September 23, 2022

• VICA Victory! Governor Prohibits Minimum Parking Requirements
• VICA Exclusive: Department of Building & Safety Briefing
• VICA Supports Delta Conveyance Project
• Your Voice is Needed: VICA High Priority Bills
• Let Us Known Your Legislative Agenda

• Quick Jump - Register to Attend!
• VICA After Dark: LAWA CEO Justin Erbacci
• Business Forecast Conference 2022
• VICA After Dark: Supervisor Kathryn Barger

"Housing solutions are also climate solutions and we have the power to make change. And that's exactly what we're doing. That's why I was proud to sign a bill, this bill specifically AB 2097."

Governor Gavin Newsom

Statement on Signing AB 2097 Which Prohibits Minimum Parking Requirements

VICA Victory! Governor Newsom Signs Bill Prohibiting Minimum Parking Requirements

This Thursday, Governor Newsom signed into law VICA-supported Assembly Bill 2097 (Friedman), which will have a positive impact on reaching our state's housing goals by prohibiting local governments from enforcing parking minimums in new housing near transit stops.

AB 2097 will address housing and climate solutions by making it cheaper and easier to build new housing near businesses, and schools, with closer access to neighborhoods and public transit. 

Under AB 2097, projects within a half mile of a major transit stop would no longer be required by local governments to include a minimum number of parking spaces for every residential unit or commercial business development. The bill does not prohibit developers from providing necessary parking spaces to meet market demand. 

In a written signing message on Thursday, Newsom said that he would be directing the

Department of Housing and Community Development to monitor the bill's implementation and identify any impacts on affordable housing development in the affected areas.

California is one of the first states in the nation to implement such a comprehensive parking reform measure. It follows several major cities, including San Diego, San Francisco, and Seattle.

VICA Exclusive: Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety Briefing

VICA hosted an exclusive briefing Thursday with the Los Angeles Department of Building & Safety (LADBS) General Manager Osama Younan, who presented two motions that the Building & Safety has been directed to come up with recommendations for building electrification.

The Los Angeles City Council has requested the LADBS to develop a framework for all new buildings in Los Angeles to achieve zero carbon emissions. General Manager Osama Younan gave an overview of the framework that his department has put together, including the Department of Building & Safety Planning Clearance Process and LA City Council's Decarbonization Motion that will require all new residential and commercial buildings in Los Angeles to be built with zero-carbon emissions.

 A final report by the Department of Building & Safety will be submitted to City Council next week and will address various exemptions for development projects, including Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs), restaurants, affordable housing units, and various labs and manufacturing processes.

VICA will continue to work with the Los Angeles Department of Building and Safety to monitor the development of this ordinance.

VICA Voices Support for Delta Conveyance Project

VICA voiced support for the Delta Conveyance Project at the Department of Water Resources public hearing this Thursday to provide feedback on the Environmental Impact Report released in August.

The State Water Project is California's primary water distribution system. The Delta Conveyance Project will modernize this critical water transport infrastructure to ensure the Project can continue capturing and transporting reliable and affordable water to 27 million Californians, 750,000 acres of farmland, and businesses.

California must modernize the 50-plus-year-old infrastructure that protects, collects, and moves water through the Delta to California homes, farms, and businesses to make it more resilient to California's new reality of climate extremes. The Delta Conveyance Project will help secure our water future while also addressing and mitigating impacts on the Delta communities.

VICA supports the Delta Conveyance Project and will continue to monitor the status of its development.

Your Voice is Needed: VICA's High Priority Bills are on Newsom's Desk

The legislative session has officially ended, but Governor Gavin Newsom has until Friday, September 30 to sign or veto any bill that the legislature has passed. 

VICA urges you to express your position. Below are VICA's high-priority bills that are on the Governor's desk. Click on the Take Action buttons to voice your position.

Prevent New Los Angeles Housing Bureaucracy

Senate Bill 679 (Kamlager) would establish the Los Angeles County Affordable Housing Solutions Agency (LACAHSA), which would use local financing tools to fund protections for renters and the production and preservation of housing units, discouraging the production of affordable housing while passing higher costs onto consumers and businesses.

Residents have continually shouldered the burden of housing while waiting for the Legislature to take action on their behalf. Unfortunately, rather than embrace policies that are effective in other states, SB 679 worsens the situation by expanding bureaucracy, encouraging governments to adopt harmful economic policies, and paving the way for higher taxes.

Prevent Employees From Walking Off the Job Without Consequence

Senate Bill 1044 (Durazo) would prohibit an employer in the event of an emergency condition, from taking or threatening action against any employee who refuses to report to or leave a workplace if the employee feels unsafe.

