Valley Industry & Commerce Association | |
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- VICA VICTORY: Transit Funding Awarded to Valley Project
- VICA Opposes LA City Renter Protections
- VICA Opposes LA City Freelancing Motion
- Meet Our Intern: Alexander Medina
- Represent the San Fernando Valley on a City Commission
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Quick Jump - Register to Attend!
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"For decades, I’ve heard directly from neighbors, community members, and the people of Los Angeles about their views on public safety, and since taking office, I have had detailed discussions with Chief Moore and stakeholders. I therefore write today in support of reappointing Chief Moore." | |
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Mayor Karen Bass
Letter to the Los Angeles Board of Police Commissioners
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VICA VICTORY: Valley Transit Project Awarded $600 Million in State Funding | |
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On Tuesday, the California State Transportation Agency announced that the East San Fernando Valley Transit Corridor Project (ESFV) was awarded $600 million in additional funding through their Transit and Intercity Rail Program (TIRCP).
This project, once completed, will run through the heart of the Valley, covering some of the most equity-focused communities in all of Los Angeles County. As the first light-rail line fully in the Valley, this project will uplift communities, making it easier for transit-dependent residents to reach jobs, medical appointments, schools, and shopping.
VICA has been an advocate for the ESFV Transit Corridor Project for the past 10 years, beginning in 2013, when we worked alongside elected officials and local groups across the San Fernando Valley to put together a priority list of capital projects for Measure M.
VICA thanks the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority’s (LA Metro) work in securing this funding and their ongoing commitment to bringing transformative transportation projects to the Valley. To read the full report on this award, click here.
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VICA Voices Opposition to Relocation Assistance | |
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VICA called in to Tuesday's City
Council meeting to voice opposition to the proposed ordinance and recommendations that would require all landlords to pay their tenants relocation assistance.
Policies like these are never proposed in other industries or services – landlords must not be an exception to this rule. Additionally, these proposed policies did not include any guardrails or safety mechanisms that would prevent future abuse of these requirements.
The tenant protection policies that have been working their way through City Hall over the past few weeks have been fast-tracked and pushed through council procedures. These measures do not reflect proper community engagement and have not received proper analysis on their possible community impact.
The eviction protections that were put in place at the onset of the pandemic have remained in place for the past two and a half years, meaning the City has had ample time to engage with community stakeholders and develop a plan to successfully transition out of the city-wide eviction moratorium in a way that works for property owners and tenants alike.
Instead of proposing policies that will continue to harm landlords, it is time for the City to work with community stakeholders to find the solution that works for everybody, rather than continue to place this type of burden on individual property owners.
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VICA Opposes LA City Freelancing Protection Ordinance | |
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On January 25th, the VICA Board voted to oppose LA City Councilmember Bob Blumenfield’s “Freelancing Isn’t Free” motion, which would increase oversight and regulation on the process in which businesses and independent contractors enter transactional work.
Under the ordinance, a “freelance worker” would be an individual or entity composed of no more than one person, regardless of corporate form or structure of a person’s business. The freelance ordinance would mandate all workers entering transactional work obligations establish and enter into written contracts should the sum of work be over $600 annually from the same hiring entity.
VICA has voiced concerns with the ordinance's fines and penalties, which include $250 for employers who refuse to enter into a contract, damages of up to twice the amount that remains unpaid in the contract, as well as award of damages equal to the value of the contract if the employer violates any of the ordinance’s provisions.
The ordinance is a solution in search of a problem, and the increase in litigation against employers would stifle current city services, hinder the freelance economy, and drive business away from the city.
VICA will continue to monitor this ordinance and will continue to promote fairness and transparency in all city based business regulation.
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Meet Our Intern: Alexander Medina | |
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Alexander Medina will be serving as an intern at VICA for the upcoming spring session. He is a junior majoring in Political Science and minoring in Urban Planning at California State University, Northridge. On campus, he is a member of various clubs, including the Political Science Student Association and Association of Latino Professionals for America. He previously interned for various campaigns during the 2022 midterm elections, and most recently at Congressman Tony Cárdenas’s district office in Panorama City. Alexander is passionate about the economic vitality of the San Fernando Valley, which inspires his interest in the work being done at VICA.
Alexander is a first generation American and lifelong resident of the San Fernando Valley. His family has operated various restaurants in the eastern San Fernando Valley for the last four decades. Outside of his interest in local economic prosperity, he is a major supporter of the Los Angeles Dodgers and an avid movie watcher.
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Apply to Serve on a City Commission! | |
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In the City of Los Angeles, City Departments and Bureaus are headed by General Managers. However, some Departments are also headed by an advisory or controlling Board or Commission appointed by the Mayor.
The San Fernando Valley makes up 40% of the City of Los Angeles, yet is vastly underrepresented on the City's Boards and Commissions. Help improve San Fernando Valley's representation and apply to serve on a Commission by clicking the button below!
For more information on LA's Boards and Commissions, click here.
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VICA's 2023 State Officeholders Dinner | |
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VICA's Annual State Officeholders Dinner - a unique opportunity to engage with our State Legislators in a casual format, watch a light-hearted Q&A, and enjoy food and drinks with fellow VICA members - is now less than a month away!
