Chamber’s Police/Fire
Barbecue Honors L.A.’s Finest
 Hundreds
of public safety officers were served a last week at
annual the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s barbecue for
police and firefighters. this community event attracted
both volunteers and local businesses to help honor
police and firefighter heroes at the LAPD’s Hollywood
Station. The Hollywood Chamber would like to thank our
many contributors, some of whom included Belmont
Village, The Original Farmers Market, Avalon Nightclub,
Church of Scientology, Music Box @ The Fonda, Village
Pizza, Andrews International, The Knitting Factory and
Paramount Pictures. Captain Beatrice Girmala (center)
was one of many served that day.
Chamber Assists Small
Businesses in a Roundtable Discussion
 The
Chamber’s Small Business Committee recently held the
first in a series of "Growing Business" seminars
developed to both inform and assist Chamber members
during these challenging economic times. SCORE
counselor Richard Krelstein, who facilitated the
breakfast, provided attendees with tips and insight into
starting a business, and growing your business in
today's market. The "roundtable" format
also provided attendees the opportunity share
information and learn from the experiences of other
guests.
The
next seminar in the Growing Business series will focus
on how your business can benefit and take advantage
of State Enterprise Zone tax incentives - potentially
saving your business thousands of dollars. Generously
hosted by The Tax Credit Company (enterprise zone
specialists), the event will be held Wednesday January
14th from 8 a.m. to 10:00 a.m in the Chamber’s
conference room. Continental breakfast will be served.
Chamber Reviews Real
Estate Projects
The Economic Development Committee reviewed two projects
this week seeking Chamber support. NCA is proposing a
218-room hotel at the northeast corner of Argyle and
Yucca. Previously, they had planned an 87-unit
residential project, but changing economics dictated the
switch. Developer David Nix explained that his firm is
planning a mid-priced hotel affiliated with a major
chain. Hearings begin in January and they hope to break
ground in about a year. The second project is a
$208-million investment by Archstone Properties on a 4 ½
acre parcel on Santa Monica Blvd. at Orange Ave. The
proposal includes 40,000-sq.ft. of creative office
space, 348 apartments, and about 15,000-sq.ft. of
restaurant and retail space. Dave Robbins of Archstone
said hearings begin in January. Chamber positions are
pending on both projects.
Update Wednesday
Evening on Hollywood Community Plan
The Hollywood Studio District Neighborhood Council in
conjunction with the Department of City Planning will be
providing a briefing on the status of the proposed
update of the Hollywood Community Plan on Wednesday,
November 19th, at 6 p.m., at Hollywood
Forever Cemetery, 6000 Santa Monica Blvd. Planner Mary
Richardson will provide the latest information at the
meeting, to be held in the cemetery’s chapel. It is
open to the public.
LADOT Installs New Pay
Stations for Metered Parking
The
latest in new parking meter technology is coming to
Hollywood. LADOT will place and activate 25 new pay
stations on Hollywood Boulevard as follows:
Click to see map: Thursday, November 20, 2008 -
Hollywood Blvd. between La Brea Ave and Cherokee Ave (11
pay stations). Tuesday, November 25, 2008 - Hollywood
Blvd. between Cherokee Ave and Vine St (14 pay
stations). On the day before the pay station activation,
LADOT will distribute brochures and inform the
businesses along Hollywood Blvd. On the day of
activation and the following day, LADOT will have
ambassadors assisting the public on using the pay
stations. LADOT will extend the meter hours to
encourage parking turnover during business hours. In
general the new meter hours will be 8am-8pm
Monday-Thursday, 8am-12 midnight Friday-Saturday, and
11am-8pm Sunday. Metered parking rates also were
increased to $2 an hour in Hollywood last month.
Celebrate the Holiday
with Chamber’s Mixer & Toy Drive at The Music Box
The
Chamber’s Holiday Mixer will be once again be generously
hosted by one of Hollywood’s most historic entertainment
venues, The Music Box @ Fonda - on the “speakeasy”
rooftop where guests will enjoy the venue’s sparkling
holiday ambience, as well as plenty of delicious food
and libations. Share the joy of the season by bringing a
new, unwrapped, toy (or appropriate gift) valued at $10
or more in lieu of an admission fee. “It’s important to
remember that through these donations we can help
brighten the holiday season for those less fortunate
than ourselves” said Leron Gubler, Chamber President &
CEO. Collected items will be distributed in cooperation
with the Los Angeles Fire Department's (Hollywood
station) annual toy drive. The Holiday Mixer will be
held on Wednesday, December 10th from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30
p.m. Cost to attend the mixer is $10 for members and $20
for non-members; however, please help make the holidays
brighter for the children of our community by bringing a
toy or gift. The Music Box @ the Fonda is located at
6126 Hollywood Blvd. No-host parking is available in the
adjacent Sunshine lot west of the venue. Click to
RSVP or email
steven@hollywoodchamber.net or call (323) 469-8311.
