Blogs of the LA Area Chamber
Consolidating Health Care Services for L.A. County Residents
Samantha Beasley and Shelby Thurston, L.A. Area Chamber of Commerce on February 25, 2015 at 10:00:00 am
Posted in Health Care Waiting Room
The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors is proposing a big change to the way Los Angeles County provides health care for its residents. On Jan. 13, County Supervisors voted unanimously to continue moving toward the merging of three different health departments. This proposal, championed by Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich and Mitch Katz, director of the L.A. County Department of Health Services (DHS), would merge the County’s public and mental health agencies with the DHS, which currently runs a number of hospitals and clinics in the L.A. region.
Thank You President Obama
Gary Toebben on February 24, 2015 at 9:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
The Los Angeles business community is relieved and appreciative that a new labor contract has been agreed to at our west coast ports. We thank President Obama and Secretary Perez for stepping in to mediate a solution.
Join Us in Washington, D.C. on March 16-18
Gary Toebben on February 17, 2015 at 10:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
Congress and the White House have been in the news this past week as we finally saw a bi-partisan outreach from Washington, D.C. to the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) urging a speedy conclusion to labor negotiations that began nine months ago. The lack of a contract is crippling businesses and employees who work at the ports and industries that rely on the ports.
The Measles Outbreak is a Big Story. This One's Bigger.
Dan Diamond, California Healthline Contributing Editor on February 11, 2015 at 10:00:00 am
Posted in Health Care Waiting Room
In the past 10 days, one health care story went viral: the Disneyland-centered measles outbreak. It's an important story. More than 100 Americans are infected; thousands more have been exposed. But it's probably not the most important story in health care this month. The only problem is -- which one is?
Taft-Hartley Act an Option for Ports Labor Dispute
Gary Toebben on February 10, 2015 at 9:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
For nine months, negotiators for the Pacific Maritime Association (PMA) and the International Longshore and Warehouse Union (ILWU) have been unsuccessful in crafting a labor agreement to replace the contract that ended on July 1, 2014. The PMA represents the shippers that use the West Coast ports of the United States to import and export products. The ILWU represents 20,000 longshoremen that work the ports.
City of L.A. To Reduce Top Rate of Gross Receipts Tax
Gary Toebben on February 3, 2015 at 7:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
Today, the Los Angeles City Council will vote to reduce the top rate of the City’s Gross Receipts Tax. The action will lower the top rate from $5.07 per $1,000 in gross receipts to $4.75 on Jan. 1, 2016, $4.50 on Jan. 1, 2017 and $4.25 on Jan. 1, 2018. The proposal was developed by Mayor Eric Garcetti, City Council President Herb Wesson and Budget Committee Chair Paul Krekorian.