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Serving the San Fernando Valley cities of Los Angeles, Burbank, Glendale, Calabasas, Hidden Hills, San Fernando, and Santa Clarita
Valley Industry & Commerce Association || vica.com
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- VICA Victory! New Fast-Food Exemptions Signed
- VICA Board Takes Stance on Legislation
- LABJ Column: Minimum Wage Hikes Hurt Everyone
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"I am proud of the work we were able to do this appropriations season to continue Senator Feinstein's legacy and to chart a fresh path to secure millions of dollars for California. These $264 million will go to projects across our state that will better people's lives."
U.S. Senator Laphonza Butler
Announcement For California Receiving Congressional-Directed Spending Projects
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VICA Victory! New Exemptions for Fast-Food Restaurants | |
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In a resounding victory for VICA and our members, Governor Newsom has signed Assembly Bill 610 (Holden) into law.
AB 610 introduces crucial exemptions from California's new Fast Food Council, addressing concerns that were raised by the original legislation. The exemptions encompass establishments such as restaurants in airports, hotels, event centers, theme parks, museums, gambling establishments, and office buildings primarily serving employees of a single corporation, as well as those on state or local government-owned land.
While VICA strongly opposes the Fast Food Council and all legislation looking to further burden food and beverage providers, expanding these exemptions acknowledges the diverse operational contexts within the fast-food industry and provides relief for several VICA member businesses that would otherwise be impacted by existing Fast Food Council mandates and oversights.
This legislative success underscores VICA's unwavering commitment to advocating for well balanced policies that support economic growth.
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VICA Board Takes Stance on Legislation and Projects | |
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Assembly Bill 3242: Commission on Cutting Red Tape: Government Operations Agency - SUPPORT
The VICA Board supports Assembly Bill 3242, introduced by Assemblymember Rivas. This bill aims to establish the Commission on Cutting Red Tape within the state's Government Operations Agency. This commission would identify and recommend solutions for eliminating unnecessary administrative burdens and bureaucratic obstacles faced by businesses and the public at large.
AB 3242 recognizes the detrimental impact of "red tape" on California's economy and proposes a strategic solution to streamline government processes. By creating a centralized platform for public and private businesses and non-profit partners to provide feedback on regulatory barriers, AB 3242 ensures that real-world insights will shape reform efforts.
Supporting AB 3242 underscores VICA's commitment to fostering a responsive and effective government that eliminates arbitrary bureaucracy to facilitate economic progress.
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Metro NoHo-Pasadena Corridor Bus Rapid Transit Project - SUPPORT
The VICA Board supports the proposed North Hollywood to Pasadena Transit Corridor project. This 18-mile Bus Rapid Transit (BRT) system is a crucial solution to meet the region's increasing transportation demands. Connecting major urban centers like North Hollywood, Burbank, Glendale, Eagle Rock, and Pasadena, the project addresses current gaps in regional transit accessibility.
VICA recognizes the strategic importance of the project's proximity to the Ventura Freeway, offering a viable alternative to alleviate roadway congestion. The advanced features of the BRT system, including advanced stations, consistent service intervals, dedicated bus lanes, and traffic signal priority, align with VICA's vision for efficient and sustainable transportation infrastructure. Furthermore, VICA appreciates the thorough evaluation of environmental and community impacts, along with mitigation strategies outlined in adherence to CEQA guidelines.
Overall, VICA believes that the North Hollywood to Pasadena Transit Corridor project will significantly contribute to enhancing the region's transportation network and support its continued development and implementation.
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Senate Bill 7: Planning & Zoning Annual Reports - SUPPORT
The VICA Board supports Senate Bill 7, introduced by Senator Blakespear. This bill aims to enhance housing planning in California by introducing new reporting standards with a specific focus on extremely low-income households.
SB 7 proposes amendments to existing laws to require detailed reporting on demolished or new housing units intended for extremely low-income households, aiming to increase transparency, inclusivity, and accountability in the housing development process. The bill expands annual progress reports (APRs) submitted to the Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) to include information on extremely low-income households, providing a comprehensive understanding of housing needs, particularly for vulnerable populations.
By enhancing transparency and public access to critical housing data, SB 7 fosters community engagement and awareness, aligning with efforts to address the pressing issues of homelessness and improve housing accessibility in California.
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LABJ Column: Minimum Wage Hikes Hurt All | |
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I recently tried to enroll my child in a summer camp through the Los Angeles Department of Recreation and Parks, and guess what? We were met with fewer spots and a whopping 33% price hike. Why? The department struggles to find enough counselors willing to work for $18 an hour.
