Riordan to Deliver Address Before VICA

Mayor Richard Riordan will deliver his annual “State of the Valley” address Friday at a meeting of the Valley Industry and Commerce Assn.

The mayor is expected to include a discussion of charter reform and the demise of Assembly Bill 2043, said Bonny Herman, president of VICA.

AB 2043 was the ill-fated Assembly bill introduced by Assemblywoman Paula Boland (R-Granada Hills) that would have made it easier for the San Fernando Valley to secede from the city of Los Angeles. The state Senate rejected the bill by two votes in August.

While maintaining a neutral stance on the bill itself, Riordan spoke out against secession, saying it would not be in the best interest of the city, including Valley residents.

VICA supported the bill.

Now VICA members are trying to determine how and whether charter reform would benefit the Valley.

“We think that it’s time to take a look at it and find out what we need to do to make the government more responsive,” said Alan Ungar, VICA’s federal issues chairman.

VICA is a nonprofit and nonpartisan business advocacy organization made up of business people in the Valley and surrounding communities.

The mayor will speak to the general membership and members of the public at the organization’s meeting and luncheon from 12:15 to 2 p.m. at the Warner Center Marriott, 21850 Oxnard St.

Tickets for the luncheon are $60, and can be obtained at the door. For more information, call (818) 888-2228.