From the President's Desk... Our Business Agenda
May 30, 2017
As you review our Report to Hollywood’s Business Community, you will see that the past year has been filled with achievements for the Hollywood Chamber. Not only did we defeat a proposed building moratorium that might have plunged L.A. into a recession, but we also managed to handle the first significant move of the Chamber in more than 25 years. So far, our new offices have received rave reviews. A lot of work went into this move, so I hope we are here another 25 years! My special thanks to the committee that worked so hard to make it happen – Donelle Dadigan, Mark Panatier, Marty Shelton and Jeff Zarrinnam.
One of the blessings we have at the chamber is that we have so many volunteers with expertise on whom we can call when needed – whether it is to defeat an anti-business measure or to move the Chamber.
In our new fiscal year, I anticipate that we will be calling on our volunteers again. I expect that two particular issues will rise to the top of our agenda – the approval of a new updated Community Plan for Hollywood and Homeless challenges.
Hollywood is currently operating under a plan that is 29 years old. The City Planning Department worked for eight years on the last update of the plan that was approved in 2012, only to be thrown out by a court on a technicality. Now, the Planning Department is finally ready to begin the renewal process again. We expect the new proposed plan to begin hearings sometime in the spring, with adoption later this year. It is important that we find common ground and get a plan adopted to protect neighborhoods and to also give businesses more certainty so that developers don’t need to seek variances. We will need a strong turn out from the business community at hearings in support of a new plan.
The issue of homelessness is challenging because there are no easy answers. It is tragic to see so many homeless on our streets. The problem is worse today than when I first came to Hollywood 25 years ago. Voters approved two measures this past year to build more housing for the homeless and to provide services to them. As a Chamber, we must monitor and be sure that Hollywood is receiving its fair share of those funds. And we must encourage enforcement of existing laws and regulations so that the public feels safe walking our streets. At some point, we may need to call on our members to write letters and help us to lobby for greater attention in Hollywood.
There will be many other issues that surface during the coming year. Know that the Chamber is here to represent your interests. Every day we work for a better Hollywood – and we’ll look forward to working with you to achieve our goals in 2017-2018.
Leron Gubler
President & CEO
About the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
For more than 96 years, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has provided leadership, business development resources, networking, and government affairs programs and services to keep the Hollywood business and residential communities safe, relevant and economically vital. Jeff Zarrinnam of Hollywood Hotel, is the Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2016-17, and Leron Gubler is the President/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. For more information please visit www.hollywoodchamber.net.
@HollywoodArea #WeWantYourBusiness #Hollywood #advocacy #strongeconomy #networking #promoting #business #members #community #FY2017
One of the blessings we have at the chamber is that we have so many volunteers with expertise on whom we can call when needed – whether it is to defeat an anti-business measure or to move the Chamber.
In our new fiscal year, I anticipate that we will be calling on our volunteers again. I expect that two particular issues will rise to the top of our agenda – the approval of a new updated Community Plan for Hollywood and Homeless challenges.
Hollywood is currently operating under a plan that is 29 years old. The City Planning Department worked for eight years on the last update of the plan that was approved in 2012, only to be thrown out by a court on a technicality. Now, the Planning Department is finally ready to begin the renewal process again. We expect the new proposed plan to begin hearings sometime in the spring, with adoption later this year. It is important that we find common ground and get a plan adopted to protect neighborhoods and to also give businesses more certainty so that developers don’t need to seek variances. We will need a strong turn out from the business community at hearings in support of a new plan.
The issue of homelessness is challenging because there are no easy answers. It is tragic to see so many homeless on our streets. The problem is worse today than when I first came to Hollywood 25 years ago. Voters approved two measures this past year to build more housing for the homeless and to provide services to them. As a Chamber, we must monitor and be sure that Hollywood is receiving its fair share of those funds. And we must encourage enforcement of existing laws and regulations so that the public feels safe walking our streets. At some point, we may need to call on our members to write letters and help us to lobby for greater attention in Hollywood.
There will be many other issues that surface during the coming year. Know that the Chamber is here to represent your interests. Every day we work for a better Hollywood – and we’ll look forward to working with you to achieve our goals in 2017-2018.
Leron Gubler
President & CEO
About the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
For more than 96 years, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has provided leadership, business development resources, networking, and government affairs programs and services to keep the Hollywood business and residential communities safe, relevant and economically vital. Jeff Zarrinnam of Hollywood Hotel, is the Chair of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors 2016-17, and Leron Gubler is the President/CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. For more information please visit www.hollywoodchamber.net.
@HollywoodArea #WeWantYourBusiness #Hollywood #advocacy #strongeconomy #networking #promoting #business #members #community #FY2017
Contact:
Hollywood Chamber
info@hollywoodchamber.net, (323) 469-8311