"We've made a commitment to responsible transit development and we're making progress to connect the Westside and LAX to the Valley...We want to make sure people can get everywhere.
"
- Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl at VICA's Leaders Forum
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LA County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl Speaks at VICA's Leaders Forum
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| Presenting Sponsor Nancy Starczyk (Southland Regional Association of REALTORS), Presenting Sponsor Nicholas Buford (CREWS), Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl, VICA 1st Vice Chair Lisa Gritzner (LG Strategies), VICA Board member and Presenting Sponsor Carol Kim (Health Net), and VICA President Stuart Waldman at VICA's Leaders Forum. |
VICA members joined Los Angeles County Supervisor Sheila Kuehl at the Braemar Country Club for VICA's final Leaders Forum of the year. Kuehl spoke about the County's efforts to address critical issues relating to health, transportation, energy, and housing and homelessness. She thanked Los Angeles voters for passing Measure H and HHH, which will help build additional housing and provide services for the homeless. She added that although last year the County helped house 14,000 people, another 20,000 became homeless. The key to addressing this issue, she said, is to focus on the individual: "You help people one at a time, you solve homelessnesss one person at a time." On the topic of transportation, Supervisor Kuehl is optimistic that Measure M funding coupled with public-private partnerships will help speed up the delivery of projects to better connect the Valley to other parts of Los Angeles. "We're making progress to connect the Westside and LAX to the Valley, as well as the Orange Line and Red Line to the Gold Line. Hosting the Olympics [in 2028] will help as we'll have events throughout the Valley, and we want to make sure people can get everywhere."
Thank you to the event's presenting sponsors
CREWS, Health Net Inc., Southland Regional Association of REALTORS, and co-sponsors
Comcast NBCUniversal and OutFront Media.
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Federal Tax Reform Businesses
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VICA has been closely tracking developments in federal tax reform, and the VICA board will adopt some guiding principles next week at the board meeting. The House proposal would lower the corporate tax rate to 20%, while single-proprietor or S corporation 'pass-throughs' would face a maximum rate of 25%. For individual filers, the House proposes reducing the number of brackets to three and almost doubling the standard deduction, but eliminating many deductions including the state and local income tax (SALT), and limiting deductions for new mortgages.
The House proposal would retain exemptions for charitable donations, home mortgage interest for mortgages under $500,000, and property tax up to $10,000.
The Senate plan eliminates all state and local tax deductions, including property taxes, and delays the reduction of the corporate tax rate until 2019. A detailed analysis of the tax reform proposals, including state-specific data, is available
here
. National business groups such as the U.S. Chamber are very supportive of the House proposal, and the Tax Foundation has estimated that the proposal will result in a $3,000 annual gain in after-tax income for middle-class California families. However, One-third of filers in California itemize, and as a high-tax state with high home values, the elimination of SALT and the limitation placed on home mortgage interest deductions will impact many residents.
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Watch VICA's 2017 Business Forecast Conference Online NOW!
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| VICA's biggest event of the year is now online for members to enjoy! Our 2017 Business Forecast Conference drew more than 400 guests to the Hilton Universal Hotel for an exciting day where industry leaders and experts discussed important policy issues and the economic forecast for 2018. Click here to watch videos from the conference! |
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Last Chance to Purchase Early Bird Tickets for VICA's 68th Annual Meeting
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Friday, December 8, 2017
11:30 a.m. - 2 p.m.
Warner Center Marriott
21850 Oxnard St, Woodland Hills
$100 - if purchased by Friday, November 10
$150 - members ($200 for non-members)
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CSUN Hosts Transportation Town Hall
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VICA staff joined community stakeholders and campus leaders at
California State University, Northridge (CSUN) this week for a Transportation Town Hall.
Speakers included
CSUN
staff,
Metro
, and the
CSUN Police Department,
and the discussion was moderated by VICA Education Committee Co-Chair Francesca Vega (
CSUN
)
. The panelists discussed transportation related projects in and around the university and efforts to minimize traffic impacts to the surrounding community. Karen Swift
(
Metro
)
answered questions about the feasibility study to relocate the Northridge
Metrolink
Station and the upcoming community outreach efforts related to the implementation of a bus rapid transit system in the north Valley. VICA continues to work with
CSUN
,
Metro
,
Metrolink
,
and City and County of Los Angeles to implement policies and projects that will improve multimodal access to the campus and reduce congestion in the community.
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California State Senator
Henry Stern
Monday, November 27, 2017
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Vitello's, 4349 Tujunga Ave., Studio City
California State Senator Henry Stern is a sixth-generation Californian and native of
Senate District 27. Prior to his election, Stern worked as a senior policy advisor to former California State Senator Fran Pavley.
Senator Stern has also lectured at UCLA and UC Berkeley, and is an alumnus of Harvard University and UC Berkeley Law. He sits on the Elections and Constitutional Amendments; Environmental Quality; Energy, Utilities and Communications; Judiciary; and Natural Resources and Water Committees.
Join VICA members and guests for hosted drinks and appetizers as they meet and interact with other prominent business leaders in the community. VICA After Darks are complimentary to VICA members.
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Energy, Environment & Utilities Commitee (11/9)
Sponsored by the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
- Waste Management's Director of Special Projects Doug Corcoran shared information regarding China's decision to impose stricter standards for recycling shipments and the potential impact it will have on businesses in California.
- Jacque McMillan, Governmental Affairs and Regional Representative for the Metropolitan Water District of Southern California, provided an update on the California WaterFix, including estimated costs for the project.
- Kyle Griffith of Bicker Castillo & Fairbanks and the Equitable Energy Choice for Californians Coalition discussed efforts to ensure energy and utility customers contribute equitably in the costs of clean energy.
Aviation Committee (11/8)
Sponsored by Aeroplex-Aerolease Group
- Stacy Howard of the National Business Aviation Association discussed the Santa Monica Airport Closure Appeal.
- Flora Margheritis, Airport Manager for Van Nuys Airport, shared updates on the airport.
- Officer Armond Hayrapetian of U.S. Homeland Security provided an update on customs and border protections at Van Nuys Airport.
- The Committee recommended supporting S. 1405 to authorize appropriations for the FAA and modify federal aviation programs for the fiscal years 2018-2021.
- The Committee recommended to oppose H.R. 2997, which would reauthorize the Federal Aviation Administration, and establish the American Air Navigation Corporation as a federally charted, not-for-profit organization.
Transportation Committee (11/7)
Sponsored by The Garland
- Laura Cornejo, Deputy Executive Officer for Transit Corridors Planning, and Walt Davis, Project Manager for East Valley Transit Corridor for Metro discussed the East Valley Transit Corridor and Orange Line improvements.
- Alex Davis, Government Relations Manager for Metrolink, shared updates on the Southern California Regional Rail.
- Annie Nam, Manager of Goods Movement & Transportation Finance for the Southern California Association of Governments, discussed the 100 Hours LA Initiative.
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Member Messages:
Get Your Message in VICA Weekly!
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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
[email protected]
or
call (818) 817-0545.
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