"Growing up in the San Fernando Valley, I saw firsthand how the aerospace and other local technology industries shaped the economy and culture of Southern California. On this 818 Day, we have a chance to not just celebrate this history, but harness the Valley's unique potential to foster a new generation of industries providing jobs and economic opportunity for families throughout the region."
- Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch Englander on his iNNOV818 motion to designate a Chatsworth-Northridge Industrial Core
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Business Leaders Weigh In on the Future of the Valley with LA Department of City Planning
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Principal City Planner Craig Weber and his team lead a discussion on updating the Southwest Valley Community Plans
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On Thursday, the Los Angeles Department of City Planning joined VICA members for a discussion regarding the Southwest Valley Community Plans. The Department is initiating the process of updating each of its 35 Community Plans over the next six years. The plans represent the land use element of the General Plan, a long-range planning document that captures the City's vision for the future of our neighborhoods. Its vision is captured through community input on policies and programs that guide the development and growth of these neighborhoods for years to come.
As part of the Department's goal to engage the community, Craig Weber, principal city planner, led a VICA University session to ensure Valley business leaders could weigh in on planning for projected population and employment growth in the Southwest Valley.
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Attendees participated in a map activity displaying where in the Valley they live, work, shop and play
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The business community's participation in the plan update is vital in ensuring that the vision for the Southwest Valley is accurately reflected in the City's land use policy. At this workshop, members had the opportunity to participate in shaping land use recommendations as well as voicing concerns on the long range vision for the management of growth and improvement of quality of life in the Southwest Valley. Topics discussed ranged from existing zoning issues, incentives for developers, and the impact the current Community Plan has had on businesses and developers in the Valley. Thank you to the Department of City Planning for facilitating this workshop.
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Register Now for VICA After Dark With LAUSD Board Member Scott Schmerelson
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Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2017
5:30 - 7:30 pm at The Palisades at Westcliffe,
11741 N. Manchester Way, Porter Ranch
Los Angeles Unified School District Board Member Scott
Schmerelson
was elected to represent Board District 3 in 2015. Prior to his election, he served as a Spanish teacher, secondary counselor, assistant principal and principal. Schmerelson is the treasurer of the Cuban-American Teacher's Association and is the former treasurer of the Middle Schools Principals' Association. He is currently the Executive director of Region 16 for the Association of California School Administrators, which encompasses the entire Los Angeles Unified School District. Schmerelson received his master's degree from California State University, Los Angeles.
Please join VICA for the second VICA After Dark of 2017. Hors d'oeuvres & drinks will be hosted by
The Toll Brothers.
VICA will be raffling off a Southwest Airlines (anywhere Southwest flies) Ticket at the event, as well as other raffle items. You must be present to enter to win.
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Mandatory Staffing Requirements Would Limit Access to Dialysis Services
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VICA opposes Senate Bill 349 (Lara), which would reduce access to much needed dialysis treatments for patients while increasing costs to California's healthcare providers. SB 349 will disrupt access to life-sustaining treatment by imposing arbitrary staff ratios and "empty chair" transitions, resulting in fewer available appointments, more missed treatments, and
increased hospitalizations and emergency room visits.
California's dialysis clinics currently rank among the highest in the nation for quality and outcomes. However, the dialysis clinic staff ratios and longer transition times between treatments mandated by SB 349 are solutions in search of a problem. SB 349 is unnecessary and would only lead to higher costs for patients and reduced access to dialysis treatments.
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Register Now for VICA's 2017 Business Forecast Conference
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Friday, October 20
Hilton Universal Hotel
555 Universal Dr, Universal City
Sponsorship, Advertising & Exhibit booth opportunities are available!
Click
here for an up-to-the-minute speaker list and click below for sponsorship opportunities.
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Support Local Control on Nightlife
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VICA supports Senate Bill 384 (Wiener), which would allow alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption to be sold until 4 a.m., an extension from the current limit of 2 a.m. This bill will help drive entertainment and nightlife in California while protecting local control.
SB 384 is carefully written to address many concerns about late-night drinking, and will allow the extension of licensed hours only when it is appropriate to do so. It is crafted to give flexibility to local jurisdictions. For example, a city could allow bars and restaurants in a certain area to apply for extended opening hours, or allow applications for extended opening hours only on holidays.
Cities rely on a vibrant nightlife to attract visitors and investment. Creating a pathway to extend opening hours will benefit the community as a whole by creating jobs, increasing tax revenue, and promoting nightlife within specific communities. Other cities around the U.S. have successful, later opening hours. It is appropriate and beneficial for certain localities within California to extend their nightlife hours.
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VICA Seeking Administrative Assistant
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Immediate opportunity for an Administrative Assistant for a small, but busy office in Van Nuys. The Administrative Assistant is the face of VICA for most visitors and many VICA members. While duties range from managing the front desk activities to compiling event registration, the first priority of the Assistant is always the person who calls in or walks through the door.
This is a great opportunity for an ambitious graduate to learn about advocacy and the business community in the San Fernando Valley.
If you or someone you know is a qualified candidate, click below to learn more about the requirements for the position and information on how to apply.
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Support Adjustable Reimbursement Rates for Service Providers
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Assembly Bill 279 (Holden) will extend authority to the Department of Developmental Services (DDS) and regional centers to adjust the reimbursement rates for service providers.
State legislators recognized the impact of raising the state minimum wage on developmental disability service providers and made provisions for rates to be adjusted under 2016's Senate Bill 3 (Leno). However, no such provision exists for local minimum wage increases. For the next few years, some local minimum wages will be higher than the state minimum wage before they converge in 2020 or 2021. This bill will allow for variation in reimbursement levels at the regional level to account for higher local minimum wages until that happens. As service providers begin to feel the effects of these increases to their employee costs, it becomes more important to extend authority to regional centers to vary the rates of reimbursement to reflect these differences.
Without this bill, reimbursement rates cannot be adjusted to meet local mandates, and service providers may have to reduce services or shut their doors, leading to a shortage of services available to people with disabilities in the state.
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Last Chance for VICA Board Nominations
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VICA's 2018 Board of Directors nomination and selection process is under way, and we want your suggestions! Board members must be able to attend regular board meetings and be prepared to vote on a wide variety of public policy issues. Board members must also attend regular committee meetings and VICA events. Additional responsibilities may include calling or writing lawmakers, attending press conferences, testifying, authoring editorials, interacting with top opinion leaders and more. For more information on the 2018 Board of Directors guidelines, click here.
If you or someone you know is interested in participating on the board in 2018, please click on the nomination form below and submit to Jessica@vica.com. If you don't want to serve on the board, but are interested in serving as a committee chair, please let us know that on the nomination form.
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Send VICA Your Nominations for the 2017 Harmon Ballin Award
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VICA's Harmon Ballin Community Service Award annually honors an active VICA member who has made an outstanding contribution to our community through their long-term community service activities. A nominee is someone who:
1. has been an active VICA member, and is still a Board member or is otherwise actively engaged
2. has significant and long-term involvement in philanthropic and community/public service organizations or a significant record in that area
3. is a role model as a community leader.
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On October 7, 2017, join Habitat for Humanity SF/SCV and Homes 4 Families in going Over the Edge for Veterans - a chance for the most daring donors to rappel down the Universal Hilton. 100 percent of the funds you raise will help build homes and provide services for veteran families in North Los Angeles County. Click
here to register or explore sponsorship opportunities, or call Donielle DeLeon at (818) 884-8808.
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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
Helene@vica.com
or
call (818) 817-0545.
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