This week, we held our VICA After Dark, a regular evening reception designed to give VICA members and guests the opportunity to hear updates about policies and legislation impacting the business community from a featured leader and network with other prominent business leaders from the community.

This month's featured guest was Senator Anthony Portantino, a Valley legislator who represents California's 25th State Senate District. The Senator shared some of the policies that he has authored or supported in this legislative session, including important issues such as public education and mental health. Senator Portantino argued that mental health is a critical issue during the pandemic, noting that "mental health issues are still in the shadows, and have got to bring them out."

Following the presentation, a Q&A session was held. Questions from VICA members included interest in how the state plans to support workplaces and schools as they reopen. Portantino shared that we cannot enact legislation prematurely, but that the State is looking toward plans that will "put California back on its feet".

Our April VICA After Dark was an insightful and exciting event! Thank you so much to Senator Portantino. And, a big thank you to our presenting sponsors, the Walt Disney Company and The Garland for making this event possible!

A delegation of VICA members and staff virtually visited Sacramento this week to speak with lawmakers about how proposed legislation will impact the San Fernando Valley business community.

VICA met with Assemblymembers Randy Voepel, Joaquin Arambula, Luz Rivas, Laurie Davis, Rudy Salas, and Marie Waldron. Thank you to all of the elected officials for meeting with us, and for all of the members who joined our April Advocacy Day! If you weren't able to join us this month, click the links below to send letters to legislators on important issues impacting the San Fernando Valley and our business community:

Wednesday, April 21

9 to 11 a.m.

Online Video Conference

Friday, June 18

5:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Virtual Remo Event

For Sponsorships

Sponsored by The Garland

For the first time since California started the color-coded COVID-19 reopening system 8 months ago, not a single county is in the most restrictive purple tier.

April 15 wasn't tax day this year, it was "vax day", as eligibility to sign up for the COVID-19 vaccine opened up to all Californians 16 and over.

As of now, about 3 million of California's 6.1 million students have the option to return to in-person schooling, with 62% of elementary students eligible to return.

Select LA County Library branches will open for in-person services on Monday, while the LA Public Library will open similar services at 38 branches on May 3.

Researchers at Stanford have started to test the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine on children as young as 2, with the goal of vaccinating kids as young as 6 months.

In March, employers added 119,600 positions, state officials reported Friday, but CA still has yet to recover 56% of the 2.7 million jobs lost due to COVID-19.

> 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.