Valley Industry & Commerce Association | |
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- VICA Opposes Anti-Innovation Legislation
- VICA Supports Increased Access to Financial Aid
- Employee Retention Tax Credit
- SoCalGas Gas Assistance Fund
- Health Net Medi-Cal Redetermination
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Quick Jump - Register to Attend!
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“It is an important step forward that reduces spending while protecting critical programs for working people and growing the economy for everyone...the agreement represents a compromise." | |
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President Joe Biden
Statement on Debt Limit Deal
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VICA Opposes Anti-Innovation Bills AB 96 and AB 316 | |
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The VICA Board voted to oppose two state bills that aim to limit the development of autonomous vehicle (AV) technology, a new and innovative form of technology that has the potential to transform the transportation sector.
Assembly Bill 96 (Kalra) would require a public transit district to provide written notice to a representative of the workforce that would be affected by autonomous transit vehicle technology if and when they begin the procurement process of autonomous vehicle technology.
The public transit district then would have to discuss the development and implementation of the AV technology and create plans to train and prepare the affected workforce to fill new positions created by the AV technology with said workforce.
Assembly Bill 316 (Aguiar-Curry) would prohibit the operation of an autonomous vehicle with a gross vehicle weight of 10,001 pounds or more on public roads for testing purposes, transporting goods, or transporting passengers unless a human safety operator is physically present at the time of the operation.
California is currently a global leader in AV technology, and these bills aim to stifle further innovation and development of autonomous vehicles. The passage of these bills would not only be detrimental to the advancement of the AV industry, but they would also push prominent AV developers out of California, harming California's economy and our residents.
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VICA Board Supports AB 789 - Increasing Access to Financial Aid | |
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The VICA Board voted to support Assembly Bill 789 (Berman) which would establish a common set of standards for California students, regardless of postsecondary educational institution, ensuring these students are provided with the financial aid flexibility already allowed under federal law.
Despite the critical role played by financial aid in college achievement, sizeable numbers of marginalized students lose access to financial aid due to satisfactory academic progress (SAP) standards. These standards are set by the federal government, but additional standards vary depending on the higher education institution.
The lack of uniformity in these standards throughout California mean many of our already marginalized students - those who are unlikely to return and achieve their higher education dreams - are less likely to have access to stable financial aid.
AB 789 would remove barriers that limit students’ ability to keep their financial aid. For college and university students, access to financial aid is key to improving academic outcomes as well as addressing racial inequities and basic needs insecurity. The bill would ensure that more California students are able to keep their financial aid and achieve their higher education goals.
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Is Your Business Eligible for the Employee Retention Tax Credit? | |
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As a small to medium-sized business, it's likely that you were negatively impacted by the pandemic, and you certainly weren't alone. Due to financial suffering for many businesses, Congress passed the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act to help businesses get back on their feet with an Employee Retention Credit (ERC).
The Employee Retention Credit was developed to encourage and support employers who retained existing employees throughout 2020 and for the first three quarters of 2021 by offering a generous payroll tax refund through the IRS.
Eligible businesses can receive a refund of up to $5,000 per employee for all of 2020 and up to $7,000 per employee kept on the payroll for each quarter for Q1 through Q3 of 2021. That's a total of up to $26,000 per employee kept on your payroll.
To see if you and your business qualify for the Employee Retention Credit, click the link below.
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SoCalGas Gas Assistance Fund Available for Low Income Customers | | |
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SoCalGas' Gas Assistance Fund is currently available for low-income and senior customers. The Gas Assistance Fund is a joint effort of SoCalGas and United Way of Greater Los Angeles. United Way works with non-profit organizations throughout their service territory to manage the program.
If you're having difficulty paying your natural gas bill, the Gas Assistance Fund (GAF) may be able to provide you, or someone you know, with a one-time grant for the amount of the gas bill, not to exceed $400.00.
Additionally, if you are a non-profit, please share this information with your network to spread the word! You can click the button to the right to visit the website for more information and to view a list of participating agencies.
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Preparing for Medi-Cal Redeterminations | |
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During the public health emergency, the federal government waived the annual requirement for states to verify eligibility for Medi-Cal – a process known as redetermination. Because of that flexibility, millions of Medi-Cal members maintained their coverage.
With the pandemic entering a new phase, California made this requirement mandatory again on April 1, 2023. Each county needs this information to reach residents with important updates about keeping their Medi-Cal coverage.
