Metro Narrows Westside Subway Options

Local transportation officials announced last week that they have narrowed the options for the Westside subway.  Metro representatives announced at a community hearing that they are now focusing on either a route straight west on Wilshire Blvd. to Santa Monica, or adding a leg that would connect from the Hollywood & Highland station passing through West Hollywood before heading south on La Cienega to connect at Wilshire Blvd. with the Wilshire line.  Chamber President & CEO Leron Gubler was present at the hearing and praised Metro for considering  the Hollywood/West Hollywood connector (known as Alternative 11).  He noted that the Hollywood Chamber was on record in support of the two lines, which would create a much more usable subway system and which would get people where they want to go on the Westside.  A final recommendation is expected to go to the Metro Board of Directors before the end of the year.  Proposition R, which would raise the sales tax by ½ cent and which will be voted on in November, would provide a funding mechanism for the subway.  Because the route of the Westside extension is so important to Hollywood, the Chamber will continue to follow developments closely and will keep our members informed on how you can help us to get Alternative 11 selected as the preferred route.

Chamber Foundation Approves Six Grants

A record number of grants was approved last week by the board of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation.  They approved $2,500 grants going to:  My Friend’s Place to purchase materials for parenting groups, to Los Angeles Contemporary Exhibitions for a festival and arts program, to Children of the Night for their pimp prosecution program, to Hollywood Media and Arts to purchase a digital projector and screen for their arts program, to L.A. Freewaves for their community arts festival, and to the Boys & Girls Club of Hollywood to support their teen program.  The Chamber Foundation is funded through the generosity of Chamber members.  The next Foundation fundraiser will occur on All Hallows Eve, October 30^th, at Forever Hollywood cemetery.

Walk of Fame Honors Howie Mandel, Schedules Village People

One of Hollywood’s funniest and most enduring comedians has been honored with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.  Howie Mandel, who has reinvented himself as the host of the runaway hit Deal or No Deal, was on hand to receive the 2,368^th star at Hollywood and Ivar last Thursday.  Night show host Jay Leno showed up to give him accolades as well as two of the Deal or No Deal girls.  Mandel was surprised when he was presented a replica plaque in one of the briefcases used on the show.  The next Walk of Fame ceremony is set for this Friday at 11:30 a.m., when the Village People receive a star at Hollywood and Wilcox, only a block from the YMCA, as a tribute to one of their most enduring hits.  The Hollywood Chamber administers the Walk of Fame on behalf of the City.

LaBonge to Update Chamber in Annual Speech

“Hollywood:  Past, present, and future” will be the theme of the Hollywood Chamber’s annual luncheon with Councilmember Tom LaBonge, on Thursday, September 18, at the Avalon Hollywood, 1735 N. Vine Street, Hollywood. LaBonge will moderate a panel of City experts on various issues of interest to Hollywood. Registration begins at 11:30 a.m., with the luncheon following at 12 noon. Admission is $55 for Chamber members and $65 for nonmembers.  Reserved tables of 10 are available for $600 and feature signage and preferred seating. The Chamber expresses appreciation to presenting sponsors Iron Mountain Film & Sound Archives, CRA/LA and Starline Tours. Additional supporting sponsors include Paramount Contractors, Andrews International Security, Original Farmers Market and Paramount Pictures. Sponsorship opportunities are also available and include a reserved table and a variety of other benefits. Please contact kaylee@hollywoodchamber.net for more information. Individual reservations can be made by logging on to the chamber website: www.hollywoodchamber.net.

You Can Support Hollywood’s Hail-A-Taxi Program

A six-month test program is underway in central Hollywood and Downtown to see if there is enough demand by passengers to make a permanent policy allowing people to hail taxis.  Prior to the test program, taxi drivers would be fined if they stopped to pick up pedestrians.  The new policy will allow drivers to stop in a no-parking or nostopping red zone to actively load and unload passengers.  They may also stop in blue disabled zones, and are allowed to double-park if there is at least one remaining lane of traffic open.  The Chamber, which was a strong proponent of the new policy, encourages its members to help make the test a success by taking advantage of the opportunity to hail taxis.

