"Happy New Year" is a proclamation of optimism and hope, and something we all need after a year of uncertainty, angst and upheaval. As we enter 2021, we know that great challenges remain, but with challenge comes opportunity -- opportunity to take stock, opportunity to assess and pursue objectives and opportunity to be better, and VICA is poised and prepared to do just that.

VICA faced the challenges of 2020 with great resilience and flexibility. As the world around us shifted, we continued to effectively advocate for business, inform and educate our members and our elected representatives, and we continued to hold our regular meetings and events with unparalleled success. We also recognized opportunity to better our organization and our Valley. The establishment of our Diversity Task Force is a major step towards creating a more diverse, equitable and inclusive VICA, San Fernando Valley and society.

As we move into 2021, VICA will continue to pursue its Mission to enhance the economic vitality of the San Fernando Valley region. We will do so by establishing our legislative priorities, responding to the legislative priorities of others, and continuing to work with our strategic partners to improve the quality of business and thus, the quality of life for all in the region. Wishing all of you and your loved ones a healthy, peaceful and prosperous 2021 and a "Happy New Year" indeed!

Please keep an eye out for our legislative priorities survey that went out this week and look for our Membership Survey that will begin going out next week. We ask you to do your part and let us know what you think our priorities should be for 2021.

Premier Partner:

Gold Member:

In California Governor Gavin Newsom's 2021-22 Budget Proposal, VICA is proud to see the inclusion of immediate relief to individuals and small businesses in recognition of the disproportionate impact the COVID-19 Pandemic has had on low-income Californians and small businesses.

The budget proposes $3 billion of pandemic relief for immediate action in January. This package includes:

The funding included in the Governor's proposed budget will bring the total relief this year for small businesses to over $1 billion.

VICA would like to honor the memory of Tom LaBonge, former Los Angeles Councilmember who dedicated his life to making the City a better place to live and work. We are lucky to have had LaBonge's involvement in VICA events and advocacy over the years, and we are extremely thankful for the work LaBonge has done for our business community.

We extend our sincerest condolences to Tom LaBonge's family and friends. May he rest easy knowing the profound impact he had on Los Angeles.

Tuesday, January 12

8:30 to 10:30 a.m.

Thursday, January 14

8:45 to 10:15 a.m.

Tuesday, January 19

Noon to 1:30 p.m.

Wednesday, January 20

Noon to 2 p.m.

Online Video Conference

Thursday, January 21

8:30 to 10 a.m.

Online Video Conference

Tuesday, January 26

Thursday, January 26

8:30 to 10 a.m.

At the Board of Supervisors meeting this Tuesday, VICA provided comments on the Board's decision to extend the Los Angeles County eviction moratorium and amendments to the moratorium. VICA urged the Board to begin meeting with the industry and stakeholders who would be impacted by these policies to ensure a fair balance. While VICA understands relief and protections should be provided to tenants, housing providers and rental property owners need to be considered as well when making these policy decisions.

Throughout the pandemic, there has been little to no outreach to the industries who would be impacted by these policies. Stakeholder meetings with these groups would help the Board and staff understand the challenges providers continue to face. After 10 months with no substantive discussion on reasonable modifications to the moratorium, VICA asked that the County hold a series of meetings with property owners to determine the appropriate modifications to the moratorium, including providing more flexibility for owners to deal with nuisance and illegal behavior by tenants, as well as clarifying what constitutes as harassment.

COVID-19 undoubtedly continues to impact our economy and our communities, and many Angelenos are losing their source of income. Modifications to the eviction moratorium and greater engagement would provide some balance to those who are carrying and unprecedented burden during these difficult times.

VICA urged the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors to complete a thorough economic and policy analysis before voting on any Grocery Hazard Pay ordinance.

The proposed $5 per hour increase is equivalent to a 30 percent wage increase, a cost which would be passed onto consumers in the form of higher grocery costs. This could negatively impact many in our region who are struggling to afford living costs during the pandemic.

VICA is thankful for the grocery workers who have truly been on the front lines, ensuring that we have reliable access to food supplies throughout the crisis. As an acknowledgement of this sacrifice, grocers have undertaken massive efforts and spent millions of dollars to implement safety policies and provide bonuses, paid time off, and other benefits. Further, grocery workers will be amid the first to receive the COVID-19 vaccine, starting as soon as next week.

The County cannot impose these suffocating provisions on businesses when they are not providing "Hero Pay" to the countless essential county workers who are keeping Los Angeles running.

LA County has experienced issues with vaccine distribution, forcing them to close loopholes that allowed ineligible people to jump ahead of medical workers.

The U.S. job market lost 140,000 jobs in December, the first monthly loss since spring. The jobless rate stayed at 6.7%, the first time it hasn't fallen since April.

The Westfield Promenade Project construction has been postponed with no start date, only weeks after the project was approved.

At least 10 drive-thru testing sites in L.A. are using COVID-19 tests that the FDA warns yield false negative results, which may mean inaccurate COVID-19 numbers.

With state tenant protections expiring this month, Gavin Newsom has proposed extending the eviction moratorium and a $600 stimulus to low-income Californians.

Due to concerns about COVID-19, the 2021 Grammy Awards have been postponed from the planned no-audience event scheduled for January 31.

Despite a push from the Governor to reopen schools, reopening plans have been halted as 1 in 3 children test positive for COVID-19 at some LA schools.

LA County's homeless coordinator is stepping down after almost a decade of work with the County Department of Public Social Services.

> 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.