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Serving the San Fernando Valley cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, San Fernando, and Santa Clarita
Valley Industry & Commerce Association || vica.com
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- VICA Advocates at LA County with Business Coalition
- VICA's Board Takes Position on Legislation
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"This new funding will get people out of tents and into housing across California. As the state provides unprecedented resources like this, we also expect accountability. Local governments must ensure this funding is being utilized on the ground."
Governor Gavin Newsom
Statement on Announcing New Homeless Funding and Greater Accountability of Local Governments
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VICA Advocates at LA County with Coalition Partners Against Burdensome Climate Action Plan | |
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On Tuesday, VICA opposed the Los Angeles County's proposed Climate Action Plan (CAP) at the County Board of Supervisors meeting, arguing that it could harm housing, jobs, and economic development. The plan’s strict water restrictions on using imported, recycled, and graywater are seen as impractical barriers to development. Furthermore, the plan's unrealistic job density requirement of 300 jobs per acre contradicts existing plans and could lead to legal obstacles.
Integrating the CAP into the General Plan and making it mandatory raises concerns about potential project delays from compliance disputes and the difficulty of future amendments. Additionally, the exclusion of carbon offset credits and stringent locational constraints may inhibit project progress, and mandates for zero-emission technologies in transportation pose challenges due to their current unavailability.
The plan was passed with amendments from Supervisor Barger, including "aspirational language," to make the goals voluntary. A further review and second reading before the Board will take place in several weeks. VICA remains committed to balancing economic vitality with environmental goals in California.
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VICA Tackles State Legislation | |
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Senate Bill 1345: Employment Discrimination: Criminal History Information - OPPOSE
VICA opposes Senate Bill 1345 (Smallwood-Cuevas) due to its stringent restrictions that significantly limit employers' ability to consider criminal histories during hiring decisions. This bill requires employers to justify adverse actions based on criminal records by proving a "business necessity," a standard VICA argues is excessively high and impractical. If passed, SB 1345 would complicate hiring practices across various sectors by making it nearly impossible to use background checks or consider conviction history in employment decisions, including for independent contractors. Additionally, the bill would impose new administrative burdens, such as requiring written explanations of decisions, which could disproportionately impact small businesses lacking in-house legal support.
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Assembly Bill 1820: Housing Development Projects: Applications: Fees & Exactions - SUPPORT with Amendments
The VICA Board has endorsed Assembly Bill 1820 (Schiavo), which proposes increased transparency in housing developer fees to streamline affordable housing projects and minimize unexpected costs. The bill would allow developers to obtain an upfront estimate of fees and exactions from local jurisdictions, aiding in financial planning and speeding up project completion.
VICA suggests further amendments to boost the bill's effectiveness: ensuring that fees are vested at the time of disclosure to secure financial predictability, imposing penalties on local agencies that fail to provide estimates promptly to encourage adherence, and enhancing transparency about how fees are calculated to help developers anticipate costs more accurately.
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Assembly Bill 2011: Unlawful Employment Practices: Small Employer Family Leave Mediation Program - SUPPORT
The VICA Board endorsed Assembly Bill 2011 (Bauer-Kahan), which seeks to permanently establish the Civil Rights Department's small employer family leave mediation program, extending key benefits to workers and small businesses throughout California. Following the 2020 expansion of family leave rights under SB 1383 to include smaller employers, complexities for these businesses increased. AB 2011 not only aims to make this program permanent, but to also expand it to cover reproductive loss leave, enhancing support for both small employers and their workers by providing a stable framework for resolving family leave disputes.
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Assembly Bill 2294: Personal Income Tax Law: Corporation Tax Law: New Employment Credit - SUPPORT
The VICA Board voted to support Assembly Bill 2294 (Schiavo), which aims to expand California's New Employment Credit (NEC) statewide and across key industries by stimulating job creation and facilitating economic investment through 2029.
Since its launch in 2013, the NEC program has aimed to improve job prospects for groups like veterans and ex-offenders by offering a 35% wage-based credit to employers. Despite good intentions, challenges such as complex requirements and insufficient incentives have limited its impact. AB 2294 seeks to enhance the program by removing geographic restrictions, broadening eligibility across California, and including more industries like semiconductor and electric airplane manufacturing. The bill maintains the 35% credit rate and adds annual reporting to increase transparency.
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER IS FRIDAY!
Extraordinary Women in Leadership Breakfast
Friday, April 26
8:00 - 11:00 AM
Sheraton Universal Hotel
VICA's Extraordinary Women in Leadership Breakfast brings together women from all walks of life to share their experiences and challenges in the businesses world, and their stories of overcoming the odds and leading successes.
VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsors CSUN Nazarian School of Business & Economics and the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power, and Co-Sponsors Amazon, Cowe Communications, Hollywood Burbank Airport, Kaiser Permanente, SoCalGas, US Bank, and Wells Fargo!
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER!
Sacramento Advocacy Days
Wednesday, May 8 and 9 | Two-Day Trip
VICA's regular advocacy trips to the State Capitol are crucial for ensuring that legislators hear the business community's voice.
These members-only trips allow attendees to interact directly with statewide elected officials and discuss the issues that are vital to our members. Join VICA in Sacramento for one of our monthly advocacy trips, and don't miss this opportunity to have your voice heard on how legislation affects your company/organization!
