L.A. City Council Delays Living Wage Ordinance Vote
The Los Angeles City Council postponed its vote on the proposed $30 per hour Living Wage Ordinance to December 11. Councilmembers Park, Lee, Rodriguez, Blumenfield, and Krekorian insisted on additional information before the proposal is presented for a vote. The economic assessment by Berkeley Economic Advising & Research lacked sufficient data to accurately evaluate the impact on businesses, particularly small businesses. Chamber President & CEO Maria S. Salinas, who leads the Alliance for Economic Fairness, a broad coalition of employers, small businesses and civic leaders, which has been asking for the same for well over a year. Earlier this week, the Chamber held a press conference calling on the L.A. City Council to revisit the proposed ordinance and present a balanced initiative that protects jobs. The Chamber will continue to advocate and provide updates on this issue.
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Chamber Hosts November Election Recap
The Chamber hosted a November General Election review of the results with its membership this week. Chris Micheli, of Snodgrass and Micheli, led a deep dive into the ten state propositions, including an analysis of Prop 36 on retail theft and its impact on the business community. Jose Cornejo, of Cornejo Strategies, presented on local measures and their potential effects on the regional economy, governance, and fiscal stability. The Chamber is committed to keeping our members informed as these election outcomes are implemented. To learn more about state outcomes, visit California Election Results. For local Los Angeles County results, visit L.A. County Election Results.
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AltaMed Welcomes New UCLA Chancellor-Designate
AltaMed President & CEO Cástulo de la Rocha, along with UC Merced Chancellor Juan Muñoz, hosted a welcome reception for UCLA Chancellor-Designate Dr. Julio Frenk Mora. Former Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa and Supervisor Hilda Solis extended their greetings, highlighting the occasion. Dr. Frenk Mora emphasized UCLA’s global impact as the nation’s No. 1 ranked public university and shared his vision for strengthening local ties across the Los Angeles region. Chamber President & CEO Maria S. Salinas attended the event to help welcome Dr. Mora, who will begin his term in January 2025. Read the press release.
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President Biden Attends 2024 APEC Summit in Peru
Last week, U.S. President Biden met with President Boluarte of Peru during the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Leaders’ Week in Lima. The two discussed U.S.-Peru cooperation in security, counternarcotics, economic trade, and space collaboration. President Biden announced a $65 million security assistance package, including nine Black Hawk helicopters, to support Peru’s counternarcotics efforts. He also highlighted a donation of over 100 Caltrain locomotives to Lima to promote cleaner transportation. Additionally, they discussed expanded space cooperation, including a new NASA Memorandum of Understanding with Peru. The leaders also addressed the country of Venezuela's challenges, and President Biden thanked Peru for supporting democratic governance at the Organization of American States and the United Nations.
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Chamber Urges Improvements to Housing Program
This week the L.A. Area Chamber submitted public comment at the Planning and Land Use Management (PLUM) Committee meeting regarding the proposed Citywide Housing Incentive Program (CHIP). The Chamber emphasized the need for amendments to the ordinance to fully unlock its potential for creating much-needed housing in Los Angeles. Additionally, the Chamber joined a coalition letter outlining key recommendations to strengthen the CHIP ordinance. The PLUM Committee approved the proposed ordinance, which will now proceed to the full L.A. City Council for consideration. We will continue to advocate for policies that address the region’s housing challenges and support sustainable growth.
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CA Senate Hearing Explores Safety Strategy for 2028 Olympics
On Monday, the California Senate Public Safety Committee held an informational hearing on “California’s Safety Strategy for Hosting Major Global Games,” as the state and L.A. region prepare to host the 2025 NBA All-Star Game, Super Bowl LX in 2026, and the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. The Chamber provided public comment, expressing gratitude for the hearing and emphasized the need for a regional, whole-of-government approach to ensure a safe and inclusive Games. The Chamber also highlighted the importance of involving small businesses and ensuring they have opportunities to participate in the planning process.
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Mexican Ambassador Esteban Moctezuma Barragán Visits Los Angeles
The Consul General of Mexico in Los Angeles, Ambassador Carlos González Gutiérrez, hosted a reception in honor of the visit of Mexico's Ambassador to the United States, Esteban Moctezuma Barragán, and to celebrate Mexican Gastronomy Day. The event was attended by the Consular Corps in Los Angeles, representatives from the City of Los Angeles, and other distinguished guests from the Mexican diaspora in the region.
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Economic Mobility Initiative Graduation: Cohort 1
Congratulations to the small business graduates of the Economic Mobility Initiative (EMI), who completed the program on November 15! The Chamber sponsors the technical assistance program with support from the County of Los Angeles: Department of Economic Opportunities. This initiative provides small business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools needed for success and economic resilience. We’re excited to announce that Cohort 2 is coming soon! Stay tuned for more details on how you can be part of this transformative program. Learn more here.
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SCALE: Success, Capital Access & Leadership for Entrepreneurs
SCALE: Success, Capital Access & Leadership for Entrepreneurs offers small businesses a pathway to access funding and resources for growth. This program is designed to bridge financing gaps and drive economic opportunity. Experienced advisors are available to assist with everything from creating loan packages to providing valuable financial resources, helping to set your business up for success. Learn more and get started here.
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Get in the Game: Doing Business With DGS
Join the Chamber for a virtual webinar, "Get in the Game OneLA: Doing Business with DGS," on November 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., featuring Pierre Washington, Business Outreach Liaison. This session is part of the Doing Business With series and the OneLA Inclusive Procurement Program, designed to connect small businesses with public and private agencies looking to contract with local enterprises. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn how to navigate state contracting and grow your business. Register here.
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Study Reveals Strong Support for Chambers of Commerce and their Community Impacts
A new study by the Association of Chamber of Commerce Executives (ACCE) and The Harris Poll highlights the public’s positive views of local chambers of commerce and their significant impact on community prosperity. Most U.S. adults recognize the value of their chamber in growing the economy, addressing community issues, and influencing policy. 86% of adults familiar with their chamber express satisfaction, and how membership positively influences consumer perceptions of businesses. The study further explored how storytelling efforts can enhance awareness and further benefit businesses that are chamber members. Additionally, adults in the Pacific region are more likely to desire more information about chambers of commerce (50% vs. 36-47%). Read more here.
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COUNCIL MEETINGS & EVENTS
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Transportation & Goods Movement Council
Tuesday, December 3, 9:00 a.m.
MEMBER ONLY EVENT
Join the Transportation & Goods Movement Council for the final meeting of the year, focusing on legislative updates impacting the business community. L.A. Deputy Mayor Randall Winston will present Mayor Bass' Infrastructure Policy Priorities and ED 9.
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Pancakes & Politics
Friday, December 6, 8:30 a.m.
MEMBER ONLY EVENT
Join the L.A. Area Chamber for the next session of our Pancakes & Politics Speaker Series featuring Rick Cole, Chief Deputy Controller for the City of Los Angeles.
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Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce
350 S. Bixel Street
Los Angeles, CA 90017
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