State Controller
Gives Grave Assessment of State Finances
 California
State Controller John Chiang provided the
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
with a discouraging assessment of State finances
last week. He reported that 240,000 jobs have
been lost and that unemployment rates have
jumped from 5.5 percent to 5.7 percent and are
increasing. Consumer confidence is at a 16 year
low. The economy will be sluggish for the
foreseeable future, which does not bode well for
the State. He noted that with a budget that is
billions out of alignment, the State has only
three choices: 1. to raise taxes, 2. to cut
spending, or 3. to borrow. Because the
legislature has been unable to agree on cuts or
raising taxes, they have resorted to borrowing
long term for current operating expenses. It
would require a crisis to get the legislature to
make the fundamental changes that are needed in
the budgeting process. We are not yet at that
point. He urged the Chamber to work to find
balanced representatives who will make the hard
decisions.
Chamber Reviews Millennium
Hollywood and Bank Building Projects
The Economic
Development Committee of the Chamber reviewed
two proposed projects at its meeting this week.
A proposal was presented to convert the former
Security Bank Building at the corner of
Hollywood Blvd. and Cahuenga into an 80-room,
five-star boutique hotel. An adjoining building
that housed a restaurant and night club will be
demolished to erect a 121-car parking garage to
service the hotel. An adaptive reuse project,
it is expected to begin the hearing process
starting in March. Also presented to the
committee was the $1-billion Millennium
Hollywood project, adjacent to Capitol Records.
A joint venture by Argent Ventures and
Millennium Partners, the project envisions 500
residential units, a 200-room luxury hotel,
100,000-sq.ft. of office space, a total of
35,000-sq.ft. for a sports club, and more than
45,000-sq.ft. of retail and food and beverage
uses. The developers hope to complete the
entitlement process by the end of 2009, to begin
construction before the end of 2010, and to
finish construction of the entire project in
2013. Both projects are expected to return to
the Chamber for further review as they move
through the approval process.
Board Ratifies
Appointees to New Nominating Committee
Chair of the
Board Mark Panatier has announced his appointees
to the Chamber Nominating Committee to serve for
the next year. His recommendations were
approved by the Board last week. They include:
Karen Diehl of Casey & Sayre as chair of the
committee; and committee members Randall
Baumberger of Paramount Studio Group, Matt
Cooper of The New Post Group, Duke Gallagher of
The Production Group, Carol Massie of
McDonald’s, Steve Tronson of Ramsey-Shilling
Commercial Real Estate, and Christie Van Cleve
of Roschen Van Cleve Architects. The committee
will be meeting soon to consider persons to fill
vacancies on the Board of Directors. Any
Chamber member who is interested in being
considered is welcome to contact a member of the
committee or to send a letter of interest to the
Chamber staff.
Chamber Recommends
Positions on Ballot Measures
On Tuesday, November 4 voters
across the State will be asked to vote on a
series of important Ballot measures. The
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors
officially endorsed the following November 2008
Ballot Initiatives:
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Proposition 1A
Safe, Reliable
High-Speed Passenger Train Bond Act for the
21st Century
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Proposition 1A asks
voters to approve $9.95 billion of general
obligation bonds that will help to fund a
high speed train between San Francisco and
Los Angeles. The train system is estimated
to be completed by 2030 and will allow
passengers to travel between San Francisco
and Los Angeles in about 2 hours and 40
minutes. Proposition 1 is estimated to
Create 160,000 construction jobs and 450,000
permanent new jobs -that can't be
outsourced. The Proposition will
additionally take 92 million vehicle trips
off of the road every year and reduce
greenhouse gas emissions by 12 billion
pounds a year. It is expected that the
Rail system will also reduce California’s
dependence on foreign oil by up to 12.7
million barrels a year as well as increase
commerce and tourism throughout the state.
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Proposition 3
Children’s Hospital
Bond Act” Grant Program
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This measure authorizes
the state to sell $980 million in general
obligation bonds for capital improvement
projects at children’s hospitals, including
Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. Children’s
hospitals focus their efforts on the health
care needs of children by providing
diagnostic, therapeutic, and rehabilitative
services to injured, disabled, and sick
infants and children. Many children
receiving services in these hospitals are
from low income families and have
significant health care needs.
