JUNE 30, 2006
INSIDE THIS
ISSUE
CCA Staff in Sacramento
Updates from the Government Relations Committee
Al Gore Visits Downtown
Staff Briefs
EVENTS
CALENDAR
JULY 20
General Membership Meeting - The Business of Sports
More details coming soon
(Open to Executive level members only )
______________
JULY 6
Executive Committee Meeting at the California Hospital Medical Center
 
JULY 11
Special Event Welcoming the Miss Universe Pageant to Los Angeles at the Wilshire Grand Hotel
UPCOMING
COMMITTEES
Open to Business Advocacy and Executive level members only
July 13
URBAN DESIGN - Special Guest: Councilmember Ed Reyes to provide update on L.A. River Project
July 19
HOUSING, LAND USE & DEVELOPMENT - Special Guest: Bill Jackson, Chairman of the CRA Board of Commissioners
 

Photo from the Grand Opening of Wolfgang Puck Express, at the corner of Hope and 6th Street. CCA staff attended to celebrate this new addition to Downtown. Shown above (from left to right):  Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, Mr. Wolfgang Puck, and Councilwoman Jan Perry.
CCA Staff In Sacramento
On Wednesday, CCA staff made a second trip to Sacramento in a week to support legislation aimed at alleviating the burden of homelessness on Downtown sponsored by Senator Gil Cedillo.  Testifying in support of sentence enhancements for drug crimes near homeless shelters last week, CCA's Senior Vice President of Government Affairs, Victor Franco, Jr., testified before the Assembly Committee on Housing & Community Development  this week in support of zoning laws requiring local jurisdictions to site for homeless shelters.  Both bills passed with amendments. 
This legislation is a giant step forward in addressing Downtown's homelessness crisis, and CCA is grateful to Senator Cedillo for his leadership.  
An Update from CCA's Government Relations Committee
CCA welcomed Los Angeles City Councilmember Greig Smith and Alex Rubalcava, from Rubalcava Capital Management, LLC, to a recent CCA Government Relations Meeting.  Councilmember Smith expressed his continued support for growth and business development in Los Angeles and for Downtown's renaissance by recognizing that the heart of Los Angeles is its Downtown. CCA's Government Relations Committee voted unanimously to endorse Councilmember Smith's candidacy for re-election.
Alex Rubalcava spoke on the state of Los Angeles pension plans and their hidden risks to the City budget. Rubalcava explained that while Los Angeles pension plans assume 8% investment earnings on a mixed portfolio, for the last 6 years, earnings have been less than 8%, costing the City hundreds of millions in extra General Fund contributions. Rubalcava stressed the need for realistic assumptions in Los Angeles'  pension system and noted that the system could pose a significant fiscal risk to the City if pension funds continue to miss their investment objectives.
Al Gore Visits Downtown
Last Saturday more than 8,000 Angelenos visited California Plaza for a free showing of  An Inconvenient Truth , a documentary about the dangers of global warming featuring former Vice President Al Gore .  Joined by President & CEO, Carol Schatz , Mayor  Antonio Villaraigosa , performer Jon Bon Jovi and his guitarist  Richie Sambora , Councilmembers Jan Perry and Bill Rosendahl , and Al Gore, himself, this was the signature event of the DCBID's 2nd Annual Walk-In Movie Series.  Bon Jovi and Sambora played a live acoustic set and Gore addressed the crowd. 
The DCBID's Movie Series is supported by Grand Performances, Paramount Classics, the Los Angeles Film Festival, the Omni Hotel, and Noe Restaurant.   For the complete schedule of movies, please visit www.downtownla.com .
    


 

 

• City Council approved plans for 8th  and Grand on Wednesday.  This is an 875 unit condo project with retail and a public paseo proposed by CCA member, Astani Enterprises.  8th and Grand will serve as a much-needed gateway between South Park and the Historic Core of Downtown.

• On June 28th, CCA staff attended an L.A. River Stakeholder Meeting where the Los Angeles River Revitalization Master Plan team presented concepts for overall River treatment and for Opportunity Site development and selection. Discussions were held regarding considerations that need to be addressed as approaches to revitalizing the River are considered.

CCA IN THE NEWS

"We are extremely happy with the retail going in," said Victor Franco, vice president of government affairs for the Central City Association, who noted that the walkway would break up the block and help activate street life. "The retail is not just for those who live there. It will serve everybody in the area."  June 25, Downtown News ,       " A Half-Billion Dollar Baby ," by Kathleen Nye Flynn re: Astani Enterprises' 8th & Grand Project.
"'We have no problem with a truly interim ordinance that gives everyone a bit of breathing room to craft a comprehensive policy,' said Victor Franco Jr., senior vice president of government affairs for the Central City Association, 'But nearly every (interim ordinance) that's been implemented...has become a defacto ban on future development.'" June 26,  Los Angeles Business Journal , "Caught in Downtown's Conversion Crossfire," by Howard Fine re: new CRA guidelines for residential hotels.
"'We need to take care of what is going on here,' [Victor Franco, Jr.] says. 'But it will require creative solutions from both the civic and the business community.'" June 29, LA City Beat , " Shining the Nickel ," by Allison Milionis re: Downtown development and Skid Row.



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