VICA (Virtually) Visits Sacramento During First Advocacy Day of 2021 |
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A delegation of VICA members and staff virtually "traveled" to Sacramento in January to speak with lawmakers and advocate for the San Fernando Valley business interests. If you weren't able to join us for the January Advocacy Day, click the links below to send letters to legislators and fight for the San Fernando Valley Business Community!
The following bills were discussed with Assemblymembers:
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Assembly Constitutional Amendment 1 - OPPOSE: Allows local governments to increase taxes with a 55% vote rather than two-thirds as required by the Constitution, making it easier to raise taxes, running counter to the goal of making the state more affordable.
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Assembly Bill 53 - OPPOSE: Establishes an unnecessary statewide Election Day holiday, requiring public schools to be closed and state employees a paid day off, which could make it harder for Californians to vote.
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Assembly Bill 95 - SUPPORT IF AMENDED: Requires employees to protect the basic human dignity to grieve by allowing bereavement leave, but includes a private right of action, which burdens already struggling businesses.
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Assembly Bill 230 - SUPPORT: Allows non-exempt employees to request a flexible work schedule of up to 10 hours per day within a 40-hour work week. This flexible scheduling will be imperative to reopening our economy with a new normal of physical distancing, transit distancing, and hybrid school schedules.
The following bills were discussed with Senators:
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Senate Bill 6 - SUPPORT and WORK WITH AUTHOR: Allows residential development on existing lots currently zoned for commercial office and retail spaces, improving housing shortfalls, but contains costly prevailing wage provisions.
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Senate Bill 7 - SUPPORT: Extends and expands the Jobs and Economic Improvement Through Economic Leadership Act until 2025, a crucial step to reach our housing goals and rebuild our economy.
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Senate Bill 9 - SUPPORT IF AMENDED: Streamlines the process of approving duplex construction or urban split lots and addresses the housing and homelessness crisis, but includes confusing language and provisions which needs to be revised.
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Senate Bill 10 - SUPPORT: Promotes housing development and gives local governments more autonomy to increase baseline zoning for residential properties by allowing cities to zone for up to 10 units per parcel in transit- or jobs-rich areas.
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Senate Bill 15 - SUPPORT IF AMENDED: Provides incentives to local governments to build housing on idle sites that contain commercial shopping centers or big box retailers, but contains damaging prevailing wage provisions.
VICA also expressed Concerns Regarding Independent Contractors to all elected representatives, asking them to continue negotiating and introducing bills to allow independent contractors to thrive in California. |
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Requesting Public Outreach for the County Eviction Moratorium |
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VICA urged the Board of Supervisors to begin meeting with stakeholders who would be impacted by extensions to the County eviction moratorium to ensure a fair balance. While VICA understands relief and protections should be provided to tenants, housing providers and rental property owners need to be considered as well when making these policy decisions. After 10 months with no substantive discussion on reasonable modifications to the moratorium, VICA asked the County to determine appropriate modifications to the moratorium, including providing more flexibility for owners to deal with nuisance and illegal behavior by tenants. |
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Voicing Concern for City and County "Hazard Pay" and "Hero Pay" Ordinances |
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In January, VICA urged the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and the Los Angeles City Council to complete thorough economic and policy analyses before voting on any Grocery "Hazard Pay" or "Hero Pay" ordinances. These $5 per hour Hazard Pay ordinances will do more harm than good for these workers. This week, the Kroger Co. announced the permanent closure of 25 percent of its stores in Long Beach following the Long Beach City Council ordinance imposing extra pay on grocery stores. These stores who were already struggling were pushed over the edge by increased cost from these policies, and the employees are now out of work. Los Angeles could see similar grocery store closures if the Board of Supervisors and the City Council pass these damaging "Hero Pay" and "Hazard Pay" ordinances. |
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VICA (VIRTUALLY) AROUND TOWN |
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VICA Legislative Affairs Manager Armando Flores and Legislative Affairs Associate Kayla Koerting attended a review of the proposed California State Budget with Director of the California Department of Finance Keely Martin Bosler.
