December 15, 2017

In This Issue
"We in America are operating from the grassroots - from the cities, from the states, from corporate leaders, from universities and from civil society."
   

- Governor Brown on the acceleration of local and regional climate action
Media Highlights 

The California Response to the GOP Tax Bill, 
KPCC,  
December 14  

VICA Calls for Consolidated Special Elections to Fill San Fernando Valley Vacancies
December 12  

My Holiday Wish List
December 11


Members
VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members
________________

Silver Member
(2000)  


Bronze Member

(2016)


Kramar's Iron & Metal, Inc.

Los Angeles Airport Peace Officers Association

Los Angeles Tourism & Convention Board

Oschin Partners Inc.

Rodriguez Strategies

Stacy Miller Public Affairs

V&A Inc.


Calendar

Save The Date

Transportation Committee
Tue., Jan. 9
8 to 10 am
The Garland
4222 Vineland Ave.
North Hollywood
Click here to RSVP

Aviation Committee
Wed., Jan 10
Noon to 1:30 pm
Aerolease/Aeroplex
7943 Woodley Ave.
Van Nuys
Click here to RSVP

Government Affairs Committee
Wed., Jan 17
Noon to 2 pm
Providence Tarzana Hospital
18321 Clark St.
Tarzana
Click here to RSVP

Sacramento Advocacy Trip
Wed., Jan 24
All Day
Sacramento, CA
Click here to RSVP

Ambassador Committee
Wed., Jan 24
8:30 to 10 am
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys
Click here to RSVP

Hot Issues 
Tax Reform
VICA continues to express its concerns about capping the state and local tax (SALT) deduction as leaders in the House and Senate agreed in principle to bridge the gaps between their competing versions of the $1.5 trillion tax bill.

Housing
The Los Angeles City Council has adopted two ordinances that seek to address the region's ongoing affordable housing crisis, the "Value Capture" ordinance and the Linkage Fee ordinance , in spite of strong opposition from business groups including VICA

Land Use
VICA will continue to work with LA City as they release initial concepts for the Orange Line Neighborhood Plan. The proposed plan targets five stations: Sherman Way, Reseda, Sepulveda, Van Nuys and the North Hollywood terminus.

Homelessness
The United Nations monitor on extreme poverty walked the streets of LA's skid row as part of a national tour investigating human rights conditions for the poorest U.S. citizens.
 
Politics
California Democrats will be without a supermajority in the Assembly for months and risk losing the two-thirds edge needed to pass tax and fee increases in the Senate due to member resignations amid sexual misconduct allegations. VICA has called for consolidated elections to reduce the number of trips Valley voters will make to the polls.

Net Neutrality
The Federal Communications Commission voted to repeal
 
' net neutrality ' rules, which restrict the power of Internet service providers to influence loading speeds for specific websites or apps.

Budget
California Assembly Democrats announced a budget proposal, including $4.3 billion in new spending. The proposal marks the Assembly's opening volley in six months of budget negotiations with the Senate and Democratic Gov. Jerry Brown.

Economy

The Federal Reserve is raising its key interest rate for the third time this year and foresees three additional hikes in 2018, a vote of confidence that the U.S. economy remains on solid footing 8 years after the end of the Great Recession.


Join VICA in Sacramento in 2018!
Los Angeles Department of City Planning Joins VICA at Land Use Committee
Would You Like to Host or Sponsor a VICA Committee in 2018?
Help Drive Economic Development in Los Angeles
Don't Miss Your Chance to Advertise in VICA's 2018 Government Handbook! 
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For more information or to schedule your member message, contact Helene@vica.com  or 
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