VICA Weekly
Valley Industry & Commerce Association

December 9, 2022

In This Issue
  • VICA Hosts 73rd Annual Meeting
  • VICA Voices Opposition to Minimum Wage Increases in Culver City
  • VICA Voices Opposition to City Polystyrene Ban
  • VICA Voices Support for Ending LA's State of Emergency
  • VICA's 2023 Legislative Priorities
  • Powerful and Effective Advocacy Isn't Cheap

"It is with great honor and humility that I accept this call to serve as Supervisor for LA County’s Third District, with a clear understanding that more must be done. I would not be here today without the support of my family, my friends, my colleagues, and my allies. Thank you for believing in me, and for believing in this moment. This seat does not belong to me – it belongs to the people of the Third District."

Supervisor Lindsey Horvath

Statement at Inauguration Ceremony As Board of Supervisor

VICA Hosts 73rd Annual Meeting

VICA celebrated another successful year of service to the San Fernando Valley at our 73rd Annual meeting. VICA ends the year with a celebratory program for the valley's best volunteers, business leaders, and scholars. VICA honored these outstanding individuals with awards for their commitment to the community. VICA also swore in our 2023 Board of Directors, our Executive Committee, and reappointed current VICA Chair Victor Berrellez (US Bank), to another year of leadership of the most influential business group in the region.


Our 17th Annual President's Award, sponsored by Anthem Blue Cross, was given to VICA Board member Miri Rossitto (Cowe Communications) which is given to the VICA volunteer who goes above and beyond in service to VICA throughout the years.


VICA Board Member Scott Mills (The Garland), was presented with the 30th Harmon Ballin Community Service Award, sponsored by NBC Universal, for his continued contributions to the community. VICA also recognized and awarded Brad Rosenheim (Rosenheim & Associates) and Coby King (High Point Strategies, LLC) with our Member Champion Awards, which are provided to VICA members who aided our staff in connecting with potential members and helping cultivate those connections into VICA membership.


VICA awarded the 44th Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award for Excellence to Amazon, sponsored by The Boeing Company, which recognizes leaders of industry that have made the San Fernando Valley the most progressive and forward-thinking business community in Southern California. In honor of VICA's 75th Anniversary coming up in 2024, Amazon will become the first Diamond level member, marking the introduction of a new membership level for VICA.

The 2023 VICA Board of Directors were sworn in by Calabasas City Mayor Shapiro.

VICA also recognized four students who represent the ideals of entrepreneurship and scholarship. We are proud to have presented scholarships to the following students: Ani Melkonyan (Los Angeles Valley College), recipient of the 7th Annual Rickey M. Gelb Scholarship; Tunisia Johnson (University of West Los Angeles) with the Marvin R. Selter Memorial Scholarship, Gabrielle Samilton (Granada Hills Charter School) and Mohammed Zaman (Chatsworth Charter), recipients of the 7th Annual Melvyn A. Kohn Memorial Scholarship.


VICA's 73rd Annual Meeting was presented by the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, San Fernando Valley Business Journal and SoCalGas. We also want to thank our co-sponsors Clear Channel Outdoor, Cowe Communications, The Garland, Los Angeles Daily News, Los Angeles Community College District, Rosenheim & Associates, Tranzito Vector, and Venable. We thank all of our sponsors, and members for making the 73rd Annual Meeting, and VICA's 73 years of service to the Valley a success!

External Affairs Manager and 2023 SETH Chair Marie Lloyd after receiving the 44th Robert E. Gibson Corporate Award for Excellence on behalf of Amazon.

From Left to Right: Coby King (High Point Strategies, LLC), VICA Chair Victor Berrellez (US Bank), and Brad Rosenheim (Rosenheim & Associates) honored as VICA Membership Champions.

VICA Voices Opposition to Minimum Wage Increases in Culver City

VICA voiced opposition at Monday's Culver City's City Council meeting against a proposed ordinance that seeks to mandate a $25 minimum wage for certain healthcare employees in Culver City.


The measure would exclude 82% of healthcare workers in Culver City, including workers at community health clinics and facilities, nursing homes, and other caregiving centers.


Arbitrary and exclusionary measures like the proposed ordinance do not uplift nor promote economic security; instead, they would increase wages that could lead to increased healthcare costs, and jeopardize access to care. It is unknown how this policy will impact the broader community and what the cost of enforcement will be for the city. 


VICA will continue to advocate for approaches to policies that seek to address existing inequities and disparities by advocating for the inclusion of the business community in the development process.

VICA Voices Opposition to LA City Plastic Bag Ban Motion

VICA voiced opposition at Tuesday's LA City Council meeting to a potential ban on certain expanded polystyrene products (EPS), including plastic bags.


