April 12, 2019

In This Issue
"I really do believe that competition is going to solve the problem. Rent control is exacerbating the situation. "
- Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger 

Media Mention 
LAUSD Tax: Is It Really All About the Kids?
Fox & Hounds
April 5

L.A. Business Groups Gear Up for an Opposition Campaign
Los Angeles Daily News
April 6

L.A. County Supervisors Vote to Extend Rent Increase Cap Through 2019
Los Angeles Times
April 9

L.A. Schools Chief Austin Beutner Says No Major Restructuring is in the Works
Los Angeles Times
April 10



Members

VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members
____________________

PLATINUM MEMBER
(2009)

BRONZE MEMBER
 
(2017) 
__________________

Aeroplex /Aerolease
(2013)
__________________

 
Calendar

The Week Ahead

Government Affairs Committee
Hosted by Penny Lane Centers
Wednesday, April 17
8:30 to 10:30 a.m.
Penny Lane Centers
15314 Rayen Street, North Hills
Click here to RSVP

CSUN Policy Roundtable: Homelessness
Friday, April 19
1:00 to 3:00 p.m.
California State University, Northridge Student Union
9344 E. University Drive, Northridge
Click here to RSVP

Save The Date

Newsmaker Connection Council District 12 Election Forum
Tuesday, April 30
7:30 to 9:30 a.m.
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys
Click here to RSVP

Labor & Employment Committee
Hosted by Sun Hill Properties / Hilton Universal City
Wednesday, May 1
8:30 to 10:00 a.m.
Hilton Universal City
555 Universal Hollywood Drive, Universal City
Click here to RSVP

Education Committee
Thursday, May 2
8:30 to 10:00 a.m. 
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys 
Click here to RSVP

Leaders Forum with Los Angeles Rams COO Kevin Demoff
Thursday, May 2
11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
The Garland
4222 Vineland Ave., North Hollywood
Click here to RSVP

Energy, Environment & Utilities Committee
Sponsored by Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
Thursday, May 9
Noon to 1:30 p.m.
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys
Click here to RSVP



Hot Issues 

City Ethics
On Wednesday, Los Angeles officials took a tentative step toward clamping down on political donations from real estate developers.

Utilities
Governor Newsom warned that PG&E's rates could double if it is found liable for another large scale wildfire. A memo from the UC Berkeley School of public policy indicated that if wildfires persist at recent levels, all customers of the major electric utilities had to bear the burden, rates would have to go up 50% in the first year alone. 

Tax Cut or Tax Hike
According to the Franchise Tax Board, 1 million households are paying more taxes this year because of the new cap on state and local tax (SALT) deductions. Officials fear that the loss of SALT deductions could give wealthy Californians an incentive to leave the state. This would pose a threat to California's finances since the state relies on people making $500,000 a year or more for half of all personal income tax revenue.

Housing
The Los Angeles City Council Housing Committee moved forward with a proposal that would prevent landlords from denying rental applicants based on their source of income, including Section 8 housing vouchers. 
 
Charter Schools
A VICA-opposed package of anti-charter school bills passed out of the Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday. The proposed bills would cap the number of charter schools in the state, and give school districts broad discretion to deny new and renewing charters.  

Gas Prices
The price of gas in Southern California has climbed rapidly in the last few weeks as six oil refineries across the state experience maintenance issues. Because California produces the majority of its gas, the state has trouble replacing lost or reduced production.



Standing Up For Independent Contractors, Housing, Education, and Developmental Disability Service Providers in Sacramento
Ivo Paseta (Pegasus Transit), Ross Pendergraft (Leavitt Group), Baldo Paseta (Pegasus Transit), Jon Graff (The Reason Foundation), Assemblymember Autumn Burke, Natasha Fooman (California Financial Service Providers Association), Stuart Waldman and Armando Flores (VICA), Juan Almenara (Pegasus Transit)

This week, VICA met with lawmakers to discuss important legislation and business priorities during our April Sacramento trip.

The VICA delegation met with Assemblymembers Autumn Burke, Timothy Grayson, Kevin Kiley and Phil Ting, as well as Senator Holly Mitchell. VICA members also met with senior staff from the offices of Senator Anthony Portantino and Assemblymembers Jim Frazier and Todd Gloria. The delegation focused on supporting bills that protect independent contractors, provide funding to support Californians with developmental disabilities, increase housing development near transit, support high-quality charter schools, and expand nightlife.

VICA will return to Sacramento for a two day trip with the California Chamber of Commerce on May 22 and 23. Be sure to RSVP and make your voice heard in the Capitol!

Click here to RSVP


Tuesday, April 30, 2019
7:30 - 9:30 a.m.
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170,
Van Nuys

COUNCIL DISTRICT 12 SPECIAL ELECTION FORUM

Join VICA for a special Newsmaker Connection as candidates for Council District 12 gather to discuss issues affecting businesses across the San Fernando Valley. This special Election Forum will provide members with the unique opportunity to meet, listen and speak with the CD 12 contenders.