A-LIST Mixer Set at Farmers Market for Young Professionals

The Chamber’s next A-LIST mixer will be held at the world-famous Original Farmers Market on Wednesday September 24th. The A-LIST is a networking group for young professionals (and those “young at heart”) which focuses on developing professional and social relationships through quarterly networking events. In 2009 The Original Farmers Market will celebrate its 75th anniversary as one of the city’s most beloved and entertaining institutions. The Original Farmers Market grew to be a perfect place: great shopping, an amazing array of restaurants and the city’s best grocery store, all in an authentic atmosphere which offers family fun, frequent star spotting, living history and a charming experience locals and tourists alike truly cherish. The A-LIST will be held on the Market’s Upper Dining Deck (accessed by any of the three staircases on the north end of the Market) from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. After the mixer, join A-LIST committee members and co-chairs Nicole Mihalka and Renee Kische at the ‘Karaoke Hoedown’! Presented by EB’s Beer & Wine (on the West patio). A truly entertaining activity, ‘Karaoke Hoedown’ is every Wednesday evening from 7:00 p.m. to 10 p.m. Great drink specials are offered by EB’s Beer & Wine throughout the evening. Visit www.farmersmarketla.com or call (323) 939-9211. Admission to the A-LIST is $10 for members and $20 for non-members, which includes appetizers and two beverages. The Original Farmers Market is located at the corner of Third and Fairfax. Mixer attendees will receive free parking voucher at the event. (enter from either 3rd Street or Fairfax). Please RSVP to steven@hollywoodchamber.net or call (323) 469-8311.

Chamber to Host Premiere of Anti-Piracy Movie

In a step to keep the focus on the growing problem of piracy, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will partner with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce on the Los Angeles premiere of Illicit: The Dark Trade. The movie was produced by the U.S. Chamber’s Global Intellectual Property Center (GIPC) in partnership with National Geographic. The film exposes the criminal networks behind the multibillion-dollar global trade of illicit goods and reveals how these criminal networks cost untold numbers of jobs, produce dangerous products and breed violence and corruption. The screening will be held on Wednesday, October 1^st at 4 p.m. at Sunset-Gower Studios in the Stanley Kramer Theatre.  Admission is free.  However, reservations are mandatory because of limited space. You can make a reservation by calling the Chamber (323)469-8311 or reserve online now at Chamber Events.

Michael-Jon Smith to be Honored by PAWS/LA

JPI Donates to Covenant House

The developer of a major mixed-use project at Highland and Yucca, JPI, has contributed $8,500 to Covenant House of California, a Hollywood-based agency serving homeless youth.  JPI is building the Jefferson at Hollywood, a 270-unit apartment complex with 8,500-sq.ft. of retail space.  They had previously donated $20,000 to the Covenant House at their groundbreaking ceremony last fall.

Help Hollywood Get Park Funding!

The community is encouraged to complete and sign sample AB 31 support letter and fax to (916) 319-2145. If passed.  AB 31 allows Hollywood an opportunity to seek funding for the creation of new parks in the community including the proposed Hollywood Freeway Central Park, a 42-acre ‘cap’ park on Hollywood 101 Freeway from Hollywood Blvd. on the north and Santa Monica Blvd. on the south. For more information on what you can do to help support AB 31 please contact the Chamber’s Vice President of Public Policy, Nicole Shahenian at Nicole@hollywoodchamber.net.

Talk to Marty: Addiction Counseling Services (213)500-8865 • Take $50 dollars off first visit!

KBKG reduces taxes with Enterprise Zone Tax Credits

Members Take 15-20% Off with I&A Dry Cleaners: Call 323-953-9988

Click here for Chamber Member News, Events and Discount Offers

Free business counseling at the Hollywood Chamber
Offered by the Service Corps of Retired Executives (SCORE)
Richard Krelstein, a retired business turn-around specialist
Consulting services will be available most Fridays 9:30 - 11:30am 
To schedule an appointment, call Vivian at (323)469-8311.