VICA Weekly
Valley Industry & Commerce Association
Friday, January 7
In This Issue
  • Happy New Year!
  • Quote of the Week
  • Redistricting Update
  • COVID Extended Guidelines
  • Members
  • Supporting SB 485
  • VICA Job Opening
  • Committee Recap
  • Upcoming Events
  • VICA in the News
  • Hot News
  • Member Messages
"This is a time of hope, of new beginnings, and of opportunity. So, let us take our indomitable California spirit and forge ahead together in 2022."
California's First Lady, Jen Newsom
Final Redistricting Update
VICA has been working tirelessly to ensure that the redistricting maps serve the San Fernando Valley's communities for the next 10 years, and we are proud to say that our voices have been heard.

Click here to view the Los Angeles City Council maps, which are effective immediately.

Click here to view the Los Angeles County maps, which are also effective immediately.

Click here to view the state's legislative, congressional, and Board of Equalization redistricting maps, effective after the next election.

VICA thanks our members for your involvement in this critical process. We will see you again in 10 years to advocate for a new set of maps!
All internships will be remote until further notice. For more information or to apply, please visit:

COVID-19 Extended Guidelines
Face Mask 1
The Omicron variant has quickly brought the business community back to uncertainty, with event cancellations, meetings being pushed remote, and of course, new guidelines from the government.

The state of California is extending its indoor mask mandate through February 15, 2022, while the County of Los Angeles has instituted new indoor mask mandates for employees. As soon as possible, but no later than January 17, all employers within the county are required to provide indoor workers with medical-grade masks, such as surgical masks, N95s, or KN95s.

If you need help complying with this requirement, please visit PPEUnite, which provides free masks for small businesses.
Members
VICA Thanks Our New and Renewing Members
VICA's Legislative Team is Back in Action Fighting for Business
The VICA Legislative Team called into the California State Senate Governance and Finance Committee in support of Senate Bill 485 (Portantino). This bill will extend the California Film Commission's (CFC) authority to allocate the motion picture and television production tax credits from July 1, 2025 to July 1, 2030. It will also extend the current authorization for motion picture and television production tax credits in the aggregate amount of $330 million annually from fiscal year 2024-25 to fiscal year 2029-30. Lastly, it changes the fiscal year of credit authorization from 2024-25 to 2029-30 from which the CFC would draw when adjusting for a shortfall funding all recurring television. 

VICA supports this bill because it will generate additional employment, wage payments, and economic activity resulting from movies and television shows produced in California that wouldn’t have been made in California but for the credit; the incentive will lower production costs at the margin in amounts necessary for producers to choose California instead of somewhere else. A successful tax credit results in more economic activity at the margin than its windfall benefit, but no tax credit has yet conclusively demonstrated that its benefits outweigh its costs. 

The bill has passed the Senate Governance and Finance Committee. VICA will continue to monitor this bill throughout the session.
Committee Recap
Not-For-Profit Committee (1/6)
Sponsored by The Garland

  • Matthew Swearman presented a nonprofit spotlight on the work Valley Village does.
  • Leila Lee from the Mayor's Office of Small Business & Entrepreneurship gave an overview of the L.A. Optimized Program.
  • Jan Masaoka, CEO of the California Association of Nonprofits gave updates and an outlook for 2022.
Events
Sacramento Advocacy Day
Thursday, January 20
Virtual Meeting

VICA's regular advocacy trips to the state capitol are crucial to ensuring the voice of the business community is heard by legislators. These member-only trips allow direct advocacy with state officials.
Leaders Forum with Congresswoman Karen Bass
Tuesday, January 25
IN PERSON at The Garland

VICA's Leaders Forums provide members the opportunity to learn from, engage with, and ask questions to prominent public leaders.
The Week Ahead
Transportation Committee
Tuesday, January 11
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Virtual Meeting
DEI Committee
Thursday, January 13
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Save the Date
Aviation Committee
Tuesday, January 18
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, January 19
Noon to 2 p.m.
Virtual Meeting
Sacramento Advocacy Day
Thursday, January 20
All Day
Virtual Meeting
VICA Leaders Forum with Karen Bass
Tuesday, January 25
8:30 to 10 a.m.
Live Event: The Garland
VICA In the News
SFVBJ | January 3
Hot News
Healthcare
Under a new proposal by Assemblyman Ash Kalra, California would enact a first-in-the-nation universal healthcare plan, providing health services to every residents financed by a broad array of new taxes on individuals and businesses. The legislation faces significant hurdles from the Capitol, insurance companies, hospitals, and potentially voters.

Nuclear Energy
Nuclear energy has been creeping up in public estimation, despite its long record of unfulfilled promise.
The impetus has come from government and big business, among other sources.
Billions of dollars in incentives to keep existing nuclear plants operating and to get new nuclear technologies off the drawing board were enacted as part of the $1.2-trillion infrastructure bill.

Emergency Drought
California officials Tuesday adopted a series of emergency drought rules to help the state conserve water, but many of the restrictions are already in place in the city of Los Angeles. The temporary rules adopted by the State Water Resources Control Board on Tuesday will be in effect for one year and are aimed at promoting water conservation and preventing unreasonable water waste. People who violate the rules could face up to $500.
Hollywood
Tim Hillman was preparing to start work as location manager for the Fox Network show “9-1-1" in Los Angeles on Monday, but Omicron had other plans.
To avoid the risk of an expensive shutdown if crew returning from the holidays tested positive for COVID-19 mid-shoot, the Disney-produced procedural postponed its restart to Jan. 10, he said.

Jobs
What looks to be a strong holiday shopping season has pushed Southern California retailers’ payrolls back above pre-pandemic employment levels.
In November, merchants in the four-county region added 23,400 workers compared with jobs growing 7,600 monthly in the recovery. The holiday shopping month is traditionally a big hiring period for retailers, with an average 28,000 workers added since 2000 to meet the shopping rush.

Homelessness
In an effort to address the homelessness crisis in Los Angeles, a coalition of housing advocates, labor unions and progressive activist groups plan to file for a ballot measure that would increase taxes on real estate transactions in the city to fund permanent housing for homeless people and those at risk of homlessness. The organizers hope to collect 65,000 signatures to qualify for the 2022 ballot.
Member Spotlight
Raynald Pelletier
Pelletier Architects, Inc.
Registered Architect/Owner

Raynald considers himself a bit of a health enthusiast. He enjoys yoga, meditation and learning more about how supplements and vitamins can help optimize one’s health and quality of life.

When asked some additional questions, the below was shared:

What has been your largest accomplishment or efforts made over the past year? 
Since 2021 was the first year that Pelletier Architects has been business, simply being able to provide services under my own license has been the accomplishment. Especially relating to healthcare clinics and hospitals. For 2022, I hope to branch out more into commercial projects like office and retail.

How has VICA supported your business strategy or expanded your footprint with the business community?  
VICA has been instrumental in helping me to establish roots for my business. VICA helps to define the geography of where to focus my marketing as well as meet other likeminded business people that are more than willing to give a helping hand to someone who is just starting out.
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!
MUST BE A CURRENT VICA MEMBER TO BE FEATURED!

Please keep each question response to 2-4 sentences maximum.

  1. 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…  
  2. What has been your organization’s largest accomplishment or efforts made over the past year? 
  3. Please share how VICA has supported your business strategy or expanded your footprint with the business community?  

Send responses and headshot to Shauna Carter
Member Messages
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.
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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