Members can visit BenefitsCal.com to learn more, update their information, or enroll in Health Net Medi-Cal. Health Net has launched a new website for members with questions, including how to verify eligibility and what to do if they are no longer eligible for Medi-Cal.
To read more about Medi-Cal redetermination, click here. To take action on your Medi-Cal Coverage, click the button below.
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VICA Thanks Our New and Renewing Members! | | |
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Silver Members
Bronze Members
Renewing Members
New Members
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VICA University: What You Don't Know About Medicare and Medicare Health Plan Options
June 21 | 3:00 - 4:30 PM
Zoom
VICA invites you to join us for this informative 90-minute program (including a Q&A session) that will cover Medicare and Medicare health plans. Failure to follow the rules or knowing your options can prove costly to you and to your client or employee. Click the button below to register!
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VICA Leaders Forum: LA City Council President Paul Krekorian
June 29 | 11:30 AM
Burbank Airport Marriott
Since 2010, Paul Krekorian has served on the LA City Council where his leadership of the Budget and Finance Committee helped guide the city through the Great Recession. He also leads the San Fernando Valley Council of Governments, a coalition of leaders fighting for the Valley, and serves as a board member for Metro and Metrolink. In 2022, he was unanimously elected by his colleagues to serve as President of the City Council.
Click the button below to register!
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Los Angeles Times | May 30
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Sports, Entertainment, Tourism & Hospitality Committee
Wednesday, June 7
8:30 - 10:00 AM
At the VICA Office
Sponsored by: Comcast NBCUniversal
RSVP
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Land Use Committee: Housing Panel Discussion
Tuesday, June 13
8:30 - 10:30 AM
Hosted by The Garland
RSVP
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Healthcare Committee
Wednesday, June 14
Noon - 2:00 PM
At the VICA Office
Sponsored by: Hospital Association of Southern California
RSVP
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Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, June 21
Noon - 2:00 PM
At the VICA Office
RSVP
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House Approves Debt Limit Deal
The U.S. House of Representatives overwhelmingly approved a deal to suspend the debt limit late Wednesday, reducing the risk of a potentially disastrous default. To eliminate that risk, the Senate must pass the bill and send it to President Biden for his signature before the Treasury runs dry, which could happen as early as Monday.
Crime in LA is Down
As Los Angeles prepares to expand its police force with a boost in spending and plans to hire hundreds more officers, new data shows that crime in the city has dropped moderately in 2023. Through May 20, LA experienced a drop of more than 10% in violent crimes this year compared with the same period in 2022. Property crime fell by slightly more than 1%, and arrests were up 4.4%, according to Police Department data.
Californians Fear Worsening Weather
As California continues to experience swings from one weather extreme to another, a majority of residents say they are increasingly concerned about the state’s changing climate, and some worry that weather impacts could force them to move in the future. Nearly 70% of registered voters say they expect the volatile fluctuations between severe drought and periods of heavy rain and snow — what some call weather whiplash — will become more common in the future due to climate change.
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Fiona Ma Announces Bid for Lt. Gov.
State Treasurer Fiona Ma on Wednesday announced her bid for lieutenant governor in 2026, taking a page out of current Lt. Gov. Eleni Kounalakis’ book and launching her campaign well ahead of the traditional timeline. In 2019, Ma had expressed interest in running for governor, along with Kounalakis and former State Controller Betty Yee, but has since shifted her sights to the second-in-command gig.
Gas Prices Expected to Remain High
Gas prices in Southern California are expected to remain high throughout this summer vacation season, pushed up by a rise in travel demand that began with a surge in road trips over the Memorial Day weekend, experts say. The good news is that gas prices are not likely to spike to last year’s record-high levels, when a gallon of unleaded peaked at more than $6.
Bass Homeless Plan Faces Resistance
Homeless outreach workers went to the streets of downtown LA last month and delivered what is now a seasoned sales pitch: Give up your spot on the sidewalk, and try living in a nearby hotel room instead. David Ruther, who has a tent on Broadway near the 101 Freeway, had an emphatic response: No way. Since she took office, Mayor Karen Bass’ Inside Safe initiative has moved more than 1,200 homeless people off the street in Venice, North Hollywood, Del Rey, Beverly Grove and about a dozen other LA neighborhoods.
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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 yoko@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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