The ordinance would require Los Angeles to prohibit the sale or distribution of plastic or styrofoam bags and containers, food or beverages in EPS, and shipping or packaging materials containing EPS.


This Ordinance would apply to various food and beverage facilities and retail establishments, including shops, sales outlets, restaurants, bars, pubs, coffee shops/stands, juice/smoothie bars, cafeterias, caterers, convenience, liquor, and grocery stores, supermarkets, farmers markets, theaters, mobile food trucks, kiosks, carts, and street vendors, leaving no business untouched in the City.


VICA supports the advancement and progress needed to address sustainability and environmental protection however this ordinance could lead to negative economic impacts, including decreased sales in ban areas, reduced employment opportunities for residents, and increased costs on businesses which will pass down those costs to consumers, quickly adding up costs for individuals and families and small businesses.

VICA Voices Support for Mayor's Recommendation to End State of Emergency

VICA voiced support at Wednesday's LA City Council meeting for the termination of the local state of emergency.


The City of Los Angeles currently remains under a state of emergency, despite the fact that the current conditions and our knowledge of the COVID-19 virus are in a fundamentally different place than spring of 2020. Even with rising winter case counts, our insight into the virus and improved public health response warrants a shift in the city’s emergency positioning. 


California re-opened long ago, vaccines and boosters are widely available, and children are back in school. Local shelter-in-place orders have been rescinded after state and federal governments provided much-needed financial relief to those in need.


Despite these changes, there are many public policy items that still remain trapped and tied into emergency orders. It is no longer appropriate for the orders to continue with such negative and sweeping ramifications. For these reasons, VICA believes it is clear the City of Los Angeles must end the local emergency declaration. 


Wednesday morning, prior to the start of the council meeting, Mayor Eric Garcetti sent a notice to City Council recommending an end to the local state of emergency as of February 1, 2023. The City Council voted in favor of his recommendation.

VICA's 2023 Legislative Priorities

Over the past few months, VICA gathered recommendations from our members on what they believe are the most important legislative priorities for 2023. After working to consolidate this list of recommendations, we are now turning back to our members to vote on their top ten priorities for the new year.


VICA members, you should have received VICA's 2023 Legislative Priorities survey (distributed through SurveyMonkey) in your email this week. If you are a member and did not receive the survey, or have any questions, please email Cathy at cathy@vica.com.

Screen-Shot-2020-06-17-at-2 image

Powerful and Effective Advocacy Isn't Cheap

As Southern California’s most influential business advocacy group, VICA is devoted to advancing the economic interests and opportunities of its members through effective legislative correspondence, civic leadership representation and conscious community engagement. This work has a cost, and the time has come to increase dues so that VICA’s critical advocacy can continue.


LAST CHANCE TO GET YOUR DUES AT THE 2022 RATE: We understand that increased rates are not ideal. With that in mind, if you would like to keep your 2022 level dues for one more year, you can if you pay your dues in full by December 31, 2022. If you would like to take advantage of the 2022 rates, contact jessica@vica.com today. 

Membership Level

Basic Membership:

Circle if Influence:

Business Leader:

Bronze:

Silver:

Gold:

Platinum:

Premier:

President:

2022 Rate

$660

$1,1210

$1,760

$2,750

$5,500

$8,250

$11,000

$16,000

$26,000+

2023 Rate 

$750

$1,300

$1,850

$3,000

$6,000

$9,000

$12,000

$17,000

$27,000+

Members

VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members!

Renewing Members:


Diamond Member:


Platinum Member:


Silver Member:


Bronze Members:




Other Renewing Members:








New Members:


Save the Date 

Transportation Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 10

8:30 - 10:30 AM

Hosted by The Garland 

RSVP


Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Committee Meeting

Thursday, January 12

Noon - 1:30 PM

VICA Office

RSVP

Ambassador Committee Meeting

Wednesday, January 11

9:00 - 10:30 AM

VICA Office

RSVP


Aviation Committee Meeting

Tuesday, January 17

Noon - 1:30 PM

Hosted by Aerolease Group

RSVP

View Calendar

VICA In the News

Los Angeles City Council Votes to Ban Sale, Distribution of Styrofoam Products

ABC 7 | December 6


Los Angeles City Council Votes to Ban Sale, Distribution of Styrofoam Products

KFI AM 640 | December 6


Los Angeles City Council Votes to End COVID-19 State of Local Emergency in February

NBC Palm Springs | December 7


Los Angeles City Council Votes to End COVID-19 Emergency Rules that Protect Renters

Los Angeles Daily News | December 7


Los Angeles City Council Votes to End COVID-19 State of Local Emergency in February

Fox11 Los Angeles | December 7


Bonin Votes Against COVID-19 State of Local Emergency End Date

Westside Current | December 8

Hot News

Warnock Defeats Walker in Georgia

Democratic incumbent Raphael Warnock defeated Republican Herschel Walker on Tuesday in Georgia's U.S. Senate runoff, securing the 51st seat for his party in Congress's upper chamber and giving it greater power to push its agenda in a closely divided Washington. Warnock's victory means Senate Democrats will no longer need to rely on Vice President Kamala Harris to cast tiebreaking votes. It also lessens the ability of moderate Democratic Senators Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Kyrsten Sinema of Arizona to block or soften legislation, as they've done in the current Congress. With a GOP-led House, prospects for passing new bipartisan legislation are slim.