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Our confirmed Elected Officials are: | |
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Senators:
Steve Bradford
María Elena Durazo
Brian Jones
Josh Newman
Anthony Portantino
Scott Wilk
Board of Equalizers:
Antonio Vazquez
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Assemblymembers:
Wendy Carrillo
Mike Fong
Laura Friedman
Jesse Gabriel
Mike Gipson
Chris Holden
Josh Hoover
Tom Lackey
Tina McKinnor
Luz Rivas
Kate Sanchez
Miguel Santiago
Pilar Schiavo
Rick Chavez Zbur
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If you are interested in attending and have not yet registered, email Cathy at cathy@vica.com or click the button below! | |
If you are interested in sponsoring this event, please email Yoko at yoko@vica.com. For more information on sponsorships, click the button below! | |
VICA Thanks Our Renewing Members! | | |
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Gold Member:
Silver Members:
Bronze Member:
Other Renewing Members:
New Member:
- Multicultural International Motion Picture Association
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Newsmaker Connection: CD6 Candidate Forum
Thursday, February 16 | 8:30 AM
VICA Office
Join VICA for a special Newsmaker Connection as candidates for Council District 6 gather to discuss issues affecting businesses across the San Fernando Valley. This special Election Forum will provide members with the unique opportunity to meet, listen and speak with the CD 6 contenders.
VICA thanks our Presenting Sponsor
State Farm Insurance.
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State Officeholders Dinner
Friday, February 24 | 5:30 PM
Stage 29 at 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 Sponsors 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 - March 30
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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Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion Committee
Tuesday, February 7
Noon - 1:30 PM
VICA Office
RSVP
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Not-for-Profit Committee
Wednesday, February 8
8:30 - 10:30 AM
VICA Office
RSVP
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Land Use Committee
Tuesday, February 14
8:30 - 10:30 AM
Hosted by The Garland
RSVP
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Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, February 15
Noon - 2:00 PM
VICA Office
RSVP
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Capital & Maine | February 2
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LAPD Chief Moore Reappointed
The Los Angeles Police Commission on Tuesday reappointed Chief Michel Moore to a second term as head of one of the nation’s largest police departments. The five-member commission reached its unanimous decision during a closed-door meeting knowing that Mayor Karen Bass, who in her role wields considerable power over the chief and department, supported the move — albeit with some caveats. In a letter sent to the commission on Monday, Bass, who took office in December and campaigned on the promise of bringing more police accountability and transparency, said she believed Moore shared her desire to see the department improve its recruitment of “reform-minded” officers and change how it responds to calls involving the mentally ill.
Biden to End National Emergency
President Biden informed Congress on Monday that he will end the twin national emergencies for addressing COVID-19 on May 11, as most of the world has returned closer to normality nearly three years after they were first declared. The move to end the national emergency and public health emergency declarations would formally restructure the federal coronavirus response to treat the virus as an endemic threat to public health that can be managed through agencies’ normal authorities. It comes as lawmakers have already ended elements of the emergencies that kept millions of Americans insured during the pandemic. Combined with the drawdown of most federal COVID-19 relief money, it would also shift the development of vaccines and treatments away from the direct management of the federal government.
State Snowpack Deepest in Decades
Drought-weary California is entering February with a deeper snowpack than it has seen in four decades, reflecting a healthy boost in the state’s supply of water but also spurring concerns about dryness, flooding and other potential hazards in the months ahead. Statewide Sierra snowpack was 205% of normal for the date on Wednesday, said officials with the Department of Water Resources during the second snow survey of the season. Even more promising, snowpack was 128% of its April 1 average, referring to the end-of-season date when snowpack in California is typically at its deepest.
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Colorado River Battle Continues
After months of behind-the-scenes negotiations, California has an answer to six other western states sharing the Colorado River: Get lost. The proposal California offered Tuesday makes no significant concessions to demands from its neighbors — asserting higher priority senior water rights to the largest share of the river that have been enshrined in an agreement dating back decades. That leaves it to the federal government to try to find a resolution. “The states are not going to reach an agreement. We are just too far apart,” said Rep. Greg Stanton (D-Ariz.), who represents the Phoenix area. “Now is the time that we need this administration to come up with a solution to this dilemma, and we need it now.”
Fed Raises Key Interest Rate
The Federal Reserve extended its fight against high inflation on Wednesday by raising its key interest rate by a quarter of a point, its eighth increase since March. The Fed signaled that even though inflation is easing, it remains high enough to require further rate hikes. At the same time, Chair Jerome H. Powell said at a news conference that the Fed recognizes that the pace of inflation has eased — a signal that it could be nearing the end of its rate increases. The stock and bond markets rallied during his news conference, suggesting that they expect a forthcoming pause in the Fed’s credit-tightening. The Fed’s latest move, though smaller than its previous hike — and even larger rate increases before that — will probably further raise the costs of many consumer and business loans and the risk of a recession.
Gas Bills Will Drop This Month
With astronomical natural gas prices squeezing the pocketbooks of SoCalGas' 21.8 million customers, the company says relief may be on the way as soon as next month. In a statement, the company said the price of natural gas for its customers would be down 68% for February compared with January. “While we’re relieved that prices have dropped significantly since last month, they remain higher than usual for this time of year,” said Gillian Wright, a SoCalGas executive. The utility attributed the drop in consumer gas prices primarily to a commensurate drop in the wholesale price that SoCalGas will pay for gas in February compared with January.
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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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