Chamber Presents
Holiday Gift to Community
The
Hollywood community and Chamber members will be treated
to a free screening of a classic holiday movie this
year, thanks to sponsorship by the Hollywood Chamber of
Commerce and Foundation. Scrooge, the holiday 1970s
classic film starring Albert Finney, will be screened on
Saturday, December 20th, at 2 p.m. at the
historic Egyptian Theatre. Seats will be available on a
first-come, first-served basis. This is the second year
that the Chamber has collaborated with American
Cinematheque to present a “gift” to the community. Last
year, the movie A Christmas Story, was screened. “The
Chamber is pleased to be able to do something special
for the community during the holidays,” said Chamber
President Leron Gubler. “We invite our members to
attend and enjoy the screening.”
Plans for 16th Annual
Women of Distinction Kick Off
 The
Hollywood Chamber Community Foundation is already
planning the 16th Annual Women of Distinction fundraiser
which will be held at The Globe at Universal in May
2009. Elizabeth McDonald (left) and Shiva Monify (right)
are the co-chairs of this event. Nominations are now
being accepted for Women of Distinction and Golden Award
through January 15, 2008. Nominating forms are available
on Hollywood Chamber website at www.hollywoodchamber.net
or complete the
Nomination Form for Women of Distinction 2009. This
is the largest fundraiser of the year for the Hollywood
Chamber Community Foundation, which raised more than
$100,000 last year. Funds from WOD are distributed
through the Community Foundation to Hollywood based
nonprofit organizations. The WOD planning committee is
seeking sponsors and silent auction items. Volunteers
who are interested in serving on the event committee, or
soliciting sponsorships and auction items can contact
Kaylee Kiecker,
kaylee@hollywoodchamber.net.
Chamber Members Help
Celebrate Opening of Metropolitan Hollywood
 DS
Ventures President David Schwartzman recently hosted a
reception and VIP tour of “the revival of the modern
Hollywood pad”, the Metropolitan Hollywood. Located at
5825 W. Sunset, the Metropolitan Hollywood is the town’s
newest and “coolest” high-rise lofts & apartments.
Pictured with Schwartzman and fiancé Cidney Dutton is:
Marc Annotti and Brad Woomer of DS Ventures /
Metropolitan Hollywood, Chamber President & CEO Leron
Gubler, Chamber Chairman of the Board Mark Panatier, and
Chamber board member Steve Tronson.
Celebrate the new Face
of Vermont Triangle
The Vermont
Triangle at the intersection of Hollywood Blvd. and
Vermont has received a new facelift as progress in the
East Hollywood Business Improvement District becomes
more visible with each passing day. Councilmember Tom
LaBonge and the CRA/LA invite the community to
the Vermont Triangle ribbon-cutting ceremony, on
Thursday, November 20th at 10 a.m. For more information
please contact Julian Harris-Calvin at (213) 485-3337 or
julian.harris-calvin@lacity.org
Complete this Survey
and Voice Your Business Issues
The
Hollywood Chamber of Commerce encourages your
participation in the following survey being conducted by
The LA County Business Federation (BizFed) to discover
the key issues affecting your business operations in Los
Angeles County. This is your opportunity to have a say
in shaping the collective advocacy and education work of
more than 64 business organizations representing over
100,000 businesses throughout Los Angeles County. The
survey will only take about 8-10 minutes to complete!
Simply click on the link and you will be prompted
through the survey. These important results will be
unveiled at the BizFed one year anniversary press
conference in late January. And most importantly BizFed
will use these results to guide BizFed advocacy work and
education priorities for 2009. The Hollywood Chamber of
Commerce will keep you apprised of the results of this
survey once they have been released. The online
survey will only be activated for a few weeks. Your
voice matters. The need for the collective voice of
business to shape policies affecting our economy could
not be more urgent!
Quick action is required!
CLICK HERE to take the survey.
MEMBER ALERT!
WARNING - If you receive, or have received, an e-mail
from SmartGuy.com, Smartguyerica.com, or note the web
address
www.graphicaldreams.com,
please do not open or respond. The message is not from
a Chamber member, and was sent without authorization
from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
 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.
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.
|
