Valley Industry & Commerce Association | |
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- VICA Opposes LA City Council Eviction Restrictions
- Emergency Tax Relief for Storm Impacted Businesses
- Last Chance to Vote on VICA's 2023 Legislative Priorities
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Quick Jump - Register to Attend!
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"We are in this crisis right now and we want the mayor to succeed. We want to do everything we can. Even though it's a lot of money, it's actually a drop in the bucket of what is needed and what will be needed for the emergency efforts." | |
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Councilmember Bob Blumenfield
Statement on City Council's Approval to create $50 Million Fund for Mayor Bass' Inside Safe initiative
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VICA Opposes LA City Council Eviction Restrictions | |
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On Wednesday, VICA called into the LA City Council's Housing Committee to voice opposition to various proposals that seek to further burden landlord's with the task of solving the city's homeless crisis.
VICA called on the city council to end the extended pandemic era renter protections which Mayor Garcetti had called an end effective January 31, 2023, and voiced concerns with regards to the expansion of eviction restrictions into single-family homes which are an overreach that will impact individuals on temporary assignment in the city.
VICA also voiced concerns about the adoption of tenant relocation assistance protections for economic displacement, that would prevent business owners from being properly compensated for their services based on mutually agreed contract terms.
VICA will continue to monitor and advocate to end pandemic-era eviction policies.
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Emergency Tax Relief for Storm Impacted Businesses | |
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Business owners and taxpayers impacted by California's winter storms are now eligible for emergency tax relief from late payment interest and penalties.
Impacts of the storms have been felt throughout the state and small business owners impacted by floods, power outages, and other storm hardships may request up to three months to file their tax returns.
Taxpayers who face return deadlines between January 4, 2023, and January 31, 2023, who are granted relief will not have to pay interest and penalties if they cannot file their returns and pay taxes and fees by the original due date.
Impacted taxpayers can request relief on the CDTFA website; by phone at 1-800-400-7115; at a field office, or by mail at the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration.
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LAST CHANCE TO LET US KNOW - VICA's 2023 Legislative Priorities | |
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At the end of 2022, VICA gathered recommendations from our members on what they believe are the most important legislative priorities for 2023. After working to consolidate this list of recommendations, we are now turning back to our members to vote on their top ten priorities for the new year.
VICA members, you should have received VICA's 2023 Legislative Priorities survey (distributed through SurveyMonkey) in your email one more time this week. If you have not yet filled out the survey, this is your last chance! If you are a member and did not receive the survey, or have any questions, please email Cathy at cathy@vica.com.
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VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members! | |
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State Officeholders Dinner
Friday, February 24 | 5:30 PM
Universal Studios Hollywood
VICA's State Officeholders Dinner is a unique opportunity to engage with officeholders in a casual Q&A format. Cocktails, appetizers and dinner are provided, along with great networking and conversation opportunities with our elected officials.
VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsors Amazon, Comcast NBCUniversal, and Kaiser Permanente.
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Extraordinary Women in Leadership Breakfast
Wednesday, March 15 | 8:00 AM
Hilton Universal City
VICA’s Women’s event brings together women from all walks of life to share their experiences, challenges in the
business world, overcoming odds and leading successes.
VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsor Los Angeles Department of Water & Power and the University of Phoenix, in partnership with CSUN Nazarian College
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ACCESS D.C.
March 28, 2023 - March 30, 2023
Washington, D.C.
ACCESS D.C. is the region's largest annual advocacy trip, connecting more than 200 businesses and civic leaders with federal lawmakers on issues ranging from immigration and education to transportation and healthcare.
