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SMALLER SCHOOLS = STRONGER EDUCATION. Miguel Contreras Learning Complex Principal Heather Daims (left) gives the Leadership L.A. Class of 2008 a tour of the high school on Friday, May 9 as part of a seminar focusing on
education and the Los Angeles Unified School District's new movement toward
small schools and small learning communities. "Instruction in our schools is core, but we cannot get to strong instruction if our students feel like they don't matter and if our parents are disconnected," said LAUSD Board Member
Yolie Flores Aguilar.
(View Chamber photo gallery).
Chamber supports Instant Runoff Voting in Los Angeles
The Chamber's Board of Directors voted last week to
support Instant Runoff Voting (IRV) for the city of Los Angeles, which would combine primary and runoff elections by allowing voters to rank candidates and use the rankings to elect a majority winner. "Instant Runoff Voting
will create more competitive races, increase voter participation and eliminate costly runoff elections," said Gary Toebben, President & CEO, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. "The L.A. Area Chamber strongly urges the City
Council and Mayor Villaraigosa to put IRV on the ballot this November." Contact VP of Public Policy Samuel Garrison, 213.580.7568 or
sgarrison@lachamber.com.
Chamber opposes eminent domain bills
The Chamber's Board of Directors voted last week to oppose Propositions 98 and 99. The
two eminent domain initiatives will be on the ballot for the June 3 statewide primary. The Board concluded that the state already has strong eminent domain protections and that both propositions will significantly impede California's
ability to update aging infrastructure through public-private partnerships. Contact Public Policy Manager Vanessa Rodriguez, 213.580.7531 or
vrodriguez@lachamber.com.
Mobility 21 Coalition to focus on bringing transportation dollars to Valley
The
Mobility 21 Coalition is hosting a
Los Angeles County focused meeting to discuss funding and land use issues in the San Fernando Valley on Wednesday, May 21, 7:45-noon at the Warner Center Marriott in Woodland Hills. Speakers include L.A. City Council Pro Tempore
Wendy Greuel; Tom Smith, SVP West Coast Real Estate, NBC Universal; L.A. County Board of Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky; and L.A. Planning Director Gail Goldberg.
Register now or contact Senior Public Policy Manager Alex Pugh, 213.580.7558 or
apugh@lachamber.com.
New study shows sports pumps $5 billion annually into L.A. economy
The sporting events industry provides a tremendous amount of economic growth to the region according to a
field study released Wednesday by the Chamber and the Los Angeles Sports Council. Sporting events in Southern California generated an all-time high of more than $5 billion in total economic impact last
year and the industry’s annual growth rate is double the annual growth rate of Californians’ personal income during this period, with nearly 25 million people attending area sporting events in 2007. Contact Director of
Marketing & Communications Gwen Oldham, 213.580.7532 or
goldham@lachamber.com.
Chamber Board discusses water crisis with Orange County Business Council
Chamber Board Members Ron Gastelum, SunCal Companies, Fran Inman, Majestic Realty, Co. and Gilbert Ivey, Metropolitan
Water District, co-led a meeting last Friday with the Orange County Business Council to discuss urgent action needed to fix the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta. The two groups will urge Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger to move forward
on immediate interim steps that do not require legislative approval. Contact Senior Public Policy Manager Alex Pugh, 213.580.7558 or
apugh@lachamber.com.
Chamber to hear from California Secretary of Education
California Secretary of Education David Long will discuss education reform at the Chamber's
Education & Workforce Development Committee meeting Thursday, May 22, 2 p.m. Institute for Higher Education Leadership Executive Director Nancy Shulock, Sacramento State University, will also address the committee. The committee
will also discuss its advocacy agenda for the Chamber’s Access Sacramento trip June 16-17.
RSVP now or contact Public Policy Manager Alejandra Velazquez, 213.580.7544 or
avelazquez@lachamber.com.
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MEMBER
HIGHLIGHT_____
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THIS
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"Bernard Parks for L.A. County Board of Supervisors"
OVERHEARD_______________
“Sports is not just a section in the
newspaper, it’s also a sector of the economy-
Anything that contributes a $5 billion impact each year is substantial.”
—Alan Rothenberg, chair of the L.A. Sports Council, at a press conference Wednesday to announce a release by the Chamber
and Sports Council on the L.A. Sports Industry's economic impact.
MEDIA HITS_____
"Sports still seem recession-proof in L.A.," L.A. Daily News, May 15.
"We oftentimes hear people say,`We're at a saturation point in sports,' but the fact of the matter is, when you bring in something that the public wants to buy, they do it," said Chamber President & CEO Gary Toebben, speaking about
the importance of sports in Los Angeles.
"Small L.A. Unified Campus Showing Large Gains," Los Angeles Times, May 11. A profile on the Student Empowerment Academy at Jefferson High School, one of the Small Learning Communities made possible by the work
of the Chamber in partnership with the New Tech Foundation.
"L.A. Chamber Endorses Bernard Parks," Los Angeles Business Journal, May 8 and
"The Race for Supervisor: Finding New Methods of Reaching Voters," Los Angeles Wave, May 15. The Chamber announced their endorsement of L.A. City Councilmember and former L.A. Police Chief Bernard Parks for L.A.
County Board of Supervisors.
EVENT
HIGHLIGHT_____
Remembering Our Veterans and Their Families: Past, Present and Future
Join L.A. County Board of
Supervisor Michael D. Antonovich on Saturday, May 24 at Arcadia County Park from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. A special tribute to our armed forces will be at 11:30 a.m. For more information, call 626.967.1441 or 909.394.2264.
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