October 4, 2019

In This Issue

"Here in Los Angeles, we stepped up really quick, worked with the Mayor, we have unprecedented funding, and we're intent on getting permanent supportive housing and emergency shelters built here in Los Angeles."
- Assemblymember Miguel Santiago after the passing of his bill, VICA-supported AB 1197, which will exempt supportive housing from CEQA requirements. 
  
Media Mentions

Public Banks Can Be Formed in California as Newsom Signs New Law
L.A. Times
October 2

VICA's Business Forecast Conference
October 4

California Just Legalized Public Banking
October 4


Members
___________

VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members


(1991)
_____________________

Bicker, Castillo & Fairbanks
(2007)

Center Theatre Group
(2013)

Child Care Resource Center
(2000)

Gaines & Stacey
(1997)

Paramount Pictures
(2010)

Sound City
(2018)

Stacy Miller Public Affairs
(2009)


The Week Ahead

Land Use Committee
Tuesday, October 8
8 to 10 a.m.
The Garland 
4222 Vineland Ave.,
North Hollywood
Click  here to RSVP

Not-For-Profit Committee
Thursday, October 10
8:30 to 10 a.m.
Child Care Resource Center
19809 Prairie St., 2nd Floor
Chatsworth
Click  here to RSVP

______________________
Save the Date

Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, October 16
8:30 to 10 a.m.
Penny Lane Centers
15305 Rayen St.,
North Hills
Click here to RSVP

Aviation After Dark
Wednesday, October 16
5:30 to 7:30 p.m.
Burbank Airport Marriott
2627 North Hollywood Way, Burbank
Click here to RSVP

Business Forecast Conference
Friday, October 25
7 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Hilton Universal Hotel
555 Universal Drive,
Universal City
Click here to RSVP



Hot Issues 

Supportive Housing
Governor Newsom signed into law VICA-supported AB 1197, which exempts emergency shelters and supportive housing and CEQA requirements.

Wildfires
Governor Newsom signed into law a bill that creates stricter rules for utility power shutoffs as California faces an increasing amount of planned power outages during potentially dangerous wildfire conditions.

Homelessness
Los Angeles City officials announced they will void nearly 2 million minor citations and warrants on those suffering from poverty or homelessness.

California Economy
Governor Newsom stated that California's longest period of economic growth is beginning to slow down, warning of a more modest 2020 state budget.

Housing Market
California homeowners, particularly in Southern California, are  cutting asking prices in response to stagnant growth of homebuying in past months.

Job Growth
U.S. unemployment rate fell to 3.5%, the lowest in five decades, with 136,000 jobs being added.

LAX
Starting on October 29, ride-hailing companies will be required to pick up passengers in a dedicated lot in Los Angeles International Airport, as LAX constructs its new Automated People Mover.

Public Banks
San Francisco officials want to move  forward with establishing the first municipal bank in California after Governor Newsom signed a VICA-opposed bill to allow public banks.


Support More Housing Construction in California
VICA strongly supports SB 330 (Skinner), which would make temporary changes to housing laws for a 5-year period to help expedite housing construction throughout California. Despite our State's dire need for more housing, density limits and zoning laws have been used to fight the construction of high-density housing. SB 330 would prohibit cities from changing the zoning laws to reduce the size of potential housing projects, preventing the enactment of local downzoning. SB 330 will maximize housing construction for the next five years by reducing barriers which have impeded long-awaited housing development. VICA urges Governor Newsom to sign  SB 330 into law.

Click here to send a letter supporting SB 330.
Attendees enjoy hosted drinks and appetizers as they meet and interact with other prominent business leaders from the community. 

Wednesday, October 16, 2019
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Burbank Airport Marriott
2627 N. Hollywood Way, Burbank



SCOTT SANTORO
Vice President of Los Angeles
and
West Sales for Delta Air Lines
PATRICK LAMMERDING
Deputy Executive Director of Planning
&
Development for the Hollywood Burbank Airport


CO-SPONSOR


VICA After Darks are  complimentary to VICA  members

CHANCE TO WIN:
Two round-trip tickets on Delta  (Comfort+ within the continental U.S. and Canada), as well as other raffle items.



Oppose Redundant and Expensive Health Plan Rate Reviews
VICA is strongly opposed to AB 731 (Kalra), which would impose redundant reporting requirements on health plans and insurers, increasing the cost of care for both employers and consumers.  Health plans are already required to report and make large group rate information publicly available under current law. Health insurance providers estimate that AB 731 would require 13,600 new rate reviews. T his bill would increase state costs and premiums by adding additional administrative costs on health plans, employers and the Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC), whose regulatory responsibilities and workload would expand.  Adding another layer of review does not provide any benefits to employees or employers, and only creates uncertainty about the health plan which employers have carefully negotiated for their employees.

Urge Governor Newsom to veto AB 731.
 
Click here to send a letter opposing AB 731.
Oppose Burbank Parcel Tax Ballot Measure
VICA opposes the Burbank Unified School District's (BUSD) proposed parcel tax, which will be placed on the March 2020 ballot. This 10 cent per-square-foot parcel tax will increase the tax burden on property owners, businesses and renters in Burbank. For example, a commercial building with 50,000 taxable square feet would have to pay $5,000 annually in taxes, and could be passed on to tenants in monthly lease increases. While senior citizen homeowners are exempt from the parcel tax, senior citizens who rent will not be protected by its effects. Property owners are already facing a potentially significant weakening of Proposition 13 protections on the November 2020 ballot, removing protections for existing property owners. Now is the wrong time to be increasing property taxes for years down the line, when property owners are already facing uncertainty about future taxes.

Click here for more information.
 
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