Valley Industry & Commerce Association | |
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- VICA Members fly to Sacramento for our January Advocacy Day
- VICA Opposes LA County Eviction Moratorium Extension
- VICA Calls on Legislature to Apply Aviation Exemption to All
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Quick Jump - Register to Attend!
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"By voting to continue the eviction moratorium, we are legislating for the exception, not the norm. We are creating rules purely in anticipation of a scenario that is highly unlikely. This is bad policy." | |
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Supervisor Kathryn Barger
Statement on Proposed Extension of County-Wide Eviction Moratorium
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VICA Members Attend First Sacramento Advocacy Day of 2023 | |
VICA President Stuart Waldman, VICA Vice Chairs Samona Caldwell (State Farm Insurance), and Ross Pendergraft (Leavitt Group), Assemblymember Pilar Schiavo, Kelli Boehm (Health Net), and VICA Board Member Robyn Hines (Microsoft) | |
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On Tuesday, VICA Members traveled to Sacramento to urge our State leaders to support VICA's top priority business-friendly legislation in 2023.
VICA met with seven Assemblymembers in total. Four of these members - Laura Friedman, Jacque Irwin, David Alvarez, and Heath Flora - are returning to Sacramento to serve another term. The remaining three members - Pilar Schiavo, Rick Zbur, and Josh Hoover - are newly elected and started their first term in Sacramento this past December.
Some of VICA's top priority bills that have already been introduced including the creation of flexible workweek schedules for employees, a California tax credit for manufacturing equipment, and an income tax exclusion for federal student loan debt relief.
If you are interested in attending one of VICA's future Sacramento Advocacy Days, click the buttons below to learn more and register for our upcoming trips!
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VICA Voices Opposition to County Eviction Moratorium Extension | |
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VICA called in to Tuesday's County Board of Supervisors meeting to voice opposition to the county's proposal to extend COVID-19 era eviction protections.
We believe it is well past time for housing providers throughout the county to resume normal operations, ensuring thriving communities and investments in housing.
In 2020 the county took drastic and necessary actions to slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus. With our current improved public health environment, the availability of vaccines, the lack of any shelter-in-place orders, and the much-improved economy, a full lifting and phasing out of the eviction moratorium and rent freeze is long overdue.
Since 2020, the county has maintained the residential eviction moratorium and rent freeze. As of today, these ongoing regulations are being abused by residents, leaving landlords without the ability to obtain any financial compensation.
Landlords did not cause the homelessness problem, and they are not the solution to this problem. It is time for the emergency eviction moratorium that was put in place in 2020 to be lifted.
The Board of Supervisors voted to extend the County Eviction Moratorium for another 60 days. VICA will continue to monitor and advocate for the end of COVID-19 era eviction protections.
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VICA Calls on State Legislature to Apply Aviation Exemption to All | |
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This week, the VICA Board took a position on Senate Bill 41 (Cortese), which would exempt unionized California-based flight crews from California's Meal and Rest Break law (MRB).
The Board voted to support SB 41 if it is amended to include all workers in the MRB exemption, not just unionized workers.
Current California labor law currently states that employees must be allowed to leave the work premises and be considered “off-duty” when on break. This law conflicts with federal regulations that require flight crews always be considered “on duty," meaning flight attendants cannot be considered ‘off-duty’ while on break.
Although SB 41 proposes a solution to this problem, the bill only applies to flight attendants who are part of a union. The passage of this bill, as it is currently written, would create two separate classes of workers: unionized workers who are exempt from California labor laws and non-unionized workers who are required to comply with California labor laws.
This change would give commercial airlines with unionized workforces the upper hand and could force commercial airlines with non-unionized workforces to unionize.
VICA supports flight crew exemptions from California's MRB law, but this exemption must not only apply to unionized workers. This bill must be amended to remove the union requirement.
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VICA's 2023 State Officeholders Dinner | |
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Last Chance for Early Bird Tickets and Sponsorships!
VICA's Annual State Officeholders Dinner - a unique opportunity to engage with our State Legislators in a casual format, watch a light-hearted Q&A, and enjoy food and drinks with fellow VICA members - is now less than a month away!
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Our confirmed Elected Officials are: | |
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Senators:
Steve Bradford
María Elena Durazo
Josh Newman
Anthony Portantino
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Assemblymembers:
Wendy Carrillo
Mike Fong
Laura Friedman
Jesse Gabriel
Chris Holden
Tom Lackey
Tina McKinnor
Pilar Schiavo
Luz Rivas
Kate Sanchez
Miguel Santiago
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If you are interested in attending and have not yet registered, email Cathy at cathy@vica.com or click the button below! | |
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please email Yoko at yoko@vica.com. For more information on sponsorships, click the button below! | |
VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members! | | |
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Platinum Member:
Bronze Member:
Other Renewing Members:
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State Officeholders Dinner
Friday, February 24 | 5:30 PM
Universal Studios Hollywood
VICA's State Officeholders Dinner is a unique opportunity to engage with officeholders in a casual Q&A format. Cocktails, appetizers and dinner are provided, along with great networking and conversation opportunities with our elected officials.
VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsors Amazon, Comcast NBCUniversal, and Kaiser Permanente.
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Extraordinary Women in Leadership Breakfast
Wednesday, March 15 | 8:00 AM
Hilton Universal City
VICA’s Women’s event brings together women from all walks of life to share their experiences, challenges in the
business world, overcoming odds and leading successes.
VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsor Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and the University of Phoenix, in partnership with CSUN Nazarian College
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ACCESS D.C.
March 28, 2023 - March 30, 2023
Washington, D.C.
ACCESS D.C. is the region's largest annual advocacy trip, connecting more than 200 businesses and civic leaders with federal lawmakers on issues ranging from immigration and education to transportation and healthcare.
For more information on ACCESS D.C., including registration information, pricing, and a tentative schedule, click the button below:
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Labor & Employment Committee Meeting
Wednesday, February 1
8:30 - 10:00 AM
VICA Office
RSVP
Education Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 2
8:30 - 10:00 AM
Hosted by LA Valley College
RSVP
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Ambassador Committee Meeting
Wednesday, February 1
Noon - 1:30 PM
VICA Office
Sponsored by Boy Scouts of America– Verdugo Hills Council
RSVP
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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee
Tuesday, February 7
Noon - 1:30 PM
VICA Office
RSVP
Land Use Committee
Tuesday, February 14
8:30 - 10:30 AM
Hosted by The Garland
RSVP
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Not-for-Profit Committee
Wednesday, February 8
8:30 - 10:30 AM
VICA Office
RSVP
Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, February 15
Noon - 2:00 PM
VICA Office
RSVP
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Fast Food Worker Law Put on Ballot
A California law seeking to increase wages and improve working conditions for fast-food workers has been set aside for now, after state officials said an effort by major restaurant and business trade groups to overturn the law had qualified as a measure on next year’s ballot. The referendum seeking to overturn Assembly Bill 257 gathered sufficient valid voter signatures, the office of California Secretary of State Shirley Weber certified Tuesday. The group of businesses backing the effort, called Save Local Restaurants, had until Dec. 5 to submit about 623,000 California voter signatures. The proponents submitted more than 1 million signatures, of which more than 712,000 were deemed to be valid, according to the secretary of state’s office.
2023 Oscar Nominations Announced
Nominees for the 95th Academy Awards were announced on Tuesday morning, ahead of a ceremony on March 12 in Los Angeles. Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan’s oddball sci-fi movie, “Everything Everywhere All at Once,” led in sheer number of nominations, with 11 total; Martin McDonagh’s “The Banshees of Inisherin” and Edward Berger’s “All Quiet on the Western Front” tied for second, with nine each. Click here for the full list.
Ticketmaster Hearing Begins
Ticketmaster defended itself publicly for the first time since the concert promoter's highly publicized meltdown late last year during ticket sales for Taylor Swift's "Eras" tour. Joe Berchtold, the president and chief financial officer of Live Nation, which owns Ticketmaster, made the case to the Senate Judiciary Committee on Tuesday that the live concert industry is more competitive than it was a decade ago, when Live Nation merged with Ticketmaster, and that the ticket seller doesn't control capacity or pricing. "Primary ticketing companies, including Ticketmaster, do not set ticket prices, do not decide how many tickets go on sale and when they go on sale, do not set service fees," he said in opening remarks. He attributed the Taylor Swift meltdown to overwhelming demand, saying the site saw three times its usual amount of bot traffic during the sale.
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Legislators Propose Wealth Tax, Again
Lawmakers launched Sacramento’s latest campaign for the elusive progressive lodestar Monday. This time, they’re clamoring in concert with legislators in seven other blue states. Their object is a national network of wealth taxes that could prevent the ultra-affluent from simply relocating their assets from California to New York or Hawaii. Progressive backers and their organized labor allies call the effort a matter of basic economic justice. California’s tax system already relies disproportionately on revenue from the richest, thanks to taxes voters approved in 2012 and extended in 2016. The affluent have still flourished to the point that California boasts the world’s fourth-largest GDP and enjoyed titanic budget surpluses.
Adam Schiff Announces Senate Bid
Rep. Adam B. Schiff, a decades-long fixture in San Fernando Valley politics artis joining a contest for U.S. Senate that is quickly shaping up to be highly competitive, he announced Thursday. “The Senate is where many of these fights over the future of our democracy take place,” Schiff said in an interview before his campaign launch. “Some of Donald Trump’s biggest enablers are in the Senate. And I think that is where I can champion our democratic institutions.”
The Angels are Off the Market
On second thought, Arte Moreno decided not to sell the Angels. On Monday, five months after putting the team up for sale, Moreno announced he would retain ownership. Potential buyers had been reviewing team finances and visiting the stadium, and initial bids were due next month. “During this process, it became clear that we have unfinished business and feel we can make a positive impact on the future of the team and the fan experience,” Moreno said in a statement. “This offseason we committed to a franchise record player payroll and still want to accomplish our goal of bringing a World Series Championship back to our fans.”
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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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