LA City Council Proposes Yet Another Fee That Will Make Housing More Expensive

On October 23, the Los Angeles City Council will consider approving a 1,000% increase in their Street Damage Restoration Fee (SDRF) ordinance. This is a fee that companies or utilities pay when they must cut in to a street in order to fix or build new infrastructure like internet cables, gas lines, or water pipes.  […]

Cities Need to Make Way for Our 5G Future

When the history of the 21st century is written, the greater Los Angeles region will be a central topic. We boast the US’s largest port complex and a world-famous entertainment industry. Last year alone, the 100 biggest tech companies in Los Angeles and Orange County – which include powerhouses Google, Space X, and Netflix –  reported having more […]

Legislation touted as pro-transparency will eliminate basic services

The fundamental purpose for a city or county is to serve its residents. If government is doing its job, then your streets are clean and safe, your public parks and buildings are maintained and the like. Taxpayers should be able to expect that government is spending their hard-earned dollars on critical services that improve their […]

CNBC: CA Last in Business Friendliness

Measuring a state’s business competitiveness is challenging. It’s not always clear-cut. In this light, CNBC’s business analysis shows some interesting findings. Overall, CA ranked 32 out of 50. In some categories such as technology and access to capital, California ranked high (number two overall in both); however, California ranked last in overall business friendliness. In addition, California was […]

Support the Gov.’s By-Right Affordable Housing Plan

California is in the midst of a housing crisis that is hindering job creation and economic growth. This crisis is affecting all levels of housing from homeless, to affordable, to market rate. Therefore, the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed) strongly supports Governor Jerry Brown’s By-Right Affordable Housing policy included in the proposed 2016 state […]

Will Our Elected Representatives Set Policy or Abdicate That Role to a State Agency?

Promoted as a monumental model for the rest of the world, the new climate change legislative and regulatory proposals under consideration now in Sacramento are being heralded as a way to transform global policy. Combined, SB 32 and SB 350 would establish the state’s energy and climate change policy for decades to come. Unfortunately, the […]

A Business Rebound? Yes, If We Seize the Opportunity

Job growth is ours to grab or give away. That’s the takeaway from a new survey of employers across Los Angeles County. A record number of employers responding to a BizFed poll a few weeks ago say that they’re increasingly optimistic about the business outlook this year. Twenty five percent more say business conditions will improve this year […]

California Company Leaders Talk Export Business with President Obama

(Editor’s Note: The President’s Export Council serves as the principal national advisory committee on international trade. A number of council members are also members of the Los Angeles County business organization BizFed.  Last week, BizFed members attended a meeting with the president and other administration officials to discuss exports and trade. BizFed CEO Tracy Rafter […]

LA County Businesses Decry Unfriendly Business Climate

With no clear end in sight to the region’s unfriendly business climate, LA County business owners and executives are less optimistic about the economy this year, but they are working to adapt to long-term stagnation in employment and growth, according to a new survey by the Los Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed). The latest BizFed […]

Business Concerns over LA Parcel Tax

(Editor’s Note: The battle over a proposed parcel tax to pay for storm water runoff fixes in Los Angeles County has brought many protests from individual homeowners to the Los Angeles Unified School District that would be on the hook for millions of dollars. Tracy Rafter, president of BizFed, the Los Angeles County Business Federation, […]