September 20, 2019

In This Issue

"It is time to get out of business' way."
- Los Angeles Councilmember Paul Krekorian at State of the Valley event presented by The Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce
  
Media Mentions


Newsom Signs Anti-Gig Worker Bill
September 18

PCC Superintendent / President Will Envision the College's Second Century in Rotary Address Wednesday
September 15

California Local Government May Soon Have Power to Create 'Public Banks', as Legislature Passes Bill
September 13

Which Path Shall the Valley Take
September 16

Veto SB1 to Embrace Progress Rather Than Chaining the State to a Dysfunctional Past: Mike Wade
September 16



Members
___________

VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members




(2009)


(2009)

The Week Ahead

Ambassador Committee
Tuesday, September 24
8:30 to 10 a.m.
VICA Office
16600 Sherman Way, Suite 170, Van Nuys
Click  here to RSVP
______________________
Save the Date
2019 Health Equity Awards
Partnership to Fight
Chronic Disease
Thursday, October 3
9 to 11:30 a.m.
Airtel Plaza Hotel Gulfstream Ballroom
Click here for the flyer

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

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

Environmental Regulations
The Trump administration revoked a special waiver that allowed California to set its own standards for carbon emissions.

California-Automakers Deal
Automakers Ford, Honda, BMW and Volkswagen plan to  continue their agreements to meet California's stricter standards, despite California's authority to set its own standards being revoked.

Proposition HHH
The Los Angeles City Council approved the use of $62 million in Proposition HHH funds to construct nine residential projects, with more than 580 low-income units, in the San Fernando Valley.  

University of California
University of California President Janet Napolitano announced her decision to step down from the position on August 1, 2020.

Homelessness
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors voted 3-2 to file an amicus brief to support an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that prevents local governments from enforcing laws against camping on sidewalks or other public spaces.

Federal Reserve
The Federal Reserve cut interest rates for a second time this year, cutting its short-term rate to a range of 1.75% to 2%.


Councilmember Bob Blumenfield Thanks the Business Community at VICA After Dark
Presenting Sponsor Charles Crumpley (San Fernando Valley Business Journal), Councilmember Bob Blumenfield, Presenting Sponsor and host Susan Disney Lord (The Bel-Air), Presenting Sponsor Randal Hernandez (Verizon) and VICA Past Chair Fred Gaines (Gaines & Stacey).


On Thursday, VICA members met at The Bel-Air for a VICA After Dark with Los Angeles City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield. The Councilmember discussed a range of topics, focusing on the importance of working with businesses to solve the City's most pressing issues, such as the housing crisis. Councilmember Blumenfield discussed the 'patient navigators' program, which provides medical services and transitional housing for those suffering from homelessness and drug addiction. He credited the program's success to partnerships with Providence Hospitals, which provide the services necessary to prevent people from falling into chronic homelessness. 

Councilmember Blumenfield also spoke on other successful examples of public-private partnerships, such as working with the LA Kings to build the City's first year round public ice skating rink on Sherman Way. He remarked that to do "the great things you want to do, you need businesses to thrive," adding that "business is the engine that keeps this community running."

Thank you to our Presenting Sponsors  The Bel-Air ,  San Fernando Valley Business Journal  and  Verizon. Thank you to our Co-Sponsor Charter Communications and Friend of VICA Southland Regional Association of Realtors.

Click here to view photos from the event.
VICA Celebrates 79.5 Percent Success Rate
As California legislators voted on hundreds of bills during the last week of the legislative session this year, VICA successfully advocated on a number of priority bills for the business community. VICA was pleased that 79.5 percent of the bills VICA advocated on in the Legislature were successful, including bills that VICA supported which were sent to the Governor and VICA-opposed bills which failed to pass out of the Legislature.
Click here to read the press release.
Urge Governor Newsom to Sign Positive Housing Bills

This legislative session, the Legislature approved a number of housing bills that would help address the Valley and California's housing crisis. VICA urges Governor Newsom to
sign  the following bills into law:

AB 1560 (Friedman) - Major Transit Stop
A VICA-sponsored bill that will allow more housing construction along high-quality transit corridors, such as Metro's Orange Line. 

AB 68 (Ting) - Accessory Dwelling Units
Allows the development more accessory dwelling unit (ADU) construction. 

AB 1197 (Santiago) - Supportive Housing and Emergency Shelters
Exempts supportive housing and emergency shelters from CEQA requirements.

SB 5 (Beall) - Affordable Housing and Community Development Investment Program
Leverages property tax revenue to fund affordable housing.

SB 330 (Skinner) - Housing Crisis Act of 2019
Streamlines the permitting process for housing projects for the next 5 years.


VICA urges Governor Newsom to veto AB 1482 (Ting), a rent cap bill that will depress the availability and development of rental housing stock in California. Instead of solving the housing shortage, this bill will exacerbate it. That is why we must voice our concerns.
 Click here to send a letter about AB 1482.
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


Urge Governor Newsom to Sign Common-sense Clarifications for CCPA
Under the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA), businesses face significant compliance burdens without actually improving consumer protection. VICA supported and successfully advocated for common-sense clarifications to CCPA provisions, including AB 25 (Chau), which allows employers to collect information of employees and job applicants within the context of employment; and AB 1564 (Berman), which clarifies the methods companies can offer customers to submit personal information requests, helping businesses without the structure or capacity to create a consumer request system required by the CCPA. 

These two bills now sit in the Governor's desk and will make it easier for businesses in California to provide services while protecting consumer privacy.

Urge Governor Newsom to sign AB 25 and AB 1564 into law.
Click here to send a letter about AB 25 and AB 1564.
Committee Meetings
Government Affairs Committee (9/18)
Hosted by Penny Lane Centers
  • Samuel Hughes, Assistant General Manager of Economic Development for the City of Los Angeles, presented on the Creation of Jobs and Economic Development Incentive (JEDI) Zones.
  • Flora Margheritis (Van Nuys Airport), Sarah Sheehy (Hollywood-Burbank Airport) and Mark Adams (Los Angeles World Airports) gave updates on Valley Airports and Aviation.
  • The committee recommended to oppose the Split Roll Property Tax Ballot Measure, which would remove Proposition 13 property tax protections for certain commercial and industrial properties.
  • The committee recommended to oppose the Burbank Unified School District Tax Ballot Measure, which would seek voter approval for a 10 cent-per-square-foot parcel tax on improvements on the March 3, 2020 ballot. 
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.
ABOUT VICA 
Presenting the business perspective on behalf of employers in the San Fernando Valley cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, San Fernando and Santa Clarita.

Read more about VICA at vica.com.
 
Valley Industry & Commerce Association (VICA)
San Fernando Valley, California
16600 Sherman Way Ste. 170 Van Nuys, CA 91406
Tel (818) 817-0545 * Fax (818) 907-7934 * www.vica.com

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