Advocacy is our guiding principle in order to facilitate a positive business climate for our members. Take a look at the many issues and projects that the Chamber tackled in the past year, and the many free programs that we offer our members which few other chambers of commerce can match. We’re working for you every day!
The Chamber mounted a major effort during the year to press the City for action on a needed-street vending ordinance to bring order to the City’s sidewalks. Among the groups the Chamber met with were City Economic Development Committee Chair Curren Price, the Mayor’s office, Steve Houchin of the City Attorney’s office, Councilmembers Mitch O’Farrell, Bob Blumenfeld and Monica Rodriguez, L.A. Tourism and Convention Center Manager Doane Liu. The Chamber also testified at several hearings on the topic and was encouraged that the City Council finally voted to move forward with the development of an enforcement program on the Walk of Fame.
Homeless issues also were a major priority at the Chamber, as Chamber representatives encouraged the Mayor’s office to take action against violent and mentally unstable individuals who threaten the public as well as the homeless.
The Chamber co-funded a study by a Coro Fellow to determine what other major cities do to protect their landmarks that are comparable to the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
A campaign to qualify a ballot measure to fix problems created by Propositions 47 and 57 that have resulted in a rise in crime, was endorsed by the Chamber.
Free Leadership Luncheons to provide Chamber members an opportunity to meet public officials were held with: State Controller Betty Yee, Assemblymember Laura Friedman, Assemblymember Miguel Santiago, and Councilmember Monica Rodriguez.
Two Chamber representatives participated in Council District 4’s Griffith Park Mobility Task Force advising on how to improve access to Griffith Park and to decrease Hollywood Sign visitors from traveling through local neighborhoods.
The Chamber continued to host quarterly meetings with leaders of the six Hollywood neighborhood councils.
Chamber delegations participated in the regional Access DC trip to Washington, D.C. to lobby Congress and federal agencies on Southern California issues, and also participated in the California Chamber’s annual Business Conference in Sacramento.
The Chamber hosted annual luncheons, including the State of Hollywood with Councilman Mitch O’Farrell, the State of the State with Senator Ben Allen, and a breakfast with Mayor Eric Garcetti.
Chamber staff and volunteers testified before numerous City committees on behalf of various Hollywood projects in the pipeline.