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Lawmakers cling to partisan politics
Business blasts Legislature for open primary settlement

VICA and other business groups stepped up this week to question the Legislature for its settlement allowing a rewrite of ballot language for Proposition 14. The measure (which is part of last year’s budget compromise) would create an open primary system in California with the hopes of easing partisan gridlock. The business community expects open primaries, paired with redistricting passed by voters in 2008, to give citizens a greater voice and elect moderate candidates who are willing to work together. Supporters of an open primary called the Legislature’s out-of-court settlement illegal and a political maneuver to maintain the status quo.   

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Local Update: VICA's monthly column in the San Fernando Valley Business Journal

Privatization would improve city services 

As news about the city’s budget deficit dominates headlines much of the buzz surrounds layoffs and cuts to city services. But savvy business leaders know that when times are tough creativity is needed to help overcome financial difficulties. The City of Los Angeles faces a budget gap of more than $200 million and that number is anticipated to double in the following fiscal year. Unless city leaders make sustainable and systemic changes to the way the city operates, the budget crisis will remain chronic. Significant cuts and layoffs are unavoidable at this point, but there are other ways the city can leverage its assets to help ease the budget shortfall. Over the next several weeks the Los Angeles City Council will consider public-private partnerships as one of the methods to help close the city’s budget deficit. Click here to read the entire column.