L.A. AREA CHAMBER URGES GOVERNOR AND LEGISLATURE TO ADVANCE A BUDGET BY JUNE 15
Today, the Board of Directors of the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce voted to re-confirm its commitment to a balanced state budget and major reforms to assure the long-term stability of our state.  The Board went on to commend the progress made in the May Budget Revise and urged both the governor and the Legislature to finalize a budget agreement by June 15. The Chamber's initial support took place in February, after the Governor voiced his support for regulatory reform and pension reform, stated Toebben.  “These two issues are very important to the business community.  Unless we have regulatory reform, we will not be able to create the jobs we need to create to dig out of the hole we are in,” Toebben stated.  “And unless we reform our state and local pension systems, new tax revenue from job growth will go toward pensions rather than the public services that our citizens expect.”  Earlier this month, with the hopes of re-starting the stalled budget negotiations, the Chamber joined with a statewide group of business organizations to form the Coalition for a California Financial Workout Plan, a group that has since developed and detailed a five-point workout plan. “We are optimistic that a financial workout plan can be achieved.  We’ve defined the contours of a real budget, and now it’s time to make it happen.” Read more.

Chamber Board concerned about L.A.'s trash franchise system proposal
At its meeting today, the L.A. Area Chamber Board of Directors expressed strong concerns over the City of Los Angeles' waste franchise system proposal. The Board recognizes the need to have a system that is environmentally sustainable, safe and cost-effective, but believes the process must include meaningful outreach to all affected constituencies, especially residents and property owners. The Chamber will continue to share its concerns with the City, as well as advocate for a full economic impact analysis. Contact Beverly Kenworthy, 213.580.7531. 

Homelessness Task Force continues to move Home for Good plan forward
The Business Leaders Task Force, a joint initiative by the United Way of Greater Los Angeles and the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, is moving quickly on their implementation plan – Home For Good – to end chronic and veteran homelessness in Los Angeles in five years.  Working closely with the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Task Force is seizing opportunities to master lease vacant buildings to house chronically homeless veterans while providing onsite health and addiction recovery services.  The VA will earmark additional housing vouchers for veterans once the master leases are signed, giving the City of Los Angeles the needed tools to help our homeless veterans. Contact Beverly Kenworthy, 213.580.7531. 

Leadership L.A. focuses on education in Los Angeles
Leadership L.A. Fellows met with some of Los Angeles' most important practitioners and policymakers to discuss the challenges our education system faces. Discussion around budget constraints and teacher effectiveness became a cross-cutting theme for the day's look at early, K-12, and higher education. The day included a visit to the RFK Community Schools to meet with school principals. Los Angeles Unified School District Superintendent, Dr. John Deasy said "the management of human capital is key to improving [the school system]. We must celebrate high performers, reward them and keep them on to sustain the development of educated children, and a competent workforce for the future." Contact Alexander Pampalone, 213.580.7547.

Northrop Grumman Awarded $372M Contract to Develop EHF Satellite Communications Antenna for B-2 Bomber A new antenna system now under development by Northrop Grumman Corporation (NYSE:NOC) will enable the B-2 Spirit stealth bomber to send and receive battlefield information securely by satellite up to 100 times faster than it can today. The U.S. Air Force recently awarded the company a $372 million contract to begin designing the advanced electronically scanned array (AESA) antenna system as part of Increment 2 of the B-2 extremely high frequency (EHF) satellite communications program. The required engineering design, manufacturing, assembly, integration and test activities will take place at company facilities in Palmdale, El Segundo and Redondo Beach, Calif.; Dayton, Ohio; and Tinker Air Force Base, Okla. Read more. New Pavilion at Cedars-Sinai to be named after George W. Shaeffer Cedars-Sinai Health System recently announced that when its new Medical Center’s Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion opens in 2013, its lobby will be named after businessman George W. Schaeffer, the founder, president, and CEO of OPI Products, Inc. “This building will open a new gateway to the Medical Center and bring patients and research together under one roof in a way that is exciting to the hospital and beneficial to patients near and far,” said Schaeffer. Approximately 1,900 patients, guests and staff will enter the Advanced Health Sciences Pavilion each day, and all of them will pass through the George W. Schaeffer Lobby on the plaza level.  The 11-story, 440,000-square foot facility will offer convenient state-of-the-art outpatient care and will house Cedars-Sinai’s nationally renowned Heart Institute and neurosciences departments – all in one healing, eco-friendly building prominently located on the corner of San Vicente Boulevard and Gracie Allen Drive. Read more. Want your good news featured here? Click here to learn more.