Newsom Unveils Refinery Profits Cap

Governor Newsom unveiled an outline of his plan to place a cap on oil refinery profits in California, a proposal he's asking lawmakers to approve in hopes of reducing future spikes in gasoline prices. After convening a special legislative session, the governor publicly shared the first look at his plan more than two months after he said he would ask the Legislature to penalize what he called excessive profits by the oil industry, accusing companies of price gouging by intentionally elevating the cost of gas for California drivers. The industry contends recent high prices are a result of the state's policies to phase out the use of oil and reduce dependence on fossil fuels. The companies argue Newsom has politicized the issue and a penalty on them will only exacerbate the problem in a state that already levies heavy taxes on the industry.


Teachers Union Seeks 20% Raises

The Los Angeles teachers union is pressing its demands for a 20% raise over two years, smaller class sizes, and a steep reduction in standardized testing - the latest stress test for the nation's second-largest school district and Superintendent Alberto Carvalho as the system struggles to address students' deep learning setbacks and mental health needs in the wake of the pandemic. For United Teachers Los Angeles - which staged three simultaneous rallies Monday across the school system - its contract platform speaks to the intense pressures that members say are pummeling their profession, leading to dire teacher shortages in California and throughout the nation. Ongoing economic uncertainties and the high costs of living and housing in LA have intensified their focus on contract talks as teachers worry about career sustainability and increasing workloads. A first-year teacher earns a base salary starting at $48,916. The base salary for a teacher with 10 years of experience is $61.557.

Churches & NonProfits To Build Homes California nonprofit colleges and faith organizations such as churches, mosques and synagogues would be able to build affordable homes on their land under a bill introduced Tuesday to help alleviate the state's worsening housing shortage and homelessness crisis. Senate Bill 4 (Wiener) would reduce barriers that religious and nonprofit organizations often face when planning multifamily housing projects on their properties, such as local zoning regulations and the state's stringent environmental review process. The proposal would supersede local zoning rules that either prohibit or discourage this development and would bar opponents of the housing projects from using the environmental review law to slow down construction through litigation.


Peru's Congress Ousts President

Peru's Congress voted to remove President Pedro Castillo from office Wednesday and replace him with the Vice President, shortly after Castillo tried to dissolve the legislature ahead of a scheduled vote to remove him. The national ombudsman's office called Castillo's attempt to dissolve the Congress a coup, although at least one expert disagreed. Peru's Congress has the ability to remove the President, and the President has the ability to dissolve the Congress. Shortly before the vote, Castillo announced that he was installing a new emergency government and called for the next round of lawmakers to develop a new constitution for the Andean nation. He said during a televised address that he would rule by decree and ordered a nightly curfew starting Wednesday night.


Amazon Studios unveils New Stage

On Monday evening, filmmakers, directors, and special effects artists ate shrimp cocktails and miso salmon as they wandered around Amazon Studios' new 34,000- square-foot virtual production stage in Culver City. Stage 15, built in 1940 and once the home to movies like "It's a Wonderful Life" and "RoboCop" has been transformed into the largest virtual production stage in Los Angeles. The revamped stage has a wall of more than 3,000 LED panels and motion capture cameras that re-create the outside world indoors and allow actors to interact with the environment rather than pretend in front of a green screen. Planning for the project began back in the summer of 2020, as Hollywood was grappling with production shutdowns caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Amazon's move to Culver City in 2017, it has increasingly expanded its local footprint, with roughly 630,000 square feet of property in the city.

Member Spotlight

Steve Sturla


Studio City Film Festival Founder/Director


The Studio City Film Festival runs for eight days a year and just completed its 10th anniversary. It has screened over a thousand shorts and features. The yearly lifetime achievement award has featured Cybill Shepherd, Glynn Turman, Vincent Spano, Joelly Fisher, Sally Kirkland, John Witherspoon, and many others. The award is now known as the Radford Studio Center Lifetime Achievement Award. 


Founder Steve Sturla is the Director of the Festival and is also an actor, writer, and director with a background in comedy. 

Member Messages

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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.
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.
Read more about VICA at vica.com
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