July 14, 2023

• VICA Advocates in Sacramento
• VICA Voices Opposition at LA County
• VICA Voices Support for Harvard-Westlake River Park Development
• VICA Members Join City Commission Boards
• VICA Welcomes New Hire

Quick Jump - Register to Attend!

• Local Officeholders Luncheon 8/10

“Over the past few years, our Film and Television Tax Credit Program has helped create thousands of good paying jobs, relocated productions to California, and brought billions in new investment to our state. Through the extension of the program, we’ll continue this growth, protect jobs, and push for progress on diversity so workers better represent communities throughout our state."

Governor Gavin Newsom

Statement on Extending the Film and Television Tax Credit in California

VICA Members Return to Advocate in Sacramento before Legislative Recess

From left to right: VICA President Stuart Waldman, VICA Legislative Manager Abby King, VICA Board Memember Eileen Ryder (Parsons), State Senator Roger Niello, VICA Vice Chair Ross Pendegraft (Leavitt Group), Nirvan Rayamajhi

On Wednesday, VICA members returned to Sacramento as the state legislature approaches the July 14th deadline for policy committees to meet and report bills.

VICA members met with Assemblymembers Miguel Santiago, Steven Bradford, Liz Ortega, Eduardo Garcia, Kate Sanchez, Chris Holden, and Avelino Valencia and State Senators Richard Roth and Roger Niello, and Janet Nguyen and their offices.

VICA members advocated for permanent streamlining for land use development projects, right-of-way development on religious and private university land, removing parking requirement barriers, expanding opportunities to sell alcoholic beverages in designated entertainment zones, and tenant protections during interactions with law enforcement. VICA advocated in opposition to proposals including limits on security deposits for rental properties, expansion on time in which a business must indicate mass layoffs, healthcare minimum wage increases, and expanded time off benefits.

VICA members with Assemblymember Miguel Santiago

VICA Members and Assemblymember Kate Sanchez

VICA members with Senator Steven Bradford

VICA Voices Opposition to County Proposal to Guarantee Overreaching Right to Counsel

On Tuesday, VICA voiced opposition at LA County's Board of Supervisors meeting regarding the County's proposal to implement a Right to Council Ordinance.

The County of Los Angeles is planning to provide free lawyers to renters in both unincorporated and incorporated areas, but reports suggest that it needs more resources to pay for such a service, ranging from $23 to $25 million annually.

Additionally, the County is failing to fully fund County staff attorneys working as Public Defenders and Alternate Public defenders for residents facing criminal charges. The County should feasibly fund the PD and APD before they plan to provide free legal services for renters.

Moreover, the County's proposal to override incorporated cities' authority to make decisions for their residents needs to be more ethical and uphold every incorporated city's ability to address its resident's concerns. The County does not have the jurisdiction to pursue "Universal Access" to the Right to Counsel, nor should it use taxpayer money to fund radical tenant advocacy groups, legal organizations, and "philanthropic entities."

VICA will continue to advocate against overreaching proposals that seek to undermine the legitimacy of incorporated cities and add additional costs to residents of the County.

VICA Voices Support for Harvard-Westlake River Park Project

On Wednesday, VICA voiced support for Harvard-Westlake's proposed River Park facility at LA City Planning Department hearing on the project.

In 2017, Harvard-Westlake School purchased the Weddington Golf and Tennis facility, and now they are seeking City approval to transform it into an athletics facility called Harvard-Westlake River Park.

This new facility will feature two soccer fields, a running track, a gym, a pool, eight tennis courts, a public plaza, and a walking path. The River Park will be open for public use and features many amenities the community can enjoy, such as a café, putting green, and plazas. The new tennis courts will be open to the public daily, and the other facilities will be available for use by nonprofit organizations and the community at different times. Harvard-Westlake has partnered with various nonprofits, such as the Boys & Girls Club and the Special Olympics, to use the River Park.

The project will also provide environmental benefits, including significant water savings, increased tree coverage, native landscaping that supports wildlife and birds, and a significant investment in solar power. Rather than commercial or residential development, the River Park will preserve green open space for students and the community.

VICA supports Harvard-Westlake on its initiative to support more recreational and community activities for those in the San Fernando community.

VICA Members Appointed to LA City Commissions

VICA is proud to share that several VICA members have been appointed as LA City Commissioners. We will continue to highlight them in the coming weeks.

We are proud to announce VICA member Hrag Manuel Hamalian's recent appointment to serve on the Board of LA City's Workforce Development.

Hrag currently serves as the Chief Executive Officer of Bright Star Schools. Hrag has strategically grown Bright Star Schools from four to nine schools and created a community-based school model that provides transitional kindergarten to 12th-grade education and six years of higher education support for over 3,500 students across Los Angeles.

Prior to joining Bright Star, Hrag founded Valor Academy Middle School, a high performing 5th through 8th-grade charter public school in Los Angeles. In 2013, Hrag helped lead the strategic merger of Valor and Bright Star, the first merger between two successful charter organizations in Los Angeles.

Hrag is a Broad Academy Fellow, Aspen Institute Fellow, an Achievement First Accelerator Fellow, a Building Excellent Schools Fellow, and a Teach for America Corps Member. He serves on the Board of Directors for ExEd and Building Excellent Schools.

Rail Service, Including Metrolink, Pacific Surfliner, Set to Resume Through San Clemente July 17

Metrolink recently announced that rail service through San Clemente will resume on Monday, July 17. The emergency work completed in partnership with the Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) and the Los Angeles-San Diego-San Luis Obispo Rail Corridor (LOSSAN) was successful in stabilizing the track. We appreciate the support and collaboration of our partners toward the shared goal of resuming safe rail service for Metrolink and Amtrak passengers.

