CHAMBER MEMBERS PLEDGE SUMMER JOBS
U.S. Secretary of Labor Hilda L. Solis joined Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and the Chamber today to call on local business leaders to step up and provide summer job opportunities for youth. Chamber members answered the call at the breakfast, committing more than 900 jobs to kick off the HIRE LA’s Youth summer jobs campaign, which looks to boost employment opportunities for youth as summer approaches. “We’ve seen that over the years there’s been a negative trend where young adults are seeing less and less job opportunities during the summer months when they should be taking advantage and getting work experience,” Solis said. “We’re looking to mobilize the business community not just here in Los Angeles, but all over the country to help reverse this trend.” Pictured above from left: HIRE LA's Youth Intern Derrian William, Secretary Solis and Chamber VP of Education & Workforce Development David Rattray. Contact Maria Dolores Nieto, 213.580.7599.

Two Chamber-supported bills passed by Senate Education Committee
SB 1456 (Lowenthal), the "centerpiece" legislation resulting from recommendations of the 2011 Student Success Task Force established by SB 1143 (Liu) of 2010, was passed by the Senate Education Committee on a 9-0 vote last week. Senate Bill 1456 will establish new innovative reforms intended to dramatically improve completion rates for community college students. SB 1062 (Liu), a Chamber-sponsored bill, proposes a very narrow, but important change that strengthens the effectiveness and leadership capacity of the Chancellor's office. It passed the Senate Education Committee on an 8-0 vote. Contact Alma Salazar, 213.580.7566.

Chamber discusses water and energy supplies with LADWP general manager
On Friday, Ron Nichols, general manager of the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power (LADWP) briefed the Energy, Water & Environmental Sustainability Council on proposed rates for 2012-2014. He discussed how legal mandates are driving a complete transformation of water and energy supplies, the various priorities for each department and the rate review schedule. LADWP is looking for power increases starting July 1 and water increases in 2013. Nichols warned that for each month delayed, increases would have to go up to meet revenue requirements. The council approved a motion to encourage the Ratepayer Advocate and L.A. City Council to prioritize the proposed rates and move forward with consideration in a timely manner. Contact Jessica Duboff, 213.580.7558.

Chamber meets with State and Homeland Security Departments on visa facilitation
On Wednesday, the Chamber hosted a meeting with Obama administration officials on initiatives to improve the visa facilitation process for visitors, students and international workforce. David Donahue, deputy assistant secretary for Visa Services at the State Department and Doug Smith, assistant secretary at Homeland Security, discussed the 60 million visitors to the United States last year who brought in $134 billion in revenue. They are working on programs to expedite returning travelers, lessen wait times at customs and increase interview processing capacity abroad, all as part of a larger effort to make the United States a more desirable tourist destination. "You can come to the United States every year and never have the same experience. Very few countries can say that," said Deputy Secretary Smith. Contact Jessica Duboff, 213.580.7558.

HOPE 20th anniversary bus tour explores Los Angeles Operation HOPE led a convoy of bankers, businesses leaders, politicians and entrepreneurs on a bus tour Tuesday to survey the past and recognize economic progress in south Los Angeles 20 years after the L.A. riots. The bus tour began with a ceremony commemorating Operation HOPE's 20th Anniversary at the HOPE Financial Dignity Center in Baldwin Hills. From there more than 500 participants took a guided tour of South Los Angeles, including a stop at Quincy Jones Elementary School and concluding at West Angeles Church of God in Christ for a special session hosted by President Barack Obama's Advisory Council on Jobs and Competitiveness. Read more. Click here to learn more.