The Valley Industry and Commerce Association announced Tuesday that it is moving its annual meeting Dec. 9 to the Airtel Plaza in Van Nuys because Mayor James Hahn and other elected officials said they will refuse to cross picket lines if hotel workers strike.

As a result of the action, Hahn agreed to attend the luncheon to deliver his State of the Valley address. "The mayor will be there," spokeswoman Shannon Murphy said. "It's an event he wanted to be at and is one he considers important."

Hahn previously insisted that invitations say only that he was invited to the event at the Sheraton Universal Hotel. He said he would not attend if Hotel Employees and Restaurant Employees, Local 11, was on strike.

VICA officials said they wanted to avoid any drop in attendance at the annual meeting, at which Mel Kohn will be honored for his work in pushing through business-tax reform.

"A number of officials had agreed among themselves not to cross a picket line or even go to one of the hotels targeted for an action," VICA President Martin Cooper said.

"In the interest of accommodating them and getting a big turnout, we decided to change hotels. It wasn't a difficult situation."

VICA spokeswoman Laurie Golden said the business group's members also voiced concerns.

"The mayor wasn't the only one who was concerned," Golden said. "Several of our members didn't want to face the prospect of crossing picket lines, and we have invited a number of elected officials who also wouldn't have been coming if it meant crossing pickets."

Golden said all City Council members from the San Fernando Valley have been invited, as well as state legislators.

"This is our biggest event of the year along with the business conference," Golden said. She estimated that more than 400 people will attend.

Hahn has used the annual meeting for the State of the Valley address since 2002, when he delayed his speech to avoid conflicts with the secession issue.

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