Sure, it’s more than the city’s current minimum wage, but here’s the real kicker: In April, the statewide minimum wage for fast-food workers will hit $20 an hour. If that wasn’t bad enough, we can bet that these wage increases won’t be limited to fast-food workers, and L.A. won’t stop at just $20 an hour.
Of course, recent wage increases throughout California haven’t been confined to seasonal, temporary jobs like summer camps. Hospitals across the state are also being forced to raise the wages of their lowest-wage employees to an astronomical $25 an hour. Great news for the employees, right? Well, not quite. Doing so will set off a domino effect of rising costs for patients and, ultimately, a mass worker exodus from Los Angeles and California.
To read the full article, click the link below.
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VICA Thanks Our Renewing & New Members! | | |
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Renewing Members
Platinum Members
Silver Member
Members
New Members
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Sacramento Advocacy Days
Wednesday, April 10 | All Day
Wednesday, May 8 and 9 | Two Day Trip
VICA's regular advocacy trips to the State Capitol are crucial for ensuring that the voice of the business community is heard by legislators.
These members-only trips allow attendees to interact directly with statewide elected officials, discussing the issues that are vital to our members. Join VICA in Sacramento for one of our monthly advocacy trips, and don't miss this opportunity to have your voice heard on how legislation affects your company/organization!
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VICA University
New 2024 California Labor Laws
Thursday, April 11, at the VICA Office
from 8:30 to 10:30 AM
VICA invites you to an informative 90-minute program on Thursday, April 11, with Sue Bendavid from Lewitt Hackman, covering new employment laws for 2024.
Sue Bendavid represents employers in employment-related litigation, counseling, and transactions, including employee claims prevention and management training and individual and class action lawsuits. As a California employment attorney who advocates employer preparation and litigation prevention, Bendavid provides in-house training on sexual harassment, discrimination, hiring and firing practices, proper disciplinary methods, leave of absence management and other employee-related topics.
If you want to participate in our VICA University program, please click the button below to complete your registration. If this program does not directly benefit you but would benefit your company, please forward this information to your HR department.
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Extraordinary Women in Leadership Breakfast
Friday, April 26
Sheraton Universal Hotel
8:00 AM - 11:00 AM
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Land Use Committee
Tuesday, April 9
8:30 to 10:30 AM
Hosted by The Garland
RSVP
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Aviation Committee
Tuesday, April 16
Noon to 2:00 PM
Hosted by Aeroplex-Aerolease
RSVP
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Government Affairs Committee
Wednesday, April 17
Noon to 2:00 PM
At the VICA Office
RSVP
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California's New Minimum Wage Spurs Job Cuts
California's new $20 minimum wage law has triggered job cuts in the fast-food sector, particularly for major chains. The cuts come after Governor Gavin Newsom signed the union-backed Fast Act into law last September, mandating that fast-food chains with over 60 locations adhere to the new minimum wage. Moving forward, companies like Chipotle are preparing to increase their prices, while others are evaluating whether they are considered a "fast food restaurant" under the new legislation.
Gondola Project Lawsuit Challenge
The Dodger Stadium gondola project, backed by former owner Frank McCourt, is facing a new hurdle thanks to a lawsuit from the activist group Los Angeles Parks Alliance. The lawsuit, filed Monday, alleges that the LA Metro-approved review was flawed and should be tossed out. While some environmental groups have expressed concern over possible environmental damage and community displacement from the gondola, supporters argue that it would offer a unique opportunity for the city to adopt clean energy in public transit.
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Former CA Controller Enters Governor's Race
Betty Yee, former Controller for the state of California, announced on Wednesday that she will run for Governor in 2026. In an effort to replace current Governor Gavin Newsom, Yee will compete against several prominent Democratic contenders, including Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis, Superintendent Tony Thurmond, and outgoing Senate leader Toni Atkins. Yee, a San Francisco native of Chinese Heritage, would be the state's first female governor of color, and will campaign on a platform prioritizing affordability, transparency, and climate action.
U.S. Charges Chinese Nationals for Hacking Campaign
The U.S. Justice Department on Monday announced charges against seven Chinese nationals for orchestrating cyberattacks against U.S. targets. The nationals - purportedly linked to a state-sponsored hacking group APT31 - allegedly targeted businesses along with White House staff, members of Congress, federal agencies, and campaign workers from both major political parties. Over 10,000 malicious emails impacted thousands of victims globally, resulting in compromised email accounts and phone records.
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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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