VICA's Useless Mission
It's not a surprise that the Valley Industry and Commerce Association is opposing Proposition 98 though the measure has a very free market mission in preventing local government from taking private property to give to developers. VICA's leadership is rife with developers and other business interests who really are more in favor of a cozy relationship with government than the free market.In terms of advancing the true business needs of the Valley, it's quite a useless organization. VICA has been around for nearly 60 years and during that time the Valley has degenerated from a vibrant, growing community to a near third world nation. Contrast it's fortunes with that of other nearby regions such as Santa Clarita or Orange County and you'll see how the lack of leadership and vision has really hurt the Valley.
And of course VICA is run by Brendan Huffman, husband of LAUSD School Board member Tamar Galatzan. Brendan, a big time supporter of the Home Depot in Sunland-Tujunga is said to have never met a developer he didn't like.
Labels: brendan huffman, proposition 98, tamar galatzan, VICA
Posted by Michael Higby @ 5/27/2008 12:00:00 PM
15 Comments:
How odd than an INDUSTRY and COMMERCE association would be . . . "rife with developers and other business interests." I mean, how often does development ACTUALLY benefit local commerce and industry.
Funny, but when I poke "industry" into Roget's I get back words like:
"commerce, trade, trading, traffic, industry"
And "commerce" delivers back:
"business; commercial, industrial, or professional activity in general."
Next thing you'll be telling me is that the valley's neighborhood councils are overrun with HOMEOWNERS and PROPERTY OWNERS.
The full quote is "VICA's leadership is rife with developers and other business interests who really are more in favor of a cozy relationship with government than the free market."
You forgot a very important qualifier.
In the meantime please produce a list of VICA's achievements in making the SFV a hotbed of industry comparable to Orange County, Santa Clarita, Santa Clara County, etc.
Good point Sam. Why would a business group like VICA oppose a bill that prevents government from taking land from farmers, homeowners and small businesses not to build schools, dams or parks but to take that property from private owners and give it to other private owners?
Because the mega-developers that run VICA benefit from eminent domain.
You may notice that most of these chamber of commerces and business groups in the valley have little participation by small and medium size businesses, the companies that actually produce stuff. They are run by the developers and folks like Kaiser, SCG, etc. that need these groups to get government approval for projects. Take a look at their membership very few businesses actually join. They are irrelevant to most companies these days.
Nice spin, Higby, but the fact remains that "development" and all of the attendant businesses related to it has always been southern California's most distinct major industry. Cut that out, and everything that it feeds, and what do you have left?
Agriculture has gone away, aerospace was a post-war fluke, most manufacturing that's left is 'development' related, pharmaceuticals and biotech are spotty (and doomed if Hillary of Obama get in office), and entertainment can now be produced by pasty-faced nerds with laptops just about anywhere.
Sun and surf can't be bottled and sold elsewhere, so developing hovels for those who want it is what's left.
You fail to notice however that those who come here for the "sun and surf" still have to pay for those homes, hence a need for jobs. Those jobs can not be building more houses for more people to come or you're creating a Ponzi scheme of an immense proportion.
If you've ever gone north of the 118 or south of LAX a while you'll see what other regions are doing. When Google opened their SoCal branch did they come to LA? No they did not. They are in the OC. Even Yahoo went to Burbank not Hollywood. Why? Because those communities have the LEADERSHIP and VISION to attract the decent employers, the replacements to the aerospace and entertainment industries and they've created a business friendly environment that LA can not even pretend to have. Where the hell was VICA? Having danishes at the Warner Marriott?
VICA is not alone in the blame; I only pick on them because they have taken (which you have yet to address) an anti-business position favoring government taking private property to convey to other private interests. You can't reconcile that with the mission of the organization. I understand that many on the board are not happy with the decision to oppose 98 but VICA was under huge pressure from the usual suspects.
And despite your spin, you've yet to produce one single thing VICA has accomplished to produce a decent economy in the Valley.
I've yet to produce a single thing Higby has accomplished to produce a decent economy in the Valley. Managing apartment complexes and wine tasting at Hows don't cut it bro.
You are not producing a decent argument chap. Mr. Higby is not the person in question. He is not claiming to be the champion of the San Fernando Valley since 1949.
Please when you have a moment do inform us what VICA has done.
It would be enlightening.
And there is nothing wrong with managing apartment buildings nor wine tasting. Where is this Hows?
I believe by these assessments of VICA the business leaders in the Valley have given up on making the region spectacular.
You guys miss the point: Prop 98 is bullshit. It's terrible policy. And just about everyone save the nutjobs (i.e. Mayor Sam bloggers) and landlords are against it.
This blog has SO jumped the shark, it's pathetic.
How about you post some more YouTube drivel like intros to cancelled 1970s sitcoms?
You've still not explained either. If Mayor Sam won't ask you, I will. How is it bullshit? Elucidate. Give us examples.
Who said I manage apartments?
Rumor has it that Gatzlan is eyeballing the possibility of running for Council District 2 when Wendy becomes Controller. She should forget about it. Sunland-Tujunga don't want her and/or her husband's interference. She should forget about it! No one wants them here!
Ms. Galatzan would be making a serious miscalculation if she thinks that she has a chance at Wendy's job.
Sunland Tujunga needs to run Abby Diamond for that spot and make a deal with Studio City to get her in.
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