This week, VICA advocated against Assembly Bill 257 (Gonzalez), which would enact the Fast Food Accountability and Standards (FAST) Recovery Act, eliminating franchisees’ authority as small business owners and destroying the franchise model.

Fast food restaurant franchises are a proven pathway to business ownership for thousands of Californians, and preserving the small business franchise model would promote continuing economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis. AB 257 would fundamentally change the contractual terms between independent franchises and the national brand by stripping franchisees of their independence. Additionally, AB 257 is rife with misconceptions regarding franchises that are not supported by data. The bill makes improper assumptions about operational responsibility and abuses within the franchise model. In reality, every franchisee running a good business supports punishment of bad actors, and there is no evidence that the existing legal and regulatory framework in place is insufficient to bring these bad actors to justice.

Finally, AB 257 would empower a small Council of non-representative individuals to exercise powers over businesses that supersedes state law, further burdening our small businesses and blocking our economic recovery. Complying with arduous standards will lead to business closures, higher prices for consumers, and reduced job opportunities for entry-level workers.

This week, VICA emphasized our strong support for the North Hollywood to Pasadena Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) project F1 alignment.

This project will be a key regional connection that will provide convenient access to many employers, activity centers, complement existing regional bus lines, offer competitive travel times, and enhance connectivity to Metro and regional rail services. This project provides a greener alternative to live, work and play in the diverse community of the San Fernando Valley and across the region. This BRT will provide an equitable connection to employees and students to the many destinations in the San Fernando Valley. This project is part of the 28 by 28 Initiative approved by Metro in 2018, and so far, we are on schedule to have this project completed by the 2028 Olympics – which we are all excited about.

We are excited to see this project connect the San Fernando Valley and San Gabriel Valley. Approval of the alignment will allow the project to move forward into preparing and completing the Final EIR bringing this much needed project into fruition.

This week, VICA advocated and emphasized our strong opposition to the Emergency Order Regarding Supplemental Paid Sick Leave.

Employees have already been granted paid sick leave for COVID-19 and adding a supplemental amount for the vaccine will hurt businesses. The retroactive entitlement will further financially burden the business community by making employers liable for additional costs for supplemental sick leave. This will be especially difficult for employers who had been negatively affected due to the pandemic. Employers may not have sufficient business and tax credits to offset Paid Sick Leave. This could cause businesses to shutdown or layoff their employees. The additional paid leave requirements, on top of the newly enacted Emergency Family and Medical Leave Expansion Act and the Emergency Paid Sick Leave Act, without documentation of need would severely impede our ability to keep medical personnel and public employees on the job during this period of crisis. We must respect small businesses and allow an exemption and employees must be allowed to require documentation.

We believe that it is imperative for the City Council to be working with the business community at this time to ensure that we are protecting employers and employees. This motion will further cause undue burden and expenses to businesses in the City of Los Angeles. VICA opposed this Emergency Order Regarding Supplemental Paid Sick Leave.

This week, VICA urged the Los Angeles City Council Housing Committee to consider amendments to the Anti-Harassment draft ordinance to ensure balance and protection for all parties.

VICA can assure that the business community and housing providers condemn any form of harassment, but VICA wants to ensure that this additional local standard also adds a layer of protection from costly and frivolous lawsuits. Clarification that enumerated behaviors expressed in this ordinance must meet the definition of harassment will help reduce the amount of unfair de facto violations in order to avoid abusing the ordinance. Further, the Housing Committee needs to make the definition of harassment consistent with California Civil Code Section 527.6(b)(3), a crucial component of any anti-harassment law.

We believe that the Anti-Harassment Ordinance could benefit from these amendments stated about to protect the community from bad faith actors. VICA respectfully requested that the Committee amend the ordinance with the suggestions.

VICA continues to send out Government Handbooks to our Members, please keep an eye out for their delivery. If you need to update your mailing address, please email [email protected]. If you do not receive the delivery by the end of May, please contact Cathy.

New Members:

Join us for VICA's Leaders Forum with Councilwoman Nithya Raman

Sponsored by: Mission Community Hospital

Sponsored by: The Garland

Half of LA County residents 16 and older are now fully vaccinated against COVID-19, an encouraging milestone as the region prepares to fully reopen in June.

U.S. stock indexes closed mostly higher Thursday after economic reports showing that layoffs are falling and the economy is growing.

LAUSD announced that all campuses will reopen full time on a normal schedule in the fall, but also stated that an online option would be available to families.

SoCal home prices are at an all-time high after the median home price increased 20.2% from last year to $655,000, which is $25,000 more than the median in March.

California is giving away $116.5 million in cash lottery prizes intended to persuade millions more to get the COVID-19 vaccine before the state fully reopens in June.

The Metro Board voted to direct CEO Stephanie Wiggins to develop a financially sustainable proposal to allow students and low-income individuals to ride for free.

LA Mayor Eric Garcetti is likely to be nominated as U.S. ambassador to India by President Biden, but an official announcement could still be weeks away.

California has asked some residents to cut back on water usage by 10-20%, while farmers across the Central Valley are letting fields lie fallow.

> 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 [email protected] or call (818) 817-0545.