Valley Industry & Commerce Association |
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- Quote of the Week
- LA City Attorney Candidate Forum
- VICA Advocacy: Digital Divide
- Job Opening: Membership & Development Manager
- 2022 Government Handbook
- Members
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- VICA Advocacy: Gov. Newsom's Budget
- Events
- News
- Committee Recap
- Member Spotlight
- Member Messages
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“In January, we proposed a pause to the gas tax increase. But now, it's clear we have to go farther. And that's why - working with legislative leadership - I'll be submitting a proposal to put money back in the pockets of Californians to address rising gas prices.” |
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Governor Gavin Newsom
Statement during his State of the State speech
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VICA Co-Hosts LA City Attorney Candidate Forum |
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Yesterday, VICA, alongside the Central City Association of Los Angeles and BizFed, hosted a LA City Attorney Candidate Forum at the Jonathan Club.
The forum gave attendees an opportunity to learn more about the leading candidates in this race before the June 7 primary election. Moderated by LA Times Editorial Board’s Kerry Cavanaugh, the candidates shared how they plan to respond to the city’s major evolving challenges and manage the city attorney’s many high-profile responsibilities including helping keep Angelenos safe, responding to lawsuits, providing legal guidance to city leaders, and more.
The forum featured candidates Hydee Feldstein Soto, Kevin James, Marina Torres, Richard Kim, and Teddy Kapur.
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Advocacy in Action: Bridging the Digital Divide |
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The VICA Legislative team called into the LA City Public Works Committee to testify on the connectivity and digital inclusion update and proposal for Universal Broadband Services.
The Strategic Planning process provides a critical opportunity to define the City’s direction to promote digital connectivity for decades to come. Currently, adoption barriers remain the largest driver of the digital divide in Los Angeles. We have enough broadband infrastructure, but not enough adoption of service due to a variety of reasons. The City must consider that many consultants are preying on local governments, including LA City and LA County, often offering unrealistic solutions and unfounded promises. It is critical that existing providers are consulted to ensure that there is not a duplication of efforts, particularly given the hundreds of billions of assets already deployed throughout the City.
VICA urged the Committee to create accountability and transparency as part of the strategic planning process.
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Click the image to learn more and apply today! |
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We're pleased to announce our 2022 Government Handbook has been finalized! The VICA team has been working to ensure the information provided in the handbook is current and up to date for you.
The VICA Government Handbook is your pocket guide to who's who in government and at VICA. We hope it is of value to you and your efforts to communicate with elected officials.
We will contact you once our Government Handbook is ready for distribution.
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VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members |
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Platinum Member:
Bronze Member:
Members:
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Advocacy in Action: Gov. Newsom's $2.3 Billion Budget |
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VICA showed its strong support for Governor Gavin Newsom's proposed $2.3 billion budget to address our current supply chain challenges by sending letters of support to Californian legislators, namely Speaker Rendon, President Pro Tempore Atkins, Assemblymembers Ting, Bloom, Carrillo, and Senators Skinner, Durazo, Wieckowski, and Kamlager.
In the wake of the pandemic, our ports have seen record cargo volumes, demonstrating our strength while exposing weaknesses in our good movement systems. To deal with system weaknesses without losing sight of our strengths, the state must provide comprehensive funding. The proposed budget will create the nation's first Goods Movement Workforce Training Campus to attract workers, address skill shortages, and provide advancement opportunities. In addition, funds will be allocated to support zero-emission infrastructure, enhancing the ports' ability to reduce pollution and greenhouse gases and allowing high-priority port-related projects to expand system capacity. The proposed budget will also include funding for digitizing the freight system while incorporating safeguards to protect jobs and information.
This budget proposal offers California a unique opportunity to transform its goods movement system in a time when it is more critical than ever. VICA urges the state to position itself to mitigate port congestion, assert trade leadership, and establish competitive advantages. As always, VICA will continue to support and advocate for its members and California's goods movement sector.
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State Officeholders Dinner
Friday, April 22
Stage 29 at Universal Studios Hollywood
VICA’s State Officeholders Dinner provides a rare opportunity for Valley business leaders to connect with state lawmakers and participate in an informal event, allowing for fun, candid, and interactive conversation.
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Government Affairs Committee Meeting
Wednesday, March 16
12:00 - 2:00 PM
VICA Office
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Sacramento Advocacy Day
Tuesday, March 22
All Day
Sacramento, CA
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VICA Newsmaker Connection
with Joe Buscaino
Thursday, March 24
8:30 - 9:30 AM
VICA Office
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VICA After Dark with Darren Kettle
Wednesday, April 6
5:30 - 7:30 PM
Los Angeles Marriott Burbank Airport
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VICA's San Fernando Valley Business Hall of Fame
Friday, June 10
5:30 - 8:30 PM
Sheraton Universal Hotel
RSVP
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Gas Prices
Gas prices in Los Angeles have climbed to new heights this week, with Angelenos shelling out more than $5.50 a gallon on average at the pump. But for customers at a handful of notorious gas stations across town, $5.50 would be a bargain.
