The Greater California Livery Association GCLA held its April 11th meeting in San Diego. More than 60 people attended the meeting which included a great dinner from Phil's BBQ.

The meeting was sponsored by:

Assemblyman Jerry Hill introduces legislation cracking down on underage drinking on party busses. AB 45, named in the memory of Brett Studebaker, would require clarification on the responsible parties and stricter penalties. The Greater California Livery Association GCLA supports this new legislation.

On Thursday April 5, 2012 you will have the opportunity to meet Assemblyman Jerry Hill at 5:00 pm as he takes a facility tour of Gateway Limousines, 1550 Gilbreth Road, Burlingame Ca 94010.

For more information please contact GCLA Director Rich Azzolino at 800-486-7077 ext. 209

The Greater California Livery Association GCLA held its February meeting at the Crowne Plaza in Burlingame on February 21st. The meeting was sponsored by Napa Valley Ford and GPD Capital Services Inc. GCLA Legislative Chair Rich Azzolino spoke to those in attendance about the Airport Vehicle Conversion programs, AB 45 which relates to Minors and Alcohol and the numerous labor lawsuits that are effecting the California ground transportation industry.

The GCLA has been effective stopping the San Francisco Vehicle Conversion program last year and is working steadily trying to get the same results with the San Diego Airport Conversion program. Over 50% of the permitted vehicles at both airports would not have been allowed new permits January 1, 2013. AB 45 is a bill dealing with Minors and Alcohol and the clarification of who is responsible when minors are drinking on board. The GCLA supports this bill and is working with the author of the bill along with the GCLA Lobbyist with the changes in the language. The GCLA Labor Committee will be meeting soon and discussing the onset of new labor lawsuits as they pertain to overtime.

GLENDALE, Calif. — Barbara Papp, an industry fixture who sold thousands of Lincoln Town Cars to limousine operators in California and beyond since 1971, closed her last Town Car sale last week as she plans to retire by the end of the quarter.

Papp has worked in vehicle sales for 41 years, including 22 years as an exclusive limousine vehicle dealer for Lincoln-Ford-Mercury dealerships. Papp, who most recently has run the commercial livery sales division with her husband, Patrick, at Star Ford Lincoln in Glendale, sold a total of 20,904 vehicles in her career, with 98% of them Lincoln or Mercury vehicles, and 2% of them Fords. She first initiated Lincoln livery vehicle sales in the Western Region in 1990 at Don Kott Lincoln-Mercury in Carson, Calif.

As a heads-up to the members of GCLA, asphalt repair in the public Parking Lot C will be occurring 1/9/12 – 1/13/12. The fence between Lot C and the Commercial Vehicle Holding Lot will have sections opened during construction and the Lot C Courtesy Busses will re-route into the western edge of the Commercial Vehicle Holding Lot where we have lanes marked for busses. Approximately 3 bus lanes will be out of service during the construction. We will still have 2 lanes available for busses to park and don't expect there to be any other impacts to the users in that lot. Temporary signs will be placed in the lot. Thank you!

Selena Birk
Airport Manager III, LAX
Regulatory Compliance and Standards
Los Angeles World Airports
424 646-8030

Jonna Sabroff, a former GCLA First Vice President and board director, received the group's highest honor, the GCLA Lifetime Achievement Award. Sabroff, the co-owner and CEO of Integrated Transportation Services (ITS) of Los Angeles, served on the board for four years and has been instrumental in helping the association strategize and communicate on legislative and regulatory issues.

 

Christopher Quinn, also a former First Vice President, received the GCLA's Outstanding Service Award for his leadership contributions to the organization. Quinn is the owner and CEO of Corporate Transportation Solutions (CTS) of Sacramento, a 2009 LCT Operator Of The Year Award winner.

GCLA President Mark Stewart reached out to EmpireCLS Owner/CEO and BeTransported.com founder David Seelinger seeking his help to raise much needed financial assistance battling the Vehicle Conversion Programs at San Francisco and San Diego Airports. Mr. Seelinger agreed to match funds ( $10,000 Maximum ) to any money the GCLA raises for its legal, lobbying, and consulting efforts. Within the 30 day period the GCLA raised $22,100 Mr. Seelinger our Keynote Speaker at the Annual Meeting and Holiday Party understands firsthand the urgency for operators to participate in industry associations and support them financially.

The Greater California Livery Association GCLA wrapped up an incredible year on a high note in 2011 after being faced with so many challenges.

Victory Number #1: The GCLA ended the year by increasing overall membership from 140 in 2010 to 225 in December 2011.

Victory Number #2: The next challenge facing the GCLA in 2011 was dealing with the San Francisco Airport Green Vehicle Conversion Program. The program if implemented would have had a dramatic negative impact to all operators. A 6 year aging program and a Vehicle Conversion Program that would have basically imposed a penalty phase on nearly all vehicles used by the ground transportation industry in California. The GCLA legal team with assistance from the NLA legal team were able to stop this program before being presented to the San Francisco Airport Commission.

Congratulations to GCLA Operator Sterlingrose Transportation winning the Small Operator of the Year Award at the 2011 Limo Digest Show In Atlantic City.

WED. November 16, 2011

Holding Lot Map

Effective the morning of November 16, 2011, the vehicle holding lot for limousines and Charter Buses will be relocated. The new holding lot for limousines and Charter Buses is located at the southwest corner of Westchester Parkway and Jenny Avenue. Access to the lot is on Jenny Avenue south of Westchester Parkway. Separate parking areas will be marked for limousines and Charter Buses in this shared parking lot. You still must purchase a trip ticket between the hours of 6:30am to 12:00am in this parking lot prior to entering the LAX Central Terminal Area.

The LAX Central Terminal Area can be accessed by turning right from the lot onto southbound Jenny Avenue, turning right onto westbound 96th Street and turning right at the 96th Street Bridge.