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VICA University: Employers Required to Conduct Sexual Harassment Prevention Training
Tuesday, May 14
1 - 2:00 PM (Non-supervisors)
1 - 3:00 PM (Supervisors)
Via Zoom
VICA invites you to join us for this informative, 2-hour program that will cover California law required sexual harassment prevention training which applies to all employers with five or more employees. Mandatory training must take place within six months of hire or promotion, and again every two years.
Thank you to JorgensenHR for conducting this workshop.
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VICA After Dark with LAPD Deputy Chief Ruby Flores and LA City Councilman John Lee
Tuesday, May 14
5:30 - 7:30 PM
PALS - LAPD Devonshire Youth Center
(8721 Wilbur Ave, Northridge)
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In January 2024, Deputy Chief Ruby Flores became the first Latina promoted to Deputy Chief within the LAPD, and the first woman to lead the Operations-Valley Bureau - the largest command within the Department, spanning Devonshire, Foothill, Mission, North Hollywood, Topanga, Van Nuys, and West Valley.
Deputy Chief Flores is the President of the Los Angeles Women Police Officers and Associates, and she has also been honored with the prestigious "Champion of Women Award" by the Los Angeles Business Journal in 2022. The Deputy is also a member of the National Association of Women Law Enforcement Executives, the Police Executive Research Forum, the Latin American Law Enforcement Association, the California Peace Officers' Association, and the International Association of Chiefs of Police.
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LA Councilman John Lee (CD12) was first elected to the Los Angeles City Council during an August 2019 special election, and he was re-elected to his first full term in March 2020. As a CD12 resident of over 40 years with John found his passion for public service at an early age when he first began volunteering for local nonprofits while in middle school.
A lifelong public servant, Lee has been serving this community his entire adult life. His extensive understanding of the City’s legislative and budget processes and day-to-day operations gives him tremendous insight into what works and what doesn’t at City Hall. With an agenda focused on public safety, supporting local businesses, and providing core city services, Lee is committed to putting the neighborhoods of the Twelfth District first and ensuring that his constituents have a voice at City Hall.
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Drinks and hors d'oeuvres will be provided by Presenting Sponsor & Host
LAPD Devonshire PALS.
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VICA Thanks Our Renewing & New Members! | | |
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Renewing Members
Gold Member
Silver Member
Bronze Members
Members
New Members
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Labor & Employment Committee
Wednesday, May 1
8:30 to 10:30 AM
Hosted by Hilton Universal City
RSVP
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Education Committee
Thursday, May 2
8:30 to 10:30 AM
Hosted by Los Angeles Valley College
RSVP
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Not-For-Profit Committee
Wednesday, May 8
8:30 to 10:30 AM
At the VICA Office
RSVP
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SPECIAL: International Trade Committee
Tuesday, May 14
8:30 to 10:00 AM
At the VICA Office
RSVP
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Government Affairs
Committee
Wednesday, May 15
Noon to 2:00 PM
At the VICA Office
RSVP
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Transportation Committee
Tuesday, May 21
8:30 to 10:30 AM
Hosted by The Garland
RSVP
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California's Unemployment Woes
California's massive budget deficit and relatively high joblessness have become major barriers to reducing the billions of dollars of debt it has incurred to pay unemployment benefits. The surge in unemployment brought on by the pandemic pushed the state's unemployment insurance trust into insolvency. Sacramento has been borrowing billions of dollars from the federal government to keep the safety-net program operating when the taxes paid by employers and earmarked for jobless benefits are insufficient. The debt now stands at nearly $21 billion and growing, an increasing burden for the state deficit and businesses that pay into the program.
Disney Expansion Takes Step Forward
Disneyland's proposal to rezone its land to make way for new shops, restaurants, and hotels took another step forward during Tuesday's Anaheim City Council meeting. The council unanimously approved the project at the end of an eight-hour meeting that began Tuesday evening and ended early Wednesday morning. A second Council vote for final approval of Disney's plan is required in May. Disney says it will invest millions in affordable housing, traffic flow in structure, and much more as part of the $1.9 billion proposal. The city's planning committee voted last month to move forward with the plan.
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Calls for Oversight on Homeless Efforts
Frustrated over the lack of progress on homelessness in California, Governor Newsom has called for increased efforts to oversee cities and counties that receive state funds to hold them accountable for delivering results. Newsom's more aggressive stance is the latest example of the governor wanting local governments to do more to reduce homelessness, which has worsened during his tenure despite more than $20 billion in state funds spent on programs to help over the last five years. The Governor's plan seeks to expand a unit created in 2021 to enforce local compliance with state housing law.
Reform Prop 47 Proposal Taking Shape
On Thursday, a coalition backing a tough-on-crime statewide ballot initiative to increase penalties for retail theft and some drug offenses submitted more than 900,000 voter signatures backing the measure, a strong indication that it may come before California voters in November. The ballot initiative, called the Homelessness, Drug Addiction and Theft Reduction Act, seeks to change Proposition 47, approved by voters in 2014. It would toughen penalties for retail theft and require drug treatment for those charged with simple drug possession. The initiative would also seek to reform housing, drugs, and theft all in one.
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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 yoko@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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