The money raised from the bond sales could
be used for the construction, expansion,
remodeling, renovation, furnishing,
equipping, financing, or refinancing of
children’s hospitals in the state. |
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Proposition 11
The Voters First Act
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Proposition 11, “The
Voters First Act” would create an
independent 14-Person Redistricting
Commission (5 Democrats, 5 Republicans, 4
other) that would reconfigure California
State Senate, California State Assembly and
California Board of Equalization districts,
using strict constitutional criteria. The
Act establishes an open and transparent
process that attempts to ensure fairly drawn
district boundaries and proposes to end the
conflict of interest, back room deals and
carving up of communities, cities and
counties that have occurred under the
current system. |
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Measure J
LA Community Colleges General Obligation
Bond Proposal
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Measure J asks voters to
approve a $3.5 billion general obligation
bond to support capital improvements,
facilities construction and improvements,
funding of specific workforce development
programs and other projects and programs
within the Los Angeles Community College
District. This funding is essential to train
students and professionals for high demand
occupations such as nursing, health care,
construction, and green technology jobs. |
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Measure R
MTA ½ Cent Sales Tax for Transportation
Projects
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Measure R authorizes the
Los Angeles Metropolitan Transportation
Agency (MTA) to adopt a 0.5% sales tax in
Los Angeles County to be used for mass
transit, highway improvements; and traffic
light synchronization projects throughout LA
County. The bill is estimated to generate
$40 billion over the next 30 years. MTA’s
Proposed Expenditure Plan includes light
rail transit projects, road interchange
improvements, road enhancements, grade
separations and even a possible expansion of
the Metro Rail system by another 32 miles
and construction of 160 more miles of
carpool lanes, which could increase their
rail system by 50%. This is the primary
funding source for the “subway to the sea”,
including the Alternative 11 loop from
Hollywood. Without this measure, there is
no funding identified for the subway.
Additionally, the projects listed in MTA’s
Expenditure plan could reduce 14 tons of
pollution and 725 metric tons of greenhouse
gas emissions annually by improving bus
passenger time and increase transit capacity
by 25%. |
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For more information
on these important November Ballot
Initiatives, please contact the Chamber’s
Vice President of Public Policy, Nicole
Shahenian at
Nicole@Hollywoodchamber.net |
Still Time To RSVP For
“All Hallows Eve” Party
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Community
Foundation’s 7th annual “All Hallow’s Eve”
Fundraiser is coming together! Our top sponsors
this year are Farmers Market, Millennium
Partners/Argent Ventures, The Clarett Group,
Sunset Gower / Sunset Bronson Studios, and
Hollywood Forever Cemetery. The evening will
feature food and drinks, magic, cemetery tours,
face painting, palm reading, fire-eaters and
more! All in attendance will have the chance to
win prizes throughout the night- including a
trip for two on Continental Airlines, limousine
service to LAX, and weekend stays at a number of
LA’s hottest hotels! We invite you to join us
for a night of spooky surprises. Tickets are
$39 available
online or by calling Vivian at
323-469-8311. For sponsorship opportunities
please email Kaylee Kiecker, V.P. of Marketing
and Business Development at
kaylee@hollywoodchamber.net. All
net proceeds go directly to the Hollywood
Chamber of Commerce Community Foundation.
Entertainment Industry
Luncheon to Feature AMPAS, A.C. Lyles
 Bruce
Davis, the executive director of the Academy of
Motion Picture Arts & Sciences will deliver the
keynote address at the Hollywood Chamber’s
annual Entertainment Industry Luncheon on
Wednesday, November 5th. He is
expected to update attendees on the status of
their planned Hollywood Motion Picture Museum
and other Academy projects. The Chamber will
also be presenting the Hollywood Star Award to
A.C. Lyles of Paramount Pictures, recognizing
his 80-years of service to the industry. The
luncheon will be held at the Renaissance
Hollywood Hotel, 1755 Highland Ave., with
registration beginning at 11:30 a.m. Advance
reservations are $75 per person or $800 for a
table of 10. A limited number of sponsorships
are also still available by contacting Kaylee
Kiecker at the Chamber. Presenting sponsors
include The Hollywood Reporter, Iron Mountain
Film & Storage, and Paramount Pictures. Other
supporting sponsors include: Andrews
International Security, Paramount Contractors,
Ramsey-Shilling Commercial Real Estate, and
Sunset Gower & Sunset Bronson Studios.
