Blogs of the LA Area Chamber

Gambol too much of a Gambol?

Jessica Duboff on January 28, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in Intersection L.A.

This morning's marathon Trade, Commerce and Tourism Committee on Gambol Industries shipyard proposal clocked in at just over 3.5 hours. A couple weeks ago, at the request of Councilwoman Hahn, City Council had voted to take jurisdiction over the Harbor Committee's decision to sever ties with Gambol. The Commission had ruled that the Gambol proposal would necessitate a re-opening of the permitting process, thus causing a delay to the Main Channel Deepening Project (MCDP), costing thousands of jobs and the region's competitiveness.

Three More Policy Councils Debut

Jessica Duboff on January 26, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in Intersection L.A.

Three more of the Chamber's revamped Policy Councils held their first meetings of 2011 in the last week, emphasizing a renewed focus on industry participation, partnerships and engagement with regional thought-leaders.

An Opportunity for Regulatory Reform

Gary Toebben on January 24, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective

An Opportunity for Regulatory Reform Last week, President Obama and State Senate President Pro Tem Darrell Steinberg both called for removing government regulations that ...

Ron Nichols, Welcome to Los Angeles

Jessica Duboff on January 20, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in Intersection L.A.

Yesterday the LA City Council voted 11-0 to approve Ron Nichols' appointment as General Manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP).

Planning Department Hires Four New Case Processors

Beverly Kenworthy on January 19, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in Intersection L.A.

For the first time in four years, the Planning Department went through the City's Managed Hiring process to request four new case processors. Proving successfully that their salaries are fully cost recoverable, the Planning Department received full City Council support. This is a victory for the Planning Department and newly appointed General Manager Michael LoGrande. Congratulations to Mr. LoGrande for fulfilling a promise to increase the case processing staff so that the City can start addressing the case backlog and move applications forward in a timely manner.

International Visitors Boost L.A. Economy

Webmaster on January 18, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective

International Visitors Boost L.A. Economy L.A.'s tourism industry is back on track thanks to international visitors. 4.5 million foreign tourists visited Los Angeles last ...

President announces business regulatory relief initiative in WSJ op-ed

Samuel Garrison on January 18, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in Intersection L.A.

President Obama wrote the magic words for many businesses in a rare Wall Street Journal op-ed today - ordering "a government-wide review of the rules already on the books to remove outdated regulations that stifle job creation and make our economy less competitive." The president also issued a companion executive order calling on government agencies to ensure that any regulations on the books "protect our safety, health and environment while promoting economic growth."

2011 Policy Councils Kick-Off with Land Use & Mobility's "Triple Play for 2011"

Jessica Duboff on January 13, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in Intersection L.A.

The revamped Land Use & Mobility Policy Council met for the first time today and featured three speakers highlighting the Council's priorities for the year.

Deasy – A Strong New Leader for L.A. Schools

Webmaster on January 11, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective

Los Angeles and the state of California have never faced a more serious challenge regarding our education system. With our flat global economy, the success of our students has never been more important. Dramatic improvements to our education system must be made.

Last century, the United States had the highest college enrollment rate in the world, but by 2008 our standing had fallen to No. 16. Here in California, for the first time in our history, the current generation is expected to be less educated than its predecessor. Major cutbacks signaled this week in Gov. Jerry Brown's budget add to the challenges local school officials face. This collection of issues calls for outstanding leadership. The Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board of Education displayed that leadership this morning when it announced its decision to select John Deasy as the district's next superintendent.

Jobs on the line at AQMD

Jessica Duboff on January 7, 2011 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in Intersection L.A.

Spent the morning at the first meeting of the year for the South Coast Air Quality Management District's (AQMD) Governing Board. Was there to testify in favor of Rule 1315-Federal New Source Review Tracking System, which would maintain AQMD’s ability to issue permits to essential public services (hospitals, fire stations, waste treatment plants, schools) and other businesses that are expanding or starting up in the South Coast area by providing emission offsets free of charge from AQMD’s offset accounts.