State of the State
On Tuesday evening, Newsom turned his annual State of the State address into a defiant pep talk, assuring wary residents that, the “California way” is still a beacon. Newsom touted better job creation and lower coronavirus death rates than other states, an ongoing expansion of pre-kindergarten and billions of dollars in additional funding for homelessness services during his administration.
LA Sanitation
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Auto Pollution Rules
Offshore Drilling
Whistleblower
The Los Angeles City Council voted Wednesday to have the chief legislative analyst report back on the process for investigating whistleblower complaints within the Los Angeles Police Department and what reforms might provide greater independent oversight to the process.
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Transportation Committee (03/08)
Sponsored by: The Garland
- Hilary Norton (FASTLinkDTLA) gave an update on transportation-related federal funding California is looking to acquire.
- Mark Dierking (Metro) gave an update on projects occurring throughout the Valley and southern California.
- Director Tony Tavares (CalTrans) gave an update on statewide safety policies, the Governor's initiative on Clean California, an I-5 project update, and CalTrans preparation for the Sepulveda Pass reconstruction.
- The Committee recommended an oppose position on AB 2419.
- The Committee recommended not taking a position on SB 551.
- A Legislative recap was given regarding Transportation-related bills that VICA had taken positions on.
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Healthcare Committee (03/10)
Sponsored by: Hospital Association of Southern California
- Assemblymember Adrin Nazarian, Chair for the Assembly Committee on Aging and Long-Term Care, gave an update on past healthcare legislation, current healthcare-related legislation and legislation the Aging & Long Term Care Committee is currently reviewing.
- Dr. Seira Kurian (LA County Department of Public Health) gave a COVID-19 update for on COVID-19 cases throughout the County, LA County Community Prevention Strategies, updates on the Health Officer Order and vaccination status throughout the County.
- The Committee recommended an oppose position on the Healthcare Workers Minimum Wage Ordinance.
- The Committee recommended an oppose position on ACA-11.
- A Legislative recap was given regarding Healthcare-related bills that VICA had taken positions on.
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Louise Oliver
Goodwill Southern California
Regional Operations Officer
Louise Oliver has been Goodwill Southern California's Regional Operations Officer for the Valley for nearly 20 years. She is a Valley native and graduate of Birmingham High School. Louise and her husband Jerry share a passion for travel and fine dining. They have dined at 30 Michelin-Star restaurants in the U.S. and Europe, and have visited 40 states and 13 countries. They look forward to expanding this list in 2022, with visits to three more states and one or two countries in Europe.
When asked some additional questions, the below was shared:
What has been your largest accomplishment or efforts made over the past year?
Since 1916, Goodwill Southern California has provided people with significant barriers to employment with the skills necessary to secure jobs that help build vibrant, sustainable communities. Despite the unique challenges of navigating a pandemic these last 22 months, Goodwill Southern California has continued to provide support to job seekers including people with disabilities, individuals experiencing homelessness, veterans, youth and the recently incarcerated. Our sincere thanks to the VICA community for helping to enable some of our community’s most vulnerable people to become more economically self-sufficient by providing education, training, work experience and job placement services at Goodwill.
How has VICA been able to support your business strategy?
Goodwill Southern California has a consistent challenge in sharing its mission that may not be understood by those in and around the communities it serves. As a social enterprise, Goodwill Southern California wears two hats as a business and a workforce and career development nonprofit. VICA membership offers Goodwill Southern California a vital path to networking with prominent business leaders and influential policymakers that opens doors to advocacy and collaboration in support of the goal to Transform Lives Through The Power of Work.
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Are you interested in a Membership Spotlight?
Answer the below questions, send responses and a professional photo,
and we'll ensure your in the line up for 2022!
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MUST BE A CURRENT VICA MEMBER TO BE FEATURED!
Please keep each question response to 2-4 sentences maximum.
- Please share a bit about your background and a fun fact that people would love to learn, ie: scrapbooking is your favorite hobby, you were in a band, you have traveled around the world…
- What has been your organization’s largest accomplishment or efforts made over the past year?
- Please share how VICA has supported your business strategy or expanded your footprint with the business community?
Send responses and headshot to Peter Warda
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Member Messages
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 cathy@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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