"We are powering Los Angeles' economy to new heights every year...and we will continue pushing forward as we expand our role on the world stage, and prepare to welcome the Olympic and Paralympic Games in 2028."
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Mayor Eric Garcetti on LA's record-setting 48 million visitors in 2017
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VICA-Supported Bills Move
Forward
in the Legislature
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As some important deadlines passed in the California Legislature, VICA continues to amplify the voice of the San Fernando Valley business community.
VICA has been working for more quality housing and infrastructure for the Valley, encouraging flexibility for employees, lowering taxes for businesses, and maintaining choice in energy consumption, among other issues. In order to address the statewide housing crisis, VICA is advocating in support of bills, like AB 831 and AB 3037, that remove barriers to increased residential construction and ultimately lower housing costs.
VICA is making sure that the Valley's perspective is heard loud and clear in the State Capitol and has already played an instrumental role in defeating some bills that would harm business. These include bills like AB 1759 and AB 1745, which threatened to derail Los Angeles County's transformative transit improvement and expansion plans and would have severely limited mobility options for Californians.
Stay informed by following VICA's Twitter account
@VICASFValley for updates and alerts.
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Spotlight on
VICA Committee Leadership
Lily Lee,
Co-Chair of VICA's Energy, Environment & Utilities Committee, is the Public Affairs Manager for
Waste Management
in Los Angeles, California. She is responsible for community relations, communications, and external affairs. Her current responsibilities include serving as the company's liaison in communities where it does business; account setup coordination; review of charitable and political contribution requests; municipal contract compliance; local and state ethics compliance. As an aide to former Mayor Tom Bradley, she was introduced to VICA in the course of working with business organizations to engage them in the public decision process.
How is VICA valuable to you or your business?
The majority of VICA's members are Waste Management's customers in the San Fernando Valley. Being active in VICA allows us to stay engaged with our customers. Through its committees' work, VICA is able to submit thoughtful input to legislators at all levels of government as they propose or enact policies and laws that impact businesses in the region.
Why should prospective members consider becoming more involved with the Energy, Environment & Utilities committee?
As the city, county and state move towards establishing a more clean and sustainable climate, VICA considers the business perspective on issues such as water infrastructure, clean and green technology, and environmental regulation. VICA members will find that the issues we discuss at EE&U impact them directly either as business owners, tax payers or utilities customers.
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VICA Members Meet Jesse Gabriel for
Business Leaders Breakfast
Candidate for the 45th Assembly District Jesse Gabriel met VICA members to discuss key priorities for the Valley business community as he prepares to represent the district in Sacramento. Our members briefed Gabriel on the housing crisis and solutions that VICA has supported in the past, updated him on transportation projects, and discussed the strength of the Valley's higher education institutes.
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Meet L.A. City Administrative Officer
Richard H. Llewellyn, Jr.
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Wednesday, June 13, 2018
5:30 - 7:30 p.m.
Los Toros Mexican Restaurant
21743 Devonshire St., Chatsworth
VICA Members enjoy hosted
drinks and appetizers as they
meet and interact with other
prominent business leaders
from the community.
VICA After Darks are complimentary to VICA members.
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VICA Celebrates New Train-to-Plane Connection in
the
San Fernando Valley
Years of advocacy by VICA and other Valley groups culminated in the opening of a new
Metrolink Antelope Valley Line rail station that will connect travelers with the
Hollywood Burbank Airport. VICA President Stuart Waldman was thrilled to join Mayor Eric Garcetti, Supervisor Kathyn Barger, Assemblymember Dante Acosta, Los Angeles Councilman Paul Krekorian, Glendale Councilman Ara Najarian,
Metro, Metrolink and other officials on Thursday to celebrate the completion of this new station, which will help reduce vehicle trips on the I-5 freeway and roads in the many residential neighborhoods near the airport. Air travelers will be able to seamlessly connect to and from the new station via a free shuttle operated by the Hollywood Burbank Airport. The station will officially open to the public on Monday, May 14.
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Guest Post: VICA's Business Advocate Blog
Barbara Oberman,
Barbara C. Oberman Insurance Services, Inc. discusses a new bill which would require employers to provide employees a scheme to set aside up to $260 per month of their paycheck pre-tax to cover the cost of ride sharing, van pools, and transit.
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Transportation (5/8)
Hosted by The Garland
- Michelle Boehm, Regional Director for the California High-Speed Rail Authority, presented an update on the high-speed rail's business plan and local infrastructure investments.
- Tim Mengle, Director of Finance for Metro, presented on Metro's 2019 proposed budget.
- The Committee recommended to support AB 2548 on commute benefit policies and to oppose AB 3059 on congestion pricing pilot programs.
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Energy, Environment & Utilities (5/10)
Sponsored by The Metropolitan Water District of Southern California
- Mark Pestrella, Director for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Works, presented to the committee on the County's proposal to implement a 2.5 cent parcel tax per square foot on property owners which voters can expect to see on the November ballot.
- The committee recommended to support the Water Supply and Water Quality Act of 2018, which is a $8.877 bond measure that will be on the November ballot. The committee also recommended to support AB 3170, a bill which exempt water conservation products from sales and use taxes during the last weekend in March; and recommended to oppose SB 623, a bill which would impose a water tax on each customer of a public water system.
- The committee recommended to support SB 1477, which would develop an incentive program for developers who install low-emission technologies in their new or existing buildings.
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Member Messages:
Get Your Message in VICA Weekly!
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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.
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