Leadership Opportunity: Are You a Local Business Owner?

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) encourages local business owners to serve on his District 43 Business Advisory Commission. 

By Nicole Charky - December 11, 2012


There is an important invitation for business owners in Montrose, La Crescenta, Glendale, Burbank, La Canada Flintridge and Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.

Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) urges merchants to join the District 43 Business Advisory Commission.

The group will meet several times in the upcoming months to form one or more legislative proposals that Assemblyman Mike Gatto (D-Los Angeles) will introduce in 2013, according to a news release the representative.

Gatto is seeking applications from local business owners in his district, which includes Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.

Gatto, Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly, wants feedback from business leaders.

"We hear often that our business climate could be improved. I'm interested in hearing any proposal that would make the regulatory and statutory environment more sensible and less burdensome for local business owners," he said.

Last year, Assemblyman Gatto authored or co-authored several bills to support small businesses including AB 1616 (The California Homemade Food Act) and AB 2026 (The Film Industry Tax Credit).

“As lawmakers, we have a sacred duty to listen to the needs and concerns of those who help our communities thrive, and to do what we can to support them,” said Gatto.

Anyone interested in participating on the commission can email the assemblyman at Assemblymember.Gatto@assembly.ca.gov with the subject line 'Business Commission.’

Mike Gatto is the Chairman of the Appropriations Committee of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, La Canada-Flintridge, La Crescenta, Montrose, the Los Angeles neighborhoods of Los Feliz, Silver Lake, Atwater Village, and portions of the Hollywood Hills and East Hollywood.   www.asm.ca.gov/gatto  

You can read this article and more at the Montrose-La Crescenta Patch HERE

Veterans Closer to Completing Two Strike War Memorial Wall

Fundraising efforts had a major boost from the Home Depot Foundation, presented by Assemblyman Mike Gatto to foothill war veterans.

By Nicole Charky

July 27, 2012 - Assemblyman Mike Gatto presented a $5,000 donation from The Home Depot Foundation to restoring the Two Strike Park veteran war memorial wall. 

The call to action started in 2006, when Army Spc. Nicholas Steinbacher was killed in Iraq.

After Steinbacher's death, Veterans of Foreign War Post 1614 and American Legion 288 members wanted a location in town to recognize all the locals in the La Crescenta and Montrose area who were killed in action, said Mike Baldwin, who was recently named Veteran of the Year for the 43rd Assembly District.

"We want to pay respect to those who died," Baldwin said.

The $5,000 donation from the Home Depot Foundation and an additional donation of $1,500 in cinder block materials are expected to help rebuild the current structure. 

"With this money we'll be able to give the names of all the people who've given their lives in the Crescenta Valley," said Warren Spayth, Commander Veterans of Foreign War Post 1614.

Family members and community leaders from the Crescenta Valley Town Council came to support the announcement from Gatto.

"We're really proud of this community, which stepped up and helped us. Our wives, our sons, our daughters, they're all proud of this place," said Ken Jury, Commander of American Legion Post 288.

The veterans hope to remember the fallen by next year, on Memorial Day.

Article from the Montrose Patch - Read this article at the Montrose Patch

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Mike Gatto is the Assistant Speaker Pro Tempore of the California State Assembly.  He represents the cities of Burbank, Glendale, and parts of Los Angeles, including Los Feliz, North Hollywood, Silver Lake, Toluca Lake, Valley Glen, and Van Nuys.  He has served in the Assembly since June 2010.  E-mail Mike at: assemblymember.gatto@assembly.ca.gov, or call (818) 558-3043.