|
August 4, 2010
Long
Beach Chamber Statement On The Recent Legislative
Leadership Budget Proposal
Long Beach
Area Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Randy Gordon
released the following statement today regarding the
legislative leadership proposed budget:
“The
Democratic
Budget
Proposal is
a good
start,
however, the
economy
cannot
sustain
delayed
corporate
tax reforms
and
increased
taxes.
Government
needs to
stop the out
of control
wasteful
spending
along with
all of the
gimmicks and
tricks it
uses to
balance the
budget.
Sacramento
needs to
realize that
our state
can no
longer
afford to
function on
a deficit
year to year
and a
permanent
fix is
needed.”
August 2, 2010
Enterprise Zones Work For Long Beach
 Long
Beach businesses and their employees have benefited
greatly from the California Enterprise Zone (EZ) Program
since its creation back in 1992. EZs serve as one of
California's most significant economic development
tools, broadly applying much-needed tax incentives to
businesses of all sizes across virtually all industry
lines.
EZs also lead to some very positive business
enhancements and continue to attract potential business
throughout each of your respective districts.
As you already know, the EZ program was established by
bipartisan legislation and continues to offer a variety
of tax credits and incentives to encourage businesses to
locate, invest and create jobs in economically
distressed communities within the state and in our great
city of Long Beach. Many of these benefits exist for
both employer and employee under the EZ program. These
benefits serve as a constant reminder that Long Beach
and the state remain open for business and the need for
us to continue to attract and retain businesses in order
to move past the current economic times.
The following list highlights these benefits:
- Hiring credits (Companies can earn up to $13,700
annually in state tax credits for each economically
challenged employee hired;
- Worker credits (Employees can qualify for a one-time
individual employee credit of up to $525). Since the
eligible employees are often minorities, the program
provides a helping hand in addition to job security;
- Equipment credits (Subchapter C corporations can earn
sales tax credits on purchases of up to $20 million and
$1 million for S corporations, partnerships and LLCs per
year for qualified machinery and machinery parts,
including manufacturing, processing, research and
development, and pollution/ energy control equipment
used exclusively in an EZ);
- Tax deduction (Lenders to EZ companies may receive an
income tax deduction for the net interest income earned
on EZ loans);
- Preference points (EZ companies can earn preference
points on state contracts).
Since 41 other states have their own version of
Enterprise Zone programs, and lower tax rates and looser
regulatory structures, we need EZs in order to continue
to move Long Beach in a direction of prosperity and
retaining businesses located throughout the EZ program
areas. The program administration was dramatically
improved in 2007 and compliance and cost-benefit
measurement systems will ensure that taxpayer dollars
are producing jobs and improving overall tax revenues.
Several
studies have established the
program’s effectiveness, including a
March 2009 revision of a national study by
University of Southern California researchers and an
August 2006 study commissioned by the California
Housing and Community Development Department. Both
reports concluded that the EZ Program had positive,
statistically significant effects on local labor
markets, including the unemployment rate, poverty rate,
and average wages and household incomes.
Recently,
the State Legislature began the process of considering a
proposal (SB 974 - Steinberg) which would effectively
gut the California Enterprise Zone (EZ)
program hiring tax credit.
SB 974 proposes to create a “career pathways” tax credit
in an effort to bolster career technical education
efforts in this state. However, this new tax credit is
“paid for” by eliminating key provisions of California’s
successful Enterprise Zone Program. Two specific
provisions of the EZ Program would be decimated if SB
974 were enacted. The EZ Program provides important
benefits to businesses that invest in some of
California’s most economically distressed areas and
provide jobs to disadvantaged individuals.
First, SB 974 would eliminate the Targeted Employment
Area (TEA) from the list of eligibility criteria for the
EZ hiring tax credit. As such, the incentive to hire
individuals from certain low-income neighborhoods with
historically high levels of unemployment and poverty
would be eliminated. Because a large number of hiring
credit vouchers are issued under the TEA criterion, the
practical effect of this provision will be to eliminate
the mostly widely used benefit of the EZ Program. The
TEA criterion is appropriate because it focuses on
hiring individuals who reside in the most economically
distressed areas within and surrounding an enterprise
zone in this state.
Second, SB 974 would require all hiring tax credit
certifications (also known as vouchers) to be completed
within 21 days of an individual being hired. There are
detailed statutes and regulations promulgated by HCD
which provide specific documentation standards and other
requirements for obtaining vouchers under the fourteen
eligibility criteria. This provision is an arbitrary and
impractical deadline that will preclude most employers,
particularly small businesses, from claiming the EZ
hiring tax credits to which they are otherwise lawfully
entitled. The practical effect of this provision is to
eliminate “retroactive vouchering” and instead impose an
unreasonable burden upon businesses to obtain vouchers
in an unrealistic timeframe.
The EZ program needs your vocal support because it is vital to the Long Beach
business community and our economic recovery...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Strictly Business | July 26, 2010
Pension Reform Now
It
is a public policy priority of the Long Beach Area
Chamber of Commerce in 2010 to
support
responsible public pension reforms for the City of Long
Beach. Specifically, the Chamber is committed to seeking
ways to balance current and future obligations for
public employees, find solutions to the ongoing cost
increases of public pensions in order to maintain the
delivery of services that businesses and residents
deserve, prevent the potential bankruptcy of our City,
and educate
our local
business community on
the
hazards of
an out of
control
pension
system and
what it
means to the
City of Long
Beach and
the business
community in
the future.
