This week, VICA advocated to the Los Angeles City Council and Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, expressing support for their intent to protect our communities, businesses, essential workers, and residents by instituting a uniform mandate, such as the indoor vaccination requirement proposed.

The business community has been severely affected by the COVID-19 crisis, forced to implement costly safety measures, furlough employees, and even completely cease operations. Moving forward, VICA seeks to coordinate with City and County officials to help clarify regulations for indoor establishments to provide uniformity and protection for our economy and public from the threat of COVID-19.

Unfortunately, while the government has reiterated businesses' ability to enforce vaccinations, the potential liabilities for enforcement are currently far too high to be feasible. When companies create their own policies, they run the risk of costly litigation, loss of staff, or closure of their business entirely. This leaves the business community vulnerable and creates unfair disadvantages for businesses that want to implement safety measures. If vaccine requirements for indoor spaces are enacted, it would be relief for businesses across the region, removing legal barriers and reducing the risk of costly litigation.

VICA wants to avoid this piecemeal approach that leaves businesses competing, instead urging our local authorities to codify universal measures that reduce the spread of COVID-19, standardize enforcement, and remove legal barriers for businesses.

Our economy cannot afford another shutdown. If Los Angeles can protect our communities, jobs, and businesses through universal vaccine requirements without imposing capacity requirements or shutdowns, VICA urges the government to enforce these mandates. VICA will continue to work with the City and the County to make sure that these requirements are friendly to businesses, such as continuing to ensure that they will not affect outdoor vendors or events, as experts agree they remain far safer than indoor gatherings.

According to the Census data released on Thursday, the San Fernando Valley grew population at a faster rate than the rest of the City of Los Angeles. The growth in the San Fernando Valley accounted for 50.2% of the City's growth over the last 10 years. Moreover, growth in the San Fernando Valley accounted for 31.9% of Los Angeles County's growth over the last 10 years. The cities of Burbank and Los Angeles lead the way with growth of 3.87% and 3.83%, respectively, while Hidden Hills saw a decline of 7.06%. These numbers justify a San Fernando Valley only Los Angeles County Supervisor seat in the new redistricting map.

VICA's 2022 Board of Directors nomination and selection process is underway and we want your nominations!

Board members must be able to attend regular board meetings and be prepared to vote on a wide variety of public policy issues. Board members must also attend regular committee meetings and VICA events. Additional responsibilities may include calling or writing lawmakers, attending press conferences, testifying, authoring editorials, interacting with top opinion leaders, and more.

If you or someone you know is interested in participating on the VICA Board in 2022, please don't hesitate to click on the nomination form below and submit via email at Jessica@vica.com or via fax at 818-907-7934 no later than Friday, September 3, 2021.

This week, VICA's legislative team called into the City and State Redistricting Commission Community Input Meetings to represent VICA as well as the San Fernando Valley Redistricting Coalition. We expressed our support for the creation of districts that maximize the connection that legislators have with the San Fernando Valley, especially Valley-only districts.

VICA explained that the City of Los Angeles is made of geographically designated communities that are not always recognized. The San Fernando Valley alone is home to 34 distinct communities, and the commission must purchase these legally recognized boundaries for inclusion in the mapping software. More specifically, VICA asked that the distinct social, economic, and environmental interests of the San Fernando Valley no longer be clumped into West LA and Ventura County districts.

Business interests were also brought up, as the San Fernando Valley has over 40,000 businesses whose commercial interests often fall victim to the surrounding areas. In order to remedy this, VICA urged the Committee to keep the communities and cities of the Valley together as compact and contiguous districts that respect political boundaries, geographic features and natural boundaries.

The Valley deserves to have our interests represented, and VICA will continue to work with the State, City, and County redistricting commissions to ensure that the final districts are fair.

VICA's Harmon Ballin Community Service Award annually honors an active VICA member who has made an outstanding contribution to our community through their long-term community service activities. A nominee is someone who:

All nominee forms must be submitted via email to Cathy@vica.com by Friday, September 3, 2021.

Wednesday, August 18

5:30 to 7:30 p.m.

LIVE EVENT: Burbank Marriott

LIVE EVENT: Burbank Marriott

Sponsored by The Garland

Sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California

The S&P 500 and the Dow Jones pushed to record highs this week, with nearly three-fourths of companies in the benchmark index recording gains.

As drought conditions worsen, the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California may have to declare a supply alert for the first time in seven years.

Mayor Garcetti and Microsoft announced the creation of the Los Angeles Veterans Technology Training Academy, a free software training program for veterans.

According to census data released Thursday, the U.S. is more diverse and urbanized than 10 years go, with rural areas shrinking and big cities growing.

Unemployment claims in California rose, soaring to their highest level in nearly three months, with 68,556 workers filing initial claims last week.

San Francisco will become the first major city in the country to require full proof of vaccination against COVID-19 for a variety of indoor activities.

> Please share a brief biography and a fun fact about yourself that people would love to learn, ie: you love skydiving, you have run a marathon, you started your own business at a young age, etc. (2-3 sentences) 

> Tell us about your belief in VICA, how has VICA been most valuable for you? 

> If you were to share an experience with someone about VICA, what would that be? 

> Share with us what you believe to be the greatest accomplishment VICA has achieved?

> What was your organizations and/or your greatest accomplishment in 2020?

> Can you share what VICA has meant for you and your business during COVID?

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.