BUSINESS LEADERS HEAD TO THE PRINCIPAL'S OFFICE FOR A DAY
Business leaders reported to the principal's office on Friday as part of the 13th Annual Principal for a Day event, which connects industry professionals with local school administrators for an exchange of ideas and resources in an effort to build lasting partnerships that benefit students. The event is organized by Pillar, a partnership between the Chamber and the Los Angeles Unified School District. "The Chamber recognizes that today's students will become tomorrow's innovators and our next generation of business and community leaders," said Chamber Board Chair Karen Hathaway, LAACO, Ltd./Los Angeles Athletic Club. Above, Chamber Board Member Javier Cano, The Ritz Carlton, Los Angeles and JW Marriott Los Angeles L.A. LIVE, at Miguel Contreras Learning Complex. Contact Gail Levy, 213.580.7594. Photo by Rich Schmitt Photography

Compromise is reached in banking ordinance
For two years the Chamber has expressed serious concerns over the proposed Responsible Banking Ordinance because it would duplicate federal overview of the banking industry, create an expensive City bureaucracy, and stretch City staff and financial resources. The Chamber continued to question the need for such an ordinance and supported a compromise proposed by the Chief Administrator’s Office that eliminates a rating system for the banks, by protecting the City’s fiduciary responsibility that requires City staff to negotiate the best outcome for the taxpayers. This item will be back at City Council in 30 days for final review. Contact Beverly Kenworthy, 213.580.7531.

Chamber co-hosts redistricting roundtable as issue becomes front and center
The Chamber co-hosted a community redistricting roundtable on Monday at the Chamber with the Los Angeles County Federation of Labor and Jesse M. Unruh Institute of Politics at the University of Southern California. "Every redistricting process ensures that  a minority is elected," said Fernando Guerra, Thomas & Dorothy Leavey Center for the Study of Los Angeles at Loyola Marymount University. Adoption of the redistricting plan will begin this week as the L.A. City Redistricting Commission moves into the next phase of the process. View Commission meetings this month. Contact P. Anthony Thomas, 213.580.7568.

Chamber hosts nearly 50 foreign ambassadors
"Ivory Coast is open for business. We want to benefit from your technology," said Ambassador Daouda Diabate, Ivory Coast ambassador to the United States, at a special Business Leaders Breakfast Wednesday at City Club on Bunker Hill. Diabate's sentiment was echoed by other ambassadors who represented countries spanning five continents, as they met with Los Angeles business leaders as part of the Office of the Chief of Protocol, U.S. Department of State's Experience America trip. Business leaders and ambassadors connected on several issues, including investing in countries and advances in medicine. Contact Carlos J. Valderrama, 213.580.7570.

Chamber members honored by Los Angeles Downtown News The Los Angeles Downtown News recently presented its awards for the 11th annual Downtowners of Distinction at the Los Angeles Athletic Club. This year recipients included Chamber members the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County for its dinosaur hall exhibit and Center Theatre Group for its productions over the last 45 years. Read more. Walmart to open store in downtown Los Angeles Walmart Stores Inc. recently signed a lease to open a new store in downtown Los Angeles. Walmart will be housed on the ground floor of a senior housing complex just north of the 101 Freeway on the outskirts of Chinatown. The retailer will begin renovating the space, which will be rougly one-fifth the size of a typical Walmart store, this summer. Read more. Click here to submit your member good news.