SB 1044 ignores protections that are already provided under CalOSHA and allows workers to walk away regardless of how distant certain emergencies are. An employer who disciplines an employee will be subject to a lawsuit and penalties under the Private Attorney General Act (PAGA).

Prevent the Publicization of Company Pay Data

Senate Bill 1162 (Limon) would encourage new, burdensome litigation against employers based on the publication of broad, unreliable data collected by the state.

SB 1162  undermines employers’ ability to hire, imposes administrative and record keeping requirements that are impossible to implement, and subjects’ employers to private right of action and penalties under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).  

Support Streamlined Affordable Housing

Assembly Bill 2011 (Wicks) gives Californians the opportunity to work toward a shared goal of building more affordable housing for struggling Californians while also growing a thriving, high-wage construction workforce. AB 2011 would rapidly accelerate the production of affordable housing, expanding housing opportunities to struggling families, seniors, workers, and veterans.

AB 2011 would open the door to job opportunities and an increase in the housing supply which is needed to help overcome the state’s current deficit of 2.5 million housing units.

Support Aviation Greenhouse Gas Reductions

Assembly Bill 1322 (Rivas) would establish a framework for the aviation industry to reduce its carbon footprint by creating a plan to incentivize the use of sustainable aviation fuel (SAF). AB 1322 will help significantly expand the SAF industry, contributing to the green economy, creating local jobs, and solidifying California’s status as a world leader in SAF production and climate protection.

AB 1322 offers incentives comparable to policy incentives provided to renewable diesel and other on-road fuels, like tax credits and rebates. Expanding California’s leadership through the goals and motivations in AB 1322 will significantly improve air quality in our communities, create local jobs, stimulate the state economy, and make progress toward achieving the state’s environmental goals.

Support Ending Retail Crime

Assembly Bill 1613 (Blakeslee) would expand the Attorney General's reach to prosecute theft offenses and associated offenses with organized retail crime.

AB 1613 would give any District Attorney's office the authority over cases that cross county lines and would support law enforcement and prosecutors with the tools to address sophisticated retail theft that hurt businesses, workers, and their customers.

Support Small Business Improvements

Assembly Bill 2164 (Lee) would provide funds for small businesses to make their business accessible to those with disabilities.

Owners will be able to improve their stores, resulting in fewer ADA lawsuits, and allowing businesses to focus on their customers.

Support Early Childhood Education

Senate Bill 70 (Rubio) would require a child to have completed one year of kindergarten before that child may be admitted to the first grade.

SB 70 would ensure children receive critical instructions that help them develop necessary social skills, problem-solving, and long-term academic readiness and also provides economic benefits for disadvantaged families.

Support Research for Drinking Water Standards

Senate Bill 230 (Portantino) would establish, maintain, and direct an ongoing and dedicated Constituents of Emerging Concern Program to assess, study, review, and provide recommendations on the occurrence of Constituents of Emerging Concern (CECs) in drinking water sources.

SB 230 is imperative to understand the long-term impacts of CECs on California's water supply. By establishing a dedicated CEC program to prioritize the monitoring and produce drinking water standards accordingly, SB 230 would proactively fill the gaps in our knowledge and provide a funding source for future research.

Support Ending Online Sale of Stolen Goods

Senate Bill 301 (Skinner) would provide much needed transparency to online marketplaces, providing consumers with the real, verified business contact information for high volume, third-party sellers. The bill will also provide retailers and law enforcement information to investigate the source of possible stolen or counterfeit items when discovered.

With retail theft skyrocketing with cities and counties seeing a 700% increase in crime and online platforms being used to facilitate a mainstream black market, SB 301 will make online marketplaces transparent by rooting out bad actors, and connecting consumers and verified businesses.

Support Clean Transit Projects

Senate Bill 922 (Wiener) would accelerate bike, pedestrian, light rail, and rapid bus projects. 

SB 922 will ensure California invests in equitable transportation projects, builds sustainable transportation, and addresses climate concerns while providing infrastructure and an economy that doesn't come at the expense of our environment.

Support Tackling California's Housing Crisis

Senate Bill 6 (Caballero) would allow residential development on existing lots currently zoned for commercial office and retail spaces, such as strip malls or large ‘big box’ retail spaces, and urge you to sign it into Law

California is facing a severe housing crisis exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and subsequent economic downturn. With Governor Newsom stating that 3.5 million new homes are needed to meet the state’s population growth, it is critical to approve legislation like SB 6, which will help get housing units built

What are Your Legislative Priorities? Tell VICA!

As legislative sessions draw to a close, it's always important to ask what the next legislative session's agenda might look like and how that affects your business and the greater San Fernando Valley- Los Angeles business community.

