May 10, 2019

In This Issue
"Today's decision affirms that LAUSD may have made a number of mistakes in their rushed ballot measure. "
- Matt Klink discussing the Los Angeles Superior Court's decision to allow the lawsuit against Measure EE to move forward

Media Mentions

SCV Man and Woman of the Year Honorees Named
Santa Clarita Valley Signal
May 3

Fight Over LAUSD Parcel Tax Heats Up as District Defends Ballot Language, Howard Jarvis Taxpayers Assn. Files Lawsuit
Los Angeles Daily News
May 7

Scooters: Annoying or Reassuring
Fox & Hounds
May 8



Members

VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members
____________________

PRESIDENT'S CIRCLE MEMBER
(1988)

SILVER MEMBERS

(2012)


(1988)

BRONZE MEMBER

(1996)
__________________

Blumax Partners
(2018)

Craig Lawson & Company
(2010)

Los Angeles By-Products
(2014)

Los Angeles Mission College
(2017)

Los Angeles Pierce College
(2014)

Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.
(2016)
__________________

 
Calendar

The Week Ahead

Joint Transportation - Land Use Committee
Hosted by The Garland
Tuesday, May 14
8:00 to 10:00 a.m.
The Garland
4222 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood
Click here to RSVP

Government Affairs Committee
Hosted by Penny Lane Centers
Wednesday, May 15
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Penny Lane Centers
15314 Rayen Street, North Hills
Click here to RSVP

2nd Annual Great Futures for Kids Breakfast
Boys and Girls Club of the West Valley
Thursday, May 16
7:00 to 9:00 a.m.
Hilton Woodland Hills
6360 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills
Click here to RSVP

Save the Date

Two Day Sacramento Advocacy Trip
Wednesday, May 22 - Thursday May 23
Sacramento, CA
Click here to RSVP

Ambassador Committee
Tuesday, May 28
8:30 to 10:00 a.m.
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys 
Click here to RSVP

VICA University
Led by Gaspar Insurance
Wednesday, May 29
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys
Click here to RSVP

Leaders Forum with Metrolink CEO Stephanie Wiggins
Thursday, May 30
8:30 to 10:00 a.m.
The Airtel Plaza Hotel
7277 Valjean Ave., 
Van Nuys
Click here to RSVP

Aviation Committee
Hosted by Aeroplex Aerolease
Wednesday, June 5
12:00 to 1:30 p.m.
Aeroplex Aerolease
7943 Woodley Ave., 
Van Nuys
Click here to RSVP



Hot Issues 

Budget
Governor Newsom unveiled his  budget
 this week. Using the strength of the state's tax revenues, the Governor proposed a $213 billion budget, $4 billion more than what was proposed in January. Nearly half of the additional tax revenue has been put aside to pay down debts and build reserves. 


Information or Advocacy?
There are growing concerns over government entities funding information campaigns for upcoming tax increase ballot measures that have the feel of advocacy. Despite concerns from Fair Political Practices Commission, local prosecutors do not intervene. Using public funds to advocate for a tax increase is illegal under state law. 

Campaign Contributions
Lawmakers protected the loophole to allow unlimited contributions to ballot measure committees. Lawmakers can use ballot measure committee funds for consultants, polling, and travel and are not required to use the funds to advocate for a ballot measure.

Measure EE
The Measure EE election on June 4 will continue in spite of legal challenges. This week, the Los Angeles Superior Court declined to dismiss the lawsuit against LAUSD asserting that the district improperly altered ballot language without a public hearing or vote by the Board of Education. 

Oil and Gas
The Trump administration moved forward with its plan to open up federal land in California's Central Valley and Central Coast to more oil and gas drilling. The plan could result in up to 37 new oil and gas wells drilling on new land leases over the next 20 years.

Tariffs
The federal government moved ahead with plans to significantly increase tariffs on imports from China. Import tariffs on electronics, medical devices, seafood, clothing, and handbags will go from the current 10% to 25%.


Leading The Fight Against Measure EE
This week, VICA President Stuart Waldman spoke with the Democratic Party of the San Fernando Valley and the Van Nuys Neighborhood Council to urge their members to oppose Measure EE.  VICA also attended the LAUSD Board meeting this week, where we raised concerns about potentially illegal changes to the ballot language and what structures, including parking garages, would be subject to the tax. These questions will significantly affect the cost of the measure and the revenue raised.

VICA is leading the coalition to oppose Measure EE, LAUSD's proposed property tax, which would assess a tax of 16-cents per square foot on all properties, This is in addition to an existing 12-cent per square foot property tax already levied by the district, and statewide tax increases dedicated to schools passed by voters in 2012 and 2016. Measure EE includes no real reforms to address LAUSD's declining enrollment, poor education results, and bloated retirement costs.

Click here to join the coalition against Measure EE


REQUIRED BY LAW
Harassment and Discrimination Training

VICA invites you and your work team to join the  Gaspar Insurance Services Harassment & Discrimination Training at the VICA office. 

