Our members voted, and we have listened. After months of suggestions from our policy committees, input from our board of directors, and a vote by our general membership, VICA is proud to release its 2019 Legislative Priorities. These are the top nineteen local and state policy issues that will shape VICA's advocacy efforts for 2019:

1. VICA will support the development of housing at all economic levels to address homelessness and the workforce housing crisis in Los Angeles.
2. VICA will push to reform and streamline the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA).
3. VICA will oppose attempts to raise the statewide cap on local sales and use taxes.
4. VICA will lead the effort for business tax reform in the City of Los Angeles, including implementation of the Business Tax Advisory Council's recommended plan to halve rates within five years and eliminate the onerous tax altogether within fifteen years.
5. VICA will work to support acceleration of all Measure M-funded Metro projects.
6. VICA will work to ensure the state definition of 'High Quality Transit' is sensitive to Los Angeles and the San Fernando Valley, and reevaluated to include Bus Rapid Transit projects and other transit options.
7. VICA will support the development of sports and recreational infrastructure in the Valley during preparations for the 2028 Olympics and Paralympic Games.
8. VICA will call for the reinstatement of the flexible work week that allows individual employees to request deviation from the 8-hour, five-day state mandate.
9. VICA will advocate for a minimum 65-day right to cure period before a lawsuit can be filed against an employer under the Private Attorneys General Act (PAGA).
10. VICA will push for financial penalties to be assessed in response to fraudulent workers compensation claims. 
11. VICA will work to increase existing and identify new funding sources for clean air programs that protect public health while supporting business growth.
12. VICA will work to enhance and tighten statutory time limits related to project approval and ensure they are properly enforced at the local level.
13. VICA will promote a diverse resource mix, including natural gas, renewable gas and electricity, to preserve consumer choice, ensure reasonable, reliable energy service and also protect us from the drawbacks of reliance on a single energy delivery system.
14. VICA will support increased career technical, vocational and computer science funding in schools.
15. VICA will work to ensure that federal funding remains in place for community health centers, which will guarantee access to care and protect tens of thousands of jobs.
16. VICA will advocate for local streamlining of costly and time-consuming barriers to film, television and commercial production in Los Angeles.
17. VICA will support legislation which limits the time period after termination in which a workers compensation claim can be filed.
18. VICA will work to increase reimbursement levels for Medi-Cal and Medicare to retain quality healthcare in California.  
19. VICA will work to amend the minimum salary threshold for exempt employees so that it is not linked to the minimum wage.

 

Join VICA for Access D.C.!

Join more than 200 civic and business leaders for the region's premier advocacy trip to the nation's capitol. Attendees will meet with members of Congress and senior Administration officials on priorities important to Southern California.

Trip Dates:

March 11-13

Early Bird registration fee: $850 (before February 8)

Registration fee after February 8: $950

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.