OCTOBER BIZFED BOARD ACTIONS

Many thanks to UCLA Extension for generously hosting the October Board Meeting at their Downtown LA location. We addressed a number of hot issues.  See below for the details!

2015 is on track to have more patent lawsuits filed than any year in history. 68% of all patent lawsuits brought in the first half of 2015 were filed by “patent trolls.” HR 9, the Innovation Act, is bipartisan legislation targeted at these abusive litigation tactics. The BizFed Board voted to support HR 9 and urge House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy to bring the Innovation Act to a vote as soon as possible.

• Click here for HR 9 Innovation Act Board Materials 
• Click here for BizFed Support Letter 

Under the Rail Safety Improvement Act of 2008,railroads are required to implement Positive Train Control (PTC) by December 31. Despite ongoing efforts to implement PTC, most railroads have publicly stated that they will be forced to shut down large portions of rail service unless the deadline is extended. As a result, an extensive proportion of the nation’s rail network would effectively be shutdown or curtailed.BizFed voted to support extending the PTC implementation beyond the current deadline to ensure a safe and effective national transportation system.

• Click here for PTC Board Materials
• Click here for BizFed Support Letter

For more than two years, the City of Los Angeles has been working to create a permitting system for street vendors.BizFed had members requesting slightly different positions to drive the outcome of the ordinance. Ultimately, after much thoughtful deliberation, the BizFed Board voted to support an LA City Street Vendor Permit ordinance that:

1. Creates a reasonable system of zones for street vending.

2. Limits the number of street vendors permitted.

3. Regulates the types of street vendors permitted.

4. Regulates the hours during which street vending is permitted.

5. Encourages the collection of sales tax from street vendors through cooperation with the state.

6. Ensures strong, effective, and properly funded enforcement of the ordinance.

7. Enables BizFed to be included in the stakeholder process as the City develops and implements ordinance details.

• Click here for LA City Street Vendor Permit Board Materials
• Click here for BizFed Letter on LA City Street Vendor Permits

CIM is developing a 23-story building at Sunset & Gordon in Hollywood.  The appropriate City of Los Angeles agencies approved the project and allowed people to begin occupying the building in 2014. However, a continuous stream of frivolous litigation attempting to stop the project caused the Superior Court to overturn the City’s approval, and the case is working its way through the appeals process. CIM intends to file a petition for review with the California Supreme Court, so the BizFed Board voted to submit an amicus letter urging the California Supreme Court to review the case. Given the legal complexities of the letter, BizFed staff is working with Latham & Watkins, who represents CIM, to produce the draft as soon as possible.

• Click here for CIM Amicus Board Materials

The City of Long Beach has started the process of considering whether and how to developed its own ordinance to raise the minimum wage.  BizFed’s Long Beach members and stakeholders are working together to ensure that Long Beach’s deliberative process includes critical business voices to shape a better outcome for the local and regional economy.

Your voice will be vital during the coming weeks as LAEDC and the City of Long Beach holds forums seeking input into the process. To get involved in our Long Beach minimum wage work, contact Dustan Batton, dustan.batton@bizfed.org.

• Click here for details on participating in the upcoming forums

On October 29 from 10 a.m. – 1 p.m., BizFed will have a vital opportunity to influence the Regional Transportation Plan and Sustainable Communities Strategy being developed by SCAG. Our region is the 14th largest economy in the world, and this is a chance to engage to help shape the plan that will guide land use and transportation policies that will touch every aspect of our community for decades to come. Please join us for this important dialogue with SCAG staff. To get involved in our RTP/SCS work, contact Dustan Batton, dustan.batton@bizfed.org.

• Click here for more information

On Friday, Nov. 6, BizFed members are invited to participate in a leadership roundtable discussin with with Assemblymember Jimmy Gomez, chairman of the Assembly Appropriations Committee, who was elected in November of 2012 to represent California’s 51st Assembly District. These leadership roundtables are exclusive opportunities for BizFed leaders to directly engage senior policymakers. Seating is limited to ensure productive dialogue. To participate, please contact David Englin, david.englin@bizfed.org.

Don’t miss this festive event of hors d’oeuvres, cocktails and merriment! There is no cost for members of the League of California Cities, California Contract Cities Association, or BizFed. Space is limited, so please register early. The event will take place from 6 p.m. – 8:30 p.m. on Thursday, December 3, at The Grand Long Beach, 4101 E. Willow Street, Long Beach, CA 90815.

• Click here to register!

(NEW) Airbnb, Association of Independent Commercial Producers, California Life Sciences Association

(RENEWING) AIA Los Angeles, Asian American Business Women Association, Enterprise Holdings, Glendale Chamber of Commerce, Kosmont Companies, Lamar Advertising of LA,Microsoft, NBCUniversal, Orthopaedic Institute for Children,Vernon Chamber of Commerce

Join your fellow BizFed members for our next Board Meeting onTuesday, November 17, hosted by Latham & Watkins (355 South Grand Ave. #100, LA 90071).  The meeting begins at noon and ends at 1:30 p.m. with a networking luncheon beginning at 11:30 a.m.