Gaspar Insurance Services is offering  VICA Members a SPECIAL offer of $25/attendee
  • By January 1, 2020 an employer having five or more employees shall provide at least two hours of classroom or other effective interactive training and education regarding sexual harassment to all supervisory employees. They must also provide at least one hour of classroom or other effective interactive training and education regarding sexual harassment to all non-supervisory employees in California within six months of their assumption of a position.
  • This training must be provided once every two years, and it must be provided by qualified trainers (attorneys admitted for more than two years, Human Resources Professionals with 2 or more years of practical work experience, professors and instructors who have a post-graduate degree or a California teaching credential).
TRAINING DATES:
(Space is limited) 

Wednesday, May 29th 
Wednesday, June 12th

8:30 - 10:30 a.m. 
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, 
Van Nuys

VICA University Workshop led by:


Click here to register
Support Expanded Practice Authority for Nurse Practitioners
VICA supports Assembly Bill 890 (Wood), which would grant unsupervised practice authority to nurse practitioners. California is the only Western state that still requires a supervising physician for nurse practitioners to diagnose, treat and prescribe medicine for patients. Expanding nurse practitioner scope of practice regulations will allow nurse practitioners to achieve unsupervised practice authority and help meet the basic healthcare needs of our growing population. Unsupervised practice authority will result in cost savings to Californians from reduced emergency department hospitalizations and the lower costs of retail clinic use and primary care.

Make your voice heard! Urge the legislature to oppose AB 890.


Thursday, May 30, 2019
8:30 - 10:00 a.m.
Airtel Plaza Hotel
7277 Valjean Ave.,
Van Nuys

Metrolink CEO Stephanie Wiggins

On May 30, Stephanie Wiggins, Chief Executive Officer of  Metrolink will join VICA to discuss
Metrolink's critical role in providing transit options to Angelenos. Wiggins will take time to answer member's questions and give an overview of  Metrolink services and expanded safety features. 

Sponsorships are available - email [email protected] or call the 
VICA Office at (818) 817-0545

Click here to register
Don't Let Sacramento Throw Local Control Under the Bus
VICA  opposes Senate Bill 328 (Portantino), which would prohibit public middle and high schools from starting the school day before 8:30 a.m. This bill is based on limited academic research and Governor Brown vetoed a similar attempt last year. SB 328 will cause a significant financial burden on many school districts, which is unlikely to be reimbursed by the state. Funding for after-school programs is already dwindling, and now districts would also need to budget for before-school programs and staff. School transportation services would face additional costs to accommodate the differing start times for elementary and secondary schools. This bill would also require districts to revisit contracts with their bargaining units, which could also result in increased costs. Currently, local school boards are authorized to establish their own start times. They should retain the right to determine what best meets the needs of their students and communities. 

Make your voice heard! Urge the legislature to oppose SB 328.
Spotlight on VICA Committee Leadership
Claudette Moody is the Southwest District Director for Policy, Strategy, and Government Relations at WSP USA and co-chair of the VICA International Trade Committee. She has an MA in Government from the College of William and Mary in Virginia and a BA in Government from California State University, Sacramento. 

Why is VICA valuable to you or your business?

VICA is the premier business organization in the San Fernando Valley. WSP's active participation in the organization has informed our business decisions and broadened our business focus in Los Angeles County. We appreciate the collegiality and the ability to connect with a myriad group of dedicated professionals in a vital economic region of Southern California.  


Why should members consider becoming more involved with the International Trade Committee?
The recently implemented and proposed changes in approach to international trade at the federal level has served one purpose: a greater cognition of the interconnectedness of Southern California businesses, large and small, to international trade policy. Keeping abreast of these changes and the resulting impacts is in the interest of all VICA members. 

International Trade Committee's next meeting is on June 13.
Click here to RSVP for the June 13 International Trade Committee meeting.

Click here to learn more about VICA's Policy Committees
Job Opportunity at VICA: Membership Manager
VICA is looking for a Membership Manager who will help recruit new members, re-sell dropped (canceled) members, retain and provide service to existing members, and sell sponsorships and advertising. This is an excellent opportunity for a dedicated professional who wants to facilitate participation and networking in the most influential business community in the Valley. Please share this with your contacts and, to apply, email a resume and cover letter to [email protected]

Click here to read the job description



Tuesday, July 16, 2019
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Airtel Plaza Hotel
7277 Valjean Ave.,
Van Nuys

Assemblymember Christy Smith

Join VICA for our upcoming After Dark, featuring California State Assemblymember Christy Smith. Attendees enjoy hosted drinks and appetizers as they meet and interact with other prominent business leaders from the community.  VICA After Darks are complimentary to VICA members.

Co-sponsored by AT&T and the California Apartment Association

Sponsorships are still available - email [email protected] or call the 
VICA Office at (818) 817-0545

Non-members who are interested in attending are encouraged to contact Jessica @vica.com.

Click here to register
VICA President Debates Impact of Rent Control
VICA President Stuart Waldman participated in a debate with community housing advocates on rent control policies. Waldman highlighted that rents are not affordable because there is simply not enough housing, stating that rent control policies will remove the incentive to build more homes and will inflate prices for non rent-controlled units. He noted that by failing to address the state's housing shortage, rent control will inevitably fail to make rents more affordable for low-to middle-income families.

Committee Report
Energy, Environment & Utilities Committee (05/09)
Sponsored by the  Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
  • Gary Gero, Chief Sustainability Officer from the LA County Sustainability Office gave an update on the County's sustainability plan.
  • David Meza from the Southern California Gas Company gave a presentation on the future of energy in California and the use of renewable natural gas. 
  • The committee recommended to oppose AB 961 (Reyes) and SB 70 (Nielsen), and to support SB 669 (Caballero).

Join Boys & Girls Club of the West Valley's Chair Jessica Yasukochi (VICA) as her guest. To RSVP please contact [email protected]

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