Confirmed Speakers
(as of 4/12/19)





Scott Abrams Jeff Daar John Lee Loraine Lundquist
Josh Yeager
This event offers attendees the freedom to ask questions and receive immediate responses from our candidates.

Breakfast is included. The event is free for VICA members. Non-members interested in attending, please contact  Helene  at the VICA Office.

Click here to register
VICA Advocates For More Housing, Not Rent Control
On Tuesday, VICA advocated against the extension of the interim rent stabilization ordinance in Los Angeles County. The six-month extension for the ordinance was passed by the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and maintains a moratorium on rent increases, caps rent hikes at 3 percent per year and imposes a moratorium on evictions without just cause for single-family homes and rental units in unincorporated areas of L.A. County. This rent control ordinance will be devastating to the rental housing market by depressing the supply of rental units, especially as California is already being suffocated by the housing crisis. VICA thanks Supervisor Kathryn Barger for voting against this harmful policy. 

For more information, email [email protected]
Spotlight on Committee Leadership
Edgar Khalatian is the chair of VICA's Land Use Committee.

Khalatian is a partner in Mayer Brown's Los Angeles office. Khalatian has extensive experience in land use regulation and obtaining entitlements for real estate development projects, including residential development, mixed-use projects, compliance with CEQA, and drafting development agreements. He was appointed to serve as co-chair of the Los Angeles Zoning Advisory Committee by Mayor Eric Garcetti.

How is VICA valuable to you or your business?
VICA is valuable to my business because it allows me the opportunity to regularly meet and interact with government officials and key members of the real estate community.  As the Valley's voice in City Hall, VICA is uniquely positioned to assist business owners.

Why should members consider becoming more involved with the Land Use Committee?
Businesses should join VICA because VICA offers an extremely unique benefit because it is the Valley's voice in City Hall.  As a VICA member, you will be kept informed of key legislation at the federal, state and local level that can impact your business. VICA also has the ability to help mold legislation to benefit business. 

The Land Use Committee will meet again on June 11.

Click here to RSVP 


Thursday, May 2, 2019
11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
 The Garland
4222 Vineland Ave., 
North Hollywood

Kevin Demoff
Executive Vice President of Football Operations and Chief Operating Officer of the Los Angeles Rams 
 
On May 2, Kevin Demoff, Executive Vice President of Football Operations and Chief Operating Officer of the  Los Angeles Rams , will discuss last year's NFC Champions, the 
Los Angeles Rams. Demoff will take time to answer members' questions and give an overview of last season, next season, and the new stadium.

Co-sponsored by BYD America

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

Click here to RSVP
Oppose Setting Bad Precedent for Private Sector Workers' Compensation Claims

SB 567 would apply to private hospital workers providing direct care. It would create a rebuttable presumption that certain injuries were sustained in the course of employment, meaning that the employee is eligible for workers compensation and the burden would be on the employer to prove otherwise. Normally, the burden is on the employee to demonstrate that the injury or illness was sustained due to their employment.

Only certain types of first responders such as paramedics, emergency medical technicians, firefighters, and police officers receive the benefit of workers' compensation presumptions for job-related injuries or conditions. SB 567 would create the first such presumption for private sector employees based solely on the fact that specific work-related risks exist for hospital workers.  Doing so would set a dangerous precedent and result in the legislature trying to identify likely injuries for every occupation in the state with the goal of creating special rules for each occupation. 

Click here to send a letter opposing SB 567


Join us as VICA continues its tradition by inducting the Valley's remarkable businesses into the San Fernando Valley Business Hall of Fame. We are looking forward to celebrating Valley businesses and 70 years of VICA members.

VICA is excited to announce that our emcee for the evening will be NBC4's Fritz Coleman.

Thursday, June 20, 2019
Sheraton Universal Hotel
333 Universal Hollywood Dr., Universal City
Reception 5:30-6:45 p.m. 
Awards 6:45-7:45 p.m.  |   Dinner  7:45-9:00 p.m.

Click here to RSVP
Support Bill to Increase Tourism and Promote Nightlife




VICA supports Senate Bill 58 (Wiener), which would allow, but not require, nine cities to permit the sale of alcoholic beverages for on-site consumption until 4 a.m., an extension from the current limit of 2 a.m. The pilot program will empower local governments to drive tourism and conferences in their cities, benefiting the California economy.

Cities rely on a vibrant nightlife to attract visitors and investment. Creating a pathway to extend opening hours will benefit the community by creating jobs, increasing tax revenue, and promoting nightlife in specific communities. Other cities around the U.S. have successful, later opening hours. Extending nightlife hours for certain cities would be beneficial for tourism and the local economy. 

Click here to send a letter supporting SB 58

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.