If you have any questions or wish to discuss, please contact Julie Nieto of Metrolink Government Relations at NietoJ@scrra.net or (213) 452-0224.

For more information on Metrolink service please click the link below.

SoCalGas Analysis Underscores Need for Clean Fuels Investment to Maintain Grid Reliability

Today SoCalGas published a new report titled The Evolution of Clean Fuels in California Reliability Analysis that expands on the company’s 2021 Clean Fuels Study (CFS) that reveals new insights into how California can achieve net-zero emissions by 2045 without sacrificing grid reliability as electric demand grows.

The analysis underscores that by 2045, considerable renewable generation resources, like wind, solar, and batteries will be needed, including up to 10 more GW of clean renewable hydrogen generation to shore up CFS electric portfolios.

You can find more information on the analysis on their website here. Click the link below to read the full report The Evolution of Clean Fuels in California.

VICA Has New Staff and Interns

VICA would like to introduce our new addition to the team - Daniel Sipprelle, who joined us this week as our new Executive & Legislative Affairs Assistant.

Daniel is a lifelong resident of Southern California, having been raised in Santa Monica and now residing in Thousand Oaks. Daniel recently graduated with honors from the University of California, Davis, with a B.A. in Political Science. He previously worked as the Legislative Intern for VICA during the summer of 2022, during which he gained key experience in legislative affairs, committee planning, and member outreach.

Daniel is most excited to join VICA’s full-time staff to form meaningful connections with its partners, work on big events, and help the organization improve California’s political and economic environment on behalf of the business community and residents.

Please reach out to Daniel@vica.com to send him a warm welcome to the VICA team.

VICA would also like to introduce our newest intern, Aroa Kim.

Aroa Kim is currently an undergraduate student at the Georgetown University's McDonough School of Business, where she is pursuing a dual major in Operations, and Analytics and Finance. She enjoys exploring animation during her free time, as it allows her to delve into storytelling through visual mediums. She also participates in competitive golf since elementary school and continues to play as a member of the Georgetown Club Golf team.

She is excited to contribute to VICA and is eager to collaborate with members of our Association.

Members

VICA Thanks Our New and Renewing Members!

Premier Partner:

• Farmers Insurance Group (2012)

Bronze Member:

• Initiating Change in Our Neighborhoods - ICON CDC (2022)

Events

LAST CHANCE FOR EARLY BIRD TICKETS AND SPONSORSHIPS:

Local Officeholders Luncheon

August 10 | 11:30 AM

Sheraton Universal Hotel

Local Officeholders representing Los Angeles County, the City of Los Angeles, and other Valley cities join VICA and its members to discuss the pertinent issues facing businesses during the annual Local Officeholders event. Attendees have the opportunity to formally ask questions on a wide range of topics.

The Week Ahead 

Aviation Committee

Tuesday, July 18

Noon - 1:30 PM

Hosted by the Aerolease Group

RSVP

Government Affairs Committee

Wednesday, July 19

Noon - 2:00 PM

At the VICA Office

RSVP

Save the Date 

Labor & Employment Committee

Wednesday, August 2nd

8:30 - 10:30 AM

Hosted by Hilton Universal City

RSVP

Land Use Committee

Tuesday, August 8

8:30 - 10:30 AM

Hosted by The Garland

RSVP

Education Committee

Thursday, August 3rd

8:30 - 10:00 AM

Hosted by Los Angeles Valley College

RSVP

Non-Profit Committee

Wednesday, August 9

8:30 -10:30 AM

At the VICA Office

RSVP

VICA In the News

Get Some Rest

City Watch | July 10

Hot News

Industrial Welfare Commission Revived

A small line item is folded into California's $310 billion budget agreement - $3 million to resurrect an obscure old state commission that once regulated industries from factories to farms to laundries. The budget deal between the Legislature and Governor Newsom would reconvene the Industrial Welfare Commission, dormant since 2004, to issue new rules on wages and working conditions for specific industries. The budget does not specify an industry for the commission to focus on, but does direct it to prioritize industries with 10% or more workers living below federal poverty.

Mildred Garcia named CSU Chancellor

Mildred Garcia, a longtime higher education leader, was named chancellor of the California State University system on Wednesday, stepping into the top position at a fraught time for the nation's largest public four-year university system. Garcia will become the 11th Chancellor and first Latina to lead the 23-campus system. She is credited with improving Cal State Fullerton's Four-year graduation rate by 65% and won recognition from educational groups for closing achievement gaps.

Opposition Grows Against AB 1228

More than 162 businesses, franchise owners, trade associations, and chambers of commerce are looking to oppose a bill they say would turn locally owned and operated restaurants into corporate-run establishments, stripping franchisees of their authority to operate as small businesses. AB 1228, authored by Assemblymember Chris Holden, looks to address legal and civil liabilities and responsibilities for franchise owner violations. Opponents of the bill say it will invite frivolous lawsuits, as franchise owners could be sued under PAGA.

Fires Erupt as Heat Wave Descends CA

Several Wildfires ignited across Southern California on Tuesday - including one that torched several Riverside County buildings- highlighting the region's dangerous conditions during this week's heat wave. Temperatures throughout the region between Tuesday and Saturday are expected to reach as high as 112 degrees, with overnight lows in the 70s and 80s. However, the coast will be cooler, with high temperatures expected to be in the 70s and mid-80s.

Member Messages

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