Blogs of the LA Area Chamber
The Clock is Ticking — Act Now on Transportation Infrastructure
Gary Toebben on June 26, 2012 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
At midnight on June 30, the ninth extension of the federal surface transportation reauthorization bill will expire. Encouragingly, at the end of last week, Sen. Barbara Boxer and Rep. John Mica issued a statement announcing, "The conferees have moved forward toward a bipartisan, bicameral agreement on a highway reauthorization bill. Both House and Senate conferees will continue to work with a goal of completing a package by next week."
Pension Reform a Must for City of Los Angeles
Gary Toebben on June 19, 2012 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
Two weeks ago, the voters in San Diego and San Jose, the second and third largest cities in California, overwhelmingly passed measures to reform their pension plans for city employees.
On the heels of these two votes, Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa directed Chief Administrative Officer Miguel Santana to immediately begin discussions with the City Council on a series of pension reforms that the mayor proposed in April. Last week, at the U.S. Conference of Mayors in Orlando, Mayor Villaraigosa continued his push for pension reform, telling his fellow mayors that he was prepared to take his reform measures directly to the voters in spring 2013 during elections for mayor and City Council.
Congratulations to the Los Angeles Kings and Anschutz Entertainment Group
Gary Toebben on June 12, 2012 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
The Los Angeles Kings made our city and county of Los Angeles happy and proud last night with their 6-1 victory over the New Jersey Devils and the first ever Stanley Cup for a Los Angeles team. Athletes whose names were unknown to many residents before the playoffs began have now become heroes in our community and appropriately so.
Chamber Celebrates Victory and Leadership in Yesterday’s Primary Election
Gary Toebben on June 6, 2012 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is proud to have been one of the two co-sponsors of the Proposition 28 - Term Limits Reform - with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor. In yesterday’s primary election, Proposition 28 garnered the support of 61 percent of the California voters and passed in every county in the State.
Early Warning: Early Education Matters
Gary Toebben on June 5, 2012 at 12:00:00 am
Posted in The Business Perspective
President Barack Obama emphasized the need for making education a national priority, which will produce a workforce capable of capitalizing on a global economy. This commitment comes at a time when 83 percent of our nation's low-income fourth graders failed to read proficiently. In Los Angeles County, only 41 percent of third grade students score proficient or higher on English Language Arts.