VICA President Stuart Waldman, Vice President Jessica Yasukochi and VICA Membership Manager Shauna Carter attended the Valley of the Stars Gala with The Valley Economic Alliance.
VICA President Stuart Waldman attended the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce 2021 Inaugural Awards Program.
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VICA Legislative Affairs Manager Armando Flores and VICA President Stuart Waldman joined in for the State of the Port of Los Angeles.
VICA President Stuart Waldman participated in multiple meetings with the 2021 Los Angeles County Redistricting Commission.
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VICA Legislative Affairs Associate Kayla Koerting listened to a Lunch and Learn with Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel and LA Family Housing President Stephanie Klasky-Gamer.
VICA President Stuart Waldman attended January's Cedars-Sinai COVID-19 Update regarding Vaccines, Healthcare, and the Future Road Ahead.
VICA Legislative Affairs Manager Armando Flores attended the California State University Northridge Speaker Series: From CSUN to Senate with Steven Parker.
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Newsmaker Connection with LAPD Chief Michel Moore |
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Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore addresses members at VICA's Newsmaker Connection. |
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VICA welcomed Los Angeles Police Department Chief Michel Moore to our Virtual Newsmaker Connection this week. Chief Moore spoke on important issues, including public safety, impending budget cuts and the resurgence of violent crime in our neighborhoods. When asked what businesses can be doing about this public safety crisis, Chief Moore said, " to bring voice to this - as a business, as a stakeholder, as a community member, as an investor."
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, State Farm, for making this Newsmaker Connection with Los Angeles Police Chief Michel Moore possible.
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VICA After Dark with Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares |
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VICA Chair Brad Rosenheim leads a Q&A Session with Assemblymember Suzette Valladares |
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VICA welcomed Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares to our Virtual VICA After Dark on Tuesday. Valladares spoke of bipartisan solutions, support for people with disabilities, and enhanced early childhood education. She discussed plans to work with other lawmakers to resolve issues in our communities, saying that, "We can't be the party of no. We have to be the party of solutions."
Thank you to our Presenting Sponsor, The Walt Disney Company, for making the VICA After Dark with Assemblywoman Suzette Valladares possible.
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Transportation Committee (1/12)
- Mark Vallianatos, Executive Officer of Innovation at Metro's Office of Extraordinary Innovation, provided updates on the Metro COVID-19 Recovery Task Force.
- Tham Nguyen, Senior Director of Metro's Office of Extraordinary Innovation, presented an overview of the Metro Traffic Reduction Study.
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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Task Force (1/12)
- Miles McPherson, author of The Third Option: Hope for a Racially Divided Nation presented on his six step diversity training approach mentioned in his book.
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Aviation Committee (1/19)
- Hiroshi Ishikawa, Senior Regional Planner for the Aviation Program at the Southern California Association of Governments, presented on the 2020-2045 Connect SoCal Plan.
- Pamela Marcello, Senior Director of Government and Public Affairs for the Hollywood Burbank Airport, gave updates on the state of the airport and the rebuilding process post-COVID-19.
- Flora Margheritis, Airport Manager of the Van Nuys Airport, gave updates on the airport and airport operations, both throughout the pandemic and moving forward.
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Government Affairs Committee (1/20)
- Jean Armbruster, Director of the PLACE (Policies for Livable, Active Communities and Environments) Program for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, gave updates and answered questions about the County Public Health Councils
- Tim James, Director of Local Government Relations and Regulatory Affairs for the California Grocers Association, spoke to the committee about the negative effects of recently introduced hazard pay/hero pay proposals.
- Leila Lee, Community Business Manager at the Office of Mayor Garcetti, presented on pandemic response, restrictions, and resources for businesses.
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Not-For-Profit Committee (1/21)
- Jan Masaoka, CEO of Cal Nonprofits, updated the committee on what to expect in 2021 for California Not-For-Profits and advocacy.
- Tania Ibanez, Senior Assistant Attorney General for the Charitable Trusts Section of the Office of the California Attorney General, gave a presentation on new forms for charities and fundraisers.
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Los Angeles Daily News | January 26
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VICA Continues to Virtually Fight for the Valley Business Community! |
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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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