For more information on ACCESS D.C., including registration information, pricing, and a tentative schedule, click the button below:
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Labor & Employment Committee Meeting
Wednesday, February 1
8:30 - 10:00 AM
VICA Office
RSVP
Education Committee Meeting
Thursday, February 2
8:30 - 10:00 AM
Hosted by LA Valley College
RSVP
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Ambassador Committee Meeting
Wednesday, February 1
Noon - 1:30 PM
VICA Office
Sponsored by Boy Scouts of America– Verdugo Hills Council
RSVP
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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee
Tuesday, February 7
Noon - 1:30 PM
VICA Office
RSVP
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Treasury to Take Measures on Debt
The countdown toward a possible U.S. government default began Thursday with Treasury implementing accounting measures as a stopgap, while frictions between President Biden and House Republicans raise alarms about whether the U.S. can sidestep a potential economic crisis. The Treasury Department said in a letter to congressional leaders it has started taking "extraordinary measures" as the government has run up against its legal borrowing capacity of $31.381 trillion. An artificially imposed cap, the debt ceiling has been increased roughly 80 times since the 1960s. The Treasury Department on Thursday was making a series of accounting measures that would put a hold on contributions and investment redemptions for government worker's, giving the government enough financial space to handle its day-to-day expenses until June.
Californians Get Energy Relief
Tens of thousands of Angelenos are getting relief from the state for their past-due electric and gas bills, just as huge new bills for natural gas service are landing in their mailboxes. If residents fell behind on gas or electric bills during the pandemic, they will receive credit without having to apply for one. The Federal and state governments provided more than $1.6 billion to Californians for past-due utility bills as part of their relief efforts. Anyone who incurred charges between march 2020 and December 2021 with residual amounts due qualifies for help through the California Arrearage Payment Program, or CAPP.
LAUSD Board Elect Goldberg President
Jackie Goldberg who served as the Los Angeles Board of Education president 40 years ago and also served on the LA City Council and in the state Legislature - was elected president again Tuesday and said her overriding goal is to "double down" on academics so students are achieving at grade level by fifth or sixth grade. Her election signals a potential school board majority shift to priorities of the teachers union amid increasingly contentious contract negotiations with it and the district's service workers union. Goldberg represents District 5, which represents most of the northeast part, including Eagle Rock, Glassell Park, and Echo park.
To the southeast, her district includes the cities of Huntington Park, Maywood, and South Gate.
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Wind Farm Profit for Public, Not Royals
A spokesperson said Buckingham Palace had written to the British government to "share the king's wish" that the expected windfall be redirected "for the wider public good." The palace asked the prime minister and chancellor to propose an "appropriate reduction in the Crown Estate surplus that funds the Sovereign Grant." The statement came on the same day that the Crown Estate, the organization that manages the vast royal property portfolio, announced the signing of six new wind farm deals that will generate power for an estimated 7 million homes by 2030. Currently, the royals receive a taxpayer-funded "Sovereign Grant", a sum that's used to cover operating costs of the household, paying staff salaries, maintenance, and travel.
LA Filming Decreased in 2022
From October to December, Los Angeles County recorded 8,674 shoot days, down 19.5% from the same period a year ago, FilmLA said. The final quarter of 2022 brought total shoot days to 36,792 across all categories, down 2.4% from 2021. The last few years have seen a surge in filming driven by pent-up demand after the pandemic forced a multi-month shutdown, as well as the growth of demand from streaming platforms. Filming commercials took the biggest hit, falling 24.5%, with television production ending the year with a 9.6% drop in shoot days, and TV comedies dropping down 33.9% to 353 shoot days.
Union memberships Hit Record Low
The share of U.S. workers who are members of unions fell to a record low last year even though unions added more members than in any year since 2008 following union elections at workplaces. About 10.1% of wage and salary workers were union members last year, down from 10.3% in 2021, the Labor Department said. The membership rate has been falling for decades as the economy has become more reliant on service industries, where workers haven't traditionally been unionized. Union membership grew by 273,000 last year to 14.3 million, a rise of 1.9%, but the overall labor force grew by 5.3 million. The economic rebound from the pandemic has resulted in a persistent labor shortage with job openings vastly outnumbering the number of unemployed workers.
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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 cathy@vica.com or call (818) 817-0545.
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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.
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