will call for the reinstatement of the flexible work week that allows individual employees to request deviation from the 8-hour, five-day state mandate.
VICA will advocate for a minimum 65-day right to cure period before a lawsuit can be filed against an employer under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).
VICA will push for financial penalties to be assessed in response to fraudulent workers compensation claims.
VICA will work to increase existing and identify new funding sources for clean air programs that protect public health while supporting business growth.
VICA will work to enhance and tighten statutory time limits related to project approval and ensure they are properly enforced at the local level.
VICA will promote a diverse resource mix, including natural gas, renewable gas and electricity, to preserve consumer choice, ensure reasonable, reliable energy service and also protect us from the drawbacks of reliance on a single energy delivery system.
VICA will support increased career technical, vocational and computer science funding in schools.
VICA will work to ensure that federal funding remains in place for community health centers, which will guarantee access to care and protect tens of thousands of jobs.
VICA will advocate for local streamlining of costly and time-consuming barriers to film, television and commercial production in Los Angeles.
VICA will support legislation which limits the time period after termination in which a workers compensation claim can be filed.
VICA will work to increase reimbursement levels for Medi-Cal and Medicare to retain quality healthcare in California.
VICA will work to amend the minimum salary threshold for exempt employees so that it is not linked to the minimum wage.

Join VICA for Access D.C.!

Join more than 200 civic and business leaders for the region's premier advocacy trip to the nation's capitol. Attendees will meet with members of Congress and senior Administration officials on priorities important to Southern California.

Trip Dates:

March 11-13

Early Bird registration fee: $850 (before February 8)

Registration fee after February 8: $950

Click here to reserve your spot for Access D.C.

Sacramento Advocacy Day

Wednesday, January 23

Wednesday, February 13

VICA's regular advocacy trips to the state capitol are crucial to ensuring the voice of the business community is heard by legislators. Join us for our first trip of the year.

These member-only trips allow direct interaction with state elected officials and create the freedom for discussion on issues that are vital to our members. Join VICA in Sacramento for one of our monthly advocacy trips. Don't miss this opportunity to be heard on how legislation affects your company.

Click here to RSVP

California State Assemblymember

Luz Rivas

Thursday, January 10, 2019

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

Anheuser-Busch

15800 Roscoe Boulevard,

Van Nuys

Join VICA for our upcoming After Dark, featuring California State Assemblymember Luz Rivas. Attendees enjoy hosted drinks and appetizers as they meet and interact with other prominent business leaders from the community. VICA After Darks are complimentary to VICA members.

Non-members who are interested in attending are encouraged to contact Helene@vica.com.

Click here to RSVP.

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 Helene@vica.com or

call (818) 817-0545.

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.