Thursday | April 8, 2010
     
  In This Issue

This Week At The Chamber
Read the latest happenings

Member News
Read good news from Chamber members

Hot Issues
Take action today

  Coming Up At
The Chamber
 
     
  FRI | April 9
Special Briefing with Rep. Nydia Velázquez
Small Business Conversation with the House Small Business Committee Chair
more info

TUE | April 13
Referral Network
Grow your business
more info | register

TUE | April 13
Business Ratepayer Briefing
A joint Energy, Water & Environment and Transportation Committees Meeting
more info | register

WED | April 14
Small Business Owners Roundtable
Money Management Tools
more info | register

View all upcoming events on our Web Calendar
 
     


Overheard
 

"I know it’s a heavy lift [the parcel tax] … but you have been part of reform in our schools, and when you look at our bond program, I ask you to consider this again."

Los Angeles Unified School District Board President Mónica García at the Education & Workforce Development Committee meeting last week at the Chamber, asking the Committee to recommend to the Chamber Board of Directors to support the parcel tax measure.

  Media Highlights  
 

Los Angeles inches closer to bankruptcy
Fox Business, April 7
View more

Villaraigosa says he will ask utility board to give some money to lessen budget crisis

Los Angeles Times
, April 7
Read more

Top-Two Open Primaries: A Gateway to New Solutions in Sacramento
Fox & Hounds Daily, April 7

Read more

 
   
 


A BUDGET IN CRISIS. Chamber President & CEO Gary Toebben spoke on the Fox Business show Varney & Company Tuesday morning to discuss the City of Los Angeles' budget deficit. "For our community, we better come together — union leaders and city leaders have to come together — and devise a solution to keep Los Angeles out of bankruptcy," Toebben said. View the interview.



Chamber committee hears from LAUSD board president on parcel tax
Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) Board President Mónica García met with the Chamber’s Education & Workforce Development Committee Friday to discuss the Emergency Neighborhood School and Teacher Retention Measure of 2010 (LAUSD Parcel Tax). Committee members had a chance to ask questions about the June 8 ballot measure, which will ask voters within LAUSD to approve a $100 per parcel tax for four years and would generate about $92.5 million per year. The Chamber’s Board of Directors will have review the measure — which aims to help offset the District’s budget reductions — and take a position in May. Contact Chelsey Rask, 213.580.7572 or [email protected].

Be a part of the discussion on the future of the State by joining in new SCLN program
Hear from keynote speakers former San Francisco Mayor Willie Brown; Secretary for Service & Volunteering Karen Baker; and San Francisco Chief of Police George Gascón at Southern California Leadership Network's new program designed to more deeply engage Southern California leaders in the future of the state, April 28-30 in San Francisco. The California Connections program will also feature panel dialogues focusing on land use and transportation; science, technology and the San Francisco business climate; and educational and social services innovation. Apply by Monday, April 12 or contact Kevin Cottrell, 213.580.7577 or [email protected].

Rep. Xavier Becerra has conversation with small businesses
Rep. Xavier Becerra discussed the Small Business and Infrastructure Jobs Tax
Act, H.R. 4849, with Chamber small business members on Tuesday. The act, which was passed by the House in late March, will boost job creation, invest in infrastructure and reinvigorate the American economy. "We need to hire 150,000 to 200,000 people a month to see the unemployment rate decrease," Becerra said. Chamber members engaged Becerra in conversation on the future of health care reform and small business assistance.
Contact Samuel Garrison, 213.580.7568 or [email protected].

good news
 


Beacon Economics publishes quarterly economic forecast
The Chamber's economic partner Beacon Economics has just released its quarterly economic forecast for the U.S. and California. The report reads: "The U.S. economy is surely in a better place than it was two years ago." Save the date for the Los Angeles Economic Forecast Conference on Wednesday, May 5 at the Los Angeles Airport Marriott Hotel. Read the report.

LA Biomed to receive $9.7 million for new research center
The federal government will provide a $9.7 million grant of stimulus funds to Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center for the construction of a new Chronic Disease Clinical Research Center on its campus. Construction of the new research center is expected to create up to 190 new jobs and a new environment for LA BioMed’s research into chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and other respiratory ailments, cardiac disease and HIV/AIDS. Read more.

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  Hot Issues  
 
 

Office of Economic Development
Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today signed an executive order establishing the Governor's Office of Economic Development (GoED), a one-stop shop to help businesses acquire the direction, information and resources they need to invest, succeed and expand in California. The Governor appointed Joel Ayala, former president and chief executive officer of the California Hispanic Chambers of Commerce, as director of the new office. Read more.

Take action on SB 1143
Voice support for Chamber-sponsored bill SB 1143 (Liu), which would enact legislation to establish a framework for allocating state funds to community colleges in a manner that provides incentives for community colleges to assist students in completing coursework in which they enroll and required to earn a certificate or degree. SB 1143 will be heard on Wednesday, April 21 in the Senate Education Committee. Take Action by sending an alert today.

Chamber-sponsored AB 2211 moves forward
AB 2211(Fuentes) passed unanimously out of the Assembly Education Committee on Wednesday. This bill would expand quality work-based learning programs for students by encouraging school districts and employers to create work experience programs that reinforce academic learning. AB 2211 will be heard in the Assembly Education Appropriations Committee later this month. Read more.

LAX North Runway
Federal Aviation Administration Chief Randy Babbitt has conveyed to L.A. Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa that there should be more space and a taxiway between the two north runways despite a study that says the runways are safe. Babbitt also relayed this message to the Southern California on the Hill - ACCESS Washington, D.C. delegation in March. Read more.

 
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The Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in L.A. County. Founded in 1888, the Chamber promotes a prosperous economy and quality of life in the Los Angeles region. For more information, visit www.lachamber.com