VICA committees will begin discussing legislative priorities for 2023 this month, and we want to know what you think will be important for 2023. Click the Notify Now button below to communicate your ideas to our Legislative Affairs Manager, Victor Reyes, or email at victor@vica.com

VICA Vacancy

Members

VICA Thanks Our Renewing Member

President's Circle:

• Kaiser Permanente (2000)

Silver Member:

• Van Nuys Airport (2006)

Renewing Member:

• Kinkisharyo International (2013)

Business Forecast Conference: Attack of the Inflation Monster

Friday, October 21 | 7:00 AM

Hilton Universal City



Our Annual Business Forecast Conference continues to attract nationally recognized experts on our region's dynamic economy. This forecast will help our business leaders plan for the challenges facing us in 2023.

VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsors, SoCalGas and Wells Fargo.



VICA After Dark: Supervisor Kathryn Barger

Thursday, October 27 | 5:30 PM

Anheuser-Busch



Supervisor Kathryn Barger serves the residents of the 5th District — Los Angeles County’s largest — spanning over 2,785 square miles, which includes 20 cities and 83 unincorporated communities in the Antelope, San Gabriel, San Fernando, Crescenta, and Santa Clarita Valleys.

VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsors Anheuser-Busch, Amazon, Comcast NBCUniversal, SoCalGas, Southland Regional Association of Realtors, and Wells Fargo.

Save the Date

Not-for-Profit Committee Meeting

Thursday, October 6

8:30 - 10:00 AM

VICA Office

Sponsored by Pacific Federal

RSVP

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Meeting

Thursday, October 13

Noon - 1:30 PM 

VICA Office

Sponsored by LAAHU & Saybook University

RSVP

Land Use Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 11

8:30 - 10:30 AM

Hosted by The Garland

RSVP

Aviation Committee Meeting

Tuesday, October 18

Noon -1:30 PM

Hosted by Aerolease Group 

RSVP

Caruso and Bass in Mayoral Debate

Rick Caruso and Rep. Karen Bass looked to portray each other as corrupt entities in an ineffective Los Angeles establishment as the two held a debate Wednesday. The race for the top job in the city has become a test for the city's Democratic establishment. Caruso described Bass as an entrenched part of a government that has been unable to address such issues as a large number of homeless people on the streets, high cost of housing, and crime. Bass rebuffed repeated accessions that she was part of a broken system, noting that Caruso has been a beneficiary of that power structure as a developer.

California to Ban Sale of Diesel Big Rig 

California regulators could soon ban the sale of diesel big rigs by 2040, ending a prolonged reliance on the polluting vehicles that are the backbone of the American economy. The proposal by the staff of the California Air Resources Board would further require that by 2035, medium and heavy-duty trucks entering ports and railyard must be zero emission and that state and local government fleets be so by 2027. The new regulations would demand a buildup of electric charging infrastructure, placing new stresses on California's already fragile power grid and forcing the trucking industry to reshape how it does business.

Easing Mask Recommendations

California will ease its mask-wearing recommendations for the first time in seven months. The state is mainly rescinding its broad recommendation that everyone - regardless of vaccination status - mask up in indoor public settings and businesses. Instead, California will recommend universal mask wearing only when a county's COVID19 community level is high. Among the changes to take effect Friday is the end of state-ordered mandatory masking in jails, prisons, homeless shelters, and emergency and cooling centers in counties with low COVID19 levels.

LA to Add Thousands of Bus Shelters

The Los Angeles City Council on Tuesday approved a new contract to provide more bus shelters across the city. The goal is to address decades of neglect in communities where people rely on buses but often have no shade or places to sit while experiencing dangerous heat.

The bus shelters are expected to include monitors so riders can view real-time bus arrival times, including plans for scooter docks, e-lockers, public Wi-Fi, and phone charging stations. The work will be managed by the city's Bureau of Street Services and is set to begin at the start of 2023.

Fed move hits Crypto Asset Market

Cryptocurrencies came under pressure Wednesday after the Federal Reserve delivered another interest rate hike and warned of economic pain from the aggressive policy tightening. Bitcoin fell by 4% and came close to dropping below $18,000, last seen in 2020. The second biggest coin, Ether, continued to underperform, shedding up to 7.2%. The Fed's determination to raise rates to levels that hammer inflation at the cost of asset prices sent a chill across global markets. Shorter-maturity Treasury yields jumped while longer-term rates fell, deepening a bond curve inversion seen as a harbinger of a recession.

UC to GIve Second Chance to Students

The University of California will give a second chance to thousands of rejected California high school applicants who had a qualifying grade point average but failed to complete the required series of 15 college preparation courses. Students must first successfully complete their lower division and general education courses at a community college and earn the program's required grades. Beginning next year, students who meet the requirements will receive guaranteed admission to one of six campuses. Students will be eligible to apply to UCLA, UC Berkeley, and UC San Diego, though admission is not guaranteed.

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