 Walk
of Fame Honors Husband and Wife Producers
In a first for
the Hollywood Walk of Fame, a husband and wife
were honored at a dual ceremony on the famous
sidewalk last Friday. Producers Lauren Shuler
Donner and Richard Donner were presented with
the 2,372nd and 2,373rd
stars. Lauren Shuler Donner was responsible for
the X Men movie franchise, while her husband,
Richard, is best knows for the Lethal Weapon
series of movies. Between the two of them,
their movies have earned in the billions of
dollars. Also speaking at the ceremony were
Actress Dakota Fanning and former Warner Bros
head Bob Daly.
Meet
Commander Downing
at Green Door Today!
Green Door
nightclub invites Hollywood Chamber members to
join today Police Commander Michael Downing on
Tuesday, October 21 for a performance of UK
sensation Emma-Jane Thommen.
www.emma-janethommen.co.uk Doors open at
10pm with no cover charge for member of the
Hollywood Chamber! Green Door is located at 1429
North Ivar Avenue. For reservations or bottle
service, please contact Cherie Salazar at
323-332-8146. We look forward to seeing you,
along with Commander Mike Downing, at the Green
Door next Tuesday!
 Support
Hollywood’s
Hail-A-Taxi
Pilot 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. The Chamber, 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.
‘Cure at the Rock’ at Hard Rock Cafe to Raise
Funds for Breast Cancer Research
Music lovers and breast cancer research
supporters will rock out with “Cure at the
Rock,” Thursday, October 23, 7 p.m. at the Hard
Rock Café, Hollywood, 1000 Universal Studios
Blvd. #99, Universal City in Universal CityWalk.
The concert event will have celebrity appearance
from actress Dee Wallace, Olympic champion Lloyd
Eisler, actress Kristy Swanson, actor
Christopher Knight, and actress Adrianne Curry.
Performances by Taylor Dayne, Gretchen Bonaduce,
The Donnas and The All-American Rejects, will
help wrap up Pinktober month, 31 days of
celebrating life and spreading awareness about
advances in breast cancer research. Money raised
will support research at the USC/Norris
Comprehensive Cancer Center and Expedition
Inspiration’s Annual Laura Evans Memorial Breast
Cancer Symposium, now in its 13th
year. Expedition Inspiration has raised close to
$4 million since it began. General admission is
$15; special admission is $50; VIP seating is
$150. The $50 and $150 tickets both support
breast cancer research. $50 tickets receive a $5
pre-loaded all access card good towards food at
the Hard Rock Cafe. VIPS receive 2 free drink
tickets, meet and greet with all the bands, and
a VIP goody bag. General parking is $12. VIP
parking is $22. For tickets and information,
call (866) 319-6456 or visit
www.expeditioninspiration.org.
Oct 30, 2008 at 7:00 - 9:30 AM
The WaMu Business Series: Targeting The Hispanic
Consumer
at
CBS Television City
- Los Angeles, CA $25.00
Get your complimentary ticket at
www.kfwb.com/wamu
Hollywood Chamber members are invited to attend
the ongoing KFWB/WaMu Business Series. Finding
new customers for your business in today's
economy is more important than ever. Join KFWB
NEWS 980 for The WaMu Business Series: Big Ideas
for Small Business, Thursday, October 30th on
The Price Is Right Stage at CBS Television City
to learn how you can grow your business by
targeting the Hispanic consumer. Join us for a
panel discussion, moderated by KFWB NEWS 980
Anchor Penny Griego and featuring California
Lieutenant Governor John Garamendi, Helen
Hernandez of The Imagen Foundation and more! Get
your complimentary ticket at
www.kfwb.com/wamu
Experience Sunstyle
Studio and Take Advantage of their Offer
As a new member of the Hollywood Chamber, we
welcome all Hollywood Chamber members to
experience our studio by offering you a
complimentary tan! (This is a $55 value!) You
will see that SUNSTYLE is the premiere tanning
studio and unlike anything you have experienced!
Our focus is providing our guests with a healthy
tan, so we offer the latest in
Ergoline
equipment, which is top-rated for skin care and
prevention of burning. Our warehouse-style
tanning studio is conveniently located on
Robertson Blvd. in West Hollywood, with
complimentary parking in back. Sunstyle offers
top-notch service including a style concierge,
room attendants, additional valet parking,
fully-stocked vanity bars and private tanning
lockers. Our packages are extremely affordable
ranging from$33 to $150 / mo for unlimited
tanning! Our studio is also available for
private bronzing parties. For more information,
call (310) 289-9200 or visit
www.sunstyle.la.
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.
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