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THURSDAY, JUNE 21, 2012
11:30 a.m.
2012 Los Angeles Economic Forecast Conference
California's Business Climate: Raising the Grade
Featured Speakers: Christopher Thornberg, Beacon Economics; Jordan Levine, Beacon Economics; Jeffrey Stibel, Dun & Bradstreet Credibility Corp., Roberto Barragan, Valley Economic Development Center; Dawn Nakagawa, Nicolas Berggruen Institute; John Paglia, Pepperdine University; Raphael Sonenshein, California State University, Los Angeles
Los Angeles Airport Marriott: 5855 West Century Boulevard
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THURSDAY, JUNE 28, 2012
11:30 a.m.
General Membership Meeting
There's No Place Like Home: Downtown LA's Housing Rebound
Special Guests: Deborah Beveridge, East West Bank; Yuval Bar-Zemer, Linear City; Tony Duplisse, Equity Residential; Richard K. Green, USC Lusk Center in Real Estate; Fran Hughes, John Aaroe Group; Bill McGregor, The McGregor Company; Patrick Spillane, IDS Real Estate Group
Sheraton Los Angeles Downtown Hotel: 711 S. Hope Street
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WEDNESDAY, JUNE 20
8:00 a.m.
HOUSING, LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT COMMITTEE
(Open to Executive and Business Advocacy Members Only)
Topics: Wyvernwood Housing Development; Sustainable Parking Standards Act of 2012
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FRIDAY, JUNE 29
9:00 a.m.
PUBLIC SAFETY, HEALTH & HOMELESSNESS COMMITTEE
(Open to Executive and Business Advocacy Members Only)
Topics: Prisoner Realignment (Assembly Bill 109); Regulation of Health Insurance Rates
Special Guests:
Lieutenant Ken McWaid, Los Angeles County Probation Department; Assistant Sheriff Cecil Rhambo, Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department; Captain Bill Hart, Los Angeles Police Department; Ann Newton, Californians Against Higher Health Care Costs
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Dr. Daniel LaVista, LACCD; Carol Schatz, CCA; The Honorable Joe Buscaino, Los Angeles City Council; Michele Cooper, United Parcel Service; Patrick Spillane, IDS Real Estate Group
Downtown Los Angeles: Open for Business
Councilmember Joe Buscaino shared his vision for the city of Los Angeles at CCA’s June Executive Committee meeting at UCLA Extension.
As a former police officer of 15-years, Councilmember Buscaino stressed the importance of public safety as a tool to spur economic development. Since his early days as an officer in Central Division, he has witnessed the incredible transformation of Downtown. Councilmember Buscaino thanked CCA for championing many of the issues which were responsible for the growth of jobs and revenue that the city has come to depend on for important social services.
To support the city’s revitalization efforts in his district, Councilmember Buscaino has appointed several key staff members to work with the business community. He is particularly focused on the communities of San Pedro and Watts, noting how both communities offer great potential in terms of new development projects.
First elected in January of 2012, Councilmember Buscaino represents the 15th Council District, which includes the Port of Los Angeles and the communities of San Pedro, Wilmington, Harbor City, Harbor Gateway and Watts. He currently chairs the Public Works Committee and is a member of the Trade, Commerce & Tourism and Information Technology & General Services Committees.
CCA would like to thank Councilmember Buscaino for his presentation and would also like to extend our appreciation to Dean Cathy Sandeen of UCLA Extension for hosting our meeting this afternoon.
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Reimagining the Los Angeles River
This week, CCA’s Downtown 2020 Committee heard an inspiring presentation about the future of the Los Angeles River. Spanning 52 miles from Canoga Park to the Pacific Ocean, many were surprised to hear that the river is home to 200 species of birds, 29 miles of bike path, many horse riding trails, and 35 miles of tributaries. The discussion focused on the 3 phases of the river’s life: River 1.0, or its natural state as a flood plain; River 2.0, the current incarnation as an efficient flood-control channel; and River 3.0, a user-friendly piece of infrastructure doubling as a reclaimed civic space.
Long the subject of visionary stakeholders, the revitalization of the Los Angeles River has gained considerable momentum in recent years. Proving that it is no longer just a local project, the river has received federal recognition from the Obama administration through inclusion in several programs. Next year, $4 million in private donations will enable groundbreaking on the construction of a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge. Clearly, the opportunities for economic and community development along the river are only beginning.
Following the adoption of the river’s Revitalization Master Plan in 2007, the city formed the L.A. River Revitalization Corp. as a separate, non-profit entity that could act more nimbly to implement the city’s 50-year blueprint. That vision includes not just reconnecting Angelenos with the river, but using the river as a means to tie together disparate pieces of our sprawling city.
CCA thanks Omar Brownson, Executive Director of the L.A. River Revitalization Corp., for his presentation.
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Stemming the Tide of Homelessness
Earlier this week, CCA’s Public Safety, Health and Homelessness Committee heard presentations from the Los Angeles County Departments of Mental Health, Public Health and Health Services. Guests from each department outlined the types of programs the county currently supports to combat its growing homeless/transient populations.
Encampments of homeless individuals in bedrolls, tents and cardboard boxes are on the rise. The problem has become particularly acute since June 2011, when U.S. District Judge Philip Gutierrez issued a preliminary injunction against the city of Los Angeles, effectively barring the city from removing unattended items left on the public right-of-way.
The Department of Public Health (DPH) addressed the conditions in Skid Row, noting the negative ramifications of the ruling on the public health and safety conditions Downtown. The DPH recently conducted a field study which analyzed a 10-block area of Skid Row at the request of the city.
The meeting included discussion of the Department of Mental Health’s continued efforts to reach out to patients who require mental health treatments -- yet refuse it -- in addition to the Department of Health Services' present emphasis on expanding its permanent supportive housing portfolio.
CCA thanks Marvin Southard, Director of the Department of Mental Health; Jonathan Freedman, Chief Deputy Director from the Department of Public Health; and Mark Ghaly, Deputy Director of Community Health at the Department of Health Services for their presentations.
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 CCA President & CEO Carol Schatz was an invited panelist and moderator at the USC Lusk Center's 12th Annual Retreat in Santa Barbara, California. The topic of the panel, 'Setting the Compass: California's New Landscape,' included State Controller John Chiang, Frank Baxter, Sharon Keyser and Dr. Ian Sobieski. Schatz discussed Downtown's 13-year economic renaissance and what that has meant in terms of new jobs and development for the city of Los Angeles.
CCA testified before the Los Angeles City Council’s Ad Hoc Committee on the Downtown Stadium, in support of AEG’s development of Farmers Field and the draft EIR for the proposed stadium. The draft EIR is the next step in bringing an NFL football team to Downtown Los Angeles; the final EIR is expected to be released late this summer. Staff Contact: Vice President of Legislative & Legal Affairs, Anne Williams.
CCA testified at the Planning & Land Use Management Committee to urge its members to work alongside the wireless industry in drafting an ordinance regulating the placement of cell towers and related equipment. The City Attorney's office will present a draft ordinance to the City Council later this month for consideration. Businesses today are especially reliant on the use of wireless devices for their individual needs. CCA has advocated for the city to find common compromise with the wireless providers without having to resort to new, onerous regulations. Staff Contact: Senior Director of Legislative & Legal Affairs, Anh Nguyen.
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