Earlier
this year, during Councilmember Gary DeLong's campaign
for reelection, he was a candidate who publically
acknowledged the mess our public pension system is
facing and was willing to offer a solution. DeLong
staked his reelection on the issue which many believed
was political suicide. He was reelected with over 61% of
the vote. One of the main reasons why DeLong was able to
talk so bluntly about the public pension disaster was
because he was not endorsed and financially supported by
local public employee unions like many of his colleagues
on the Council who chose not to make it an issue in
their elections.
Fast
forward to a few weeks ago when Councilmember DeLong
turned his words into action by
proposing a Charter amendment that will prevent
future City Councils and City Management from giving
away the farm through increasing pension benefits by
requiring pension increases be approved by a vote of the
people. Additionally, DeLong's proposal will reduce
"pension spiking" by requiring that public employee's
pensions be based on an average of the last three years
of employment.
The fact
remains that there is nothing the City can do about the
current pension obligations that are terrorizing the
general fund. Quite frankly it is currently against the
law to reverse past pension increases. However, DeLong's
proposal is a way of preventing future city leadership
from giving into the public employee pressure. And that
is the right step towards ensuring we do not get into
this mess again.
So how did
the City of Long Beach get into this mess in the first
place? The Press Telegram outlined this question in
detail in
an article yesterday.
According
to the Press Telegram: From the 2000 to 2004 fiscal
years, Long Beach had expected to pay between $30
million and $40 million annually into the California
Public Employees' Retirement System, or CalPERS.
Instead, a robust economy and better-than-expected
investment returns created a "super-funded" pension
system...
By 2004, Long Beach was already facing a budget deficit
even without pension costs that year, and officials
began what would become an ongoing downsizing of city
government. To date, Long Beach has cut $162.8 million
in budget deficits and eliminated 650 positions from the
workforce...When Long Beach had to start paying pension
costs again in 2005 after at the end of super-funding,
the city paid $48.1 million, $34.1 million of which came
from its general fund. Basic services such as police,
firefighters and libraries are paid by the general fund,
and it is this fund that has had continual deficits.
The pension cost has grown by 8.7 percent a year,
hitting a projected amount of $71.2 million this fiscal
year, according to city officials.
In the next three years, cities will start paying for
the drastic losses that CalPERS incurred between 2007
and 2009. During that time, CalPERS lost $100 billion,
although it has recouped part of that to creep back over
the $200 billion mark -- still a far cry from the $260.4
billion peak of 2007.
Making up for that loss will push Long Beach's pension
costs to $76.6 million in the 2011 fiscal year, then to
$84.6 million in 2012, and to $94.6 million in 2013,
according to Long Beach Department of Finance estimates.
If left unchecked, pension costs will rise from 13.1
percent of the general fund this year to 17.6 percent of
it in the 2014 fiscal year, officials estimate.
Mayor Bob Foster also proposed last Friday a solution
that is worth exploring by the City Council. Foster
announced his idea of creating a new pension tier for
new public employees that would,
according to the Press Telegram: "give
police and firefighters 2 percent of their salary for
each year of employment with retirement at 55, while
other employees would get 2 percent per year at age 60.
Furthermore, instead of giving employees their
contractual pay raises, which are valued at $11.3
million in the next year, all raises over the next few
years would be credited to the employees' total pension
payments. In effect, the employees would technically pay
the full 8 or 9 percent employee share, but the extra
cost would be paid by the city in lieu of actual raises.
Once that payment level is reached, workers' salaries
would be frozen indefinitely under Foster's plan."
In the end,
the impact to the Long Beach business community will be
the greatest if nothing is done. The business community
generates the general fund revenue that pays for the
pensions in the first place. Less general fund revenue
to support a high quality of life by funding essential
services gives businesses another reason to either leave
Long Beach or not invest here at all. Continued public
pension pressures on the general fund will devastate our
local economy unless something is done now.
How can you help?
Click here to find the contact information for your
City Councilmember. Call them today and demand pension
reform.
The DeLong
plan fixes the future. The Foster Plan appears to
provide immediate relief for the present. Both proposals
are a step in the right direction to bring responsible
public pension reform to the forefront for debate and
hopefully for approval...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Strictly Business | July 7, 2010
Spending More Than
We Have
Last
night, the Long Beach City Council voted 7 to 2 to
approve moving forward with a Project Labor Agreement
(PLA) with the Airport Terminal Project. Vice Mayor Val
Lerch and Councilmember Gary DeLong were the only two
City Councilmembers to stand up and
do the right thing by opposing the PLA.
The other Councilmembers
including Robert Garcia, Suja Lowenthal, Patrick
O'Donnell, Gerrie Schipske, Dee Andrews, Rae Gabelich,
and Tonia Reyes Uranga supported the proposed PLA.
One of the
most vocal advocates in favor of the PLA last night was Mayor Bob
Foster. The Mayor made it clear he thinks PLAs do not cost
more money. The Mayor also based his support of the
proposed PLA at the Airport Terminal on his past
business background, among other reasons.
To his credit, the
Mayor mentioned that there is truth on both the opposing and supporting
sides of the PLA debate. But in the end, that
acknowledgement was too little, too late after the
Mayor's success in securing the support of seven council
members to push through this PLA.
Now the Mayor and the City
Council run a City
facing an $18.5 million deficit. Clearly, this is not the time to make
political decisions at the expense of our local economy,
jobs and the families that depend on them.
Furthermore,
it was the Chamber's understanding that the City Council
directed staff earlier this year to develop a
comprehensive study of a possible PLA at the Airport
Terminal Project. Instead of sharing this "study" in a
study session, city management somehow bypassed the
public and sent a three page memorandum to the Council
and Mayor days before last night's vote. The Chamber was
not able to secure a copy of this so-called "study" to
get a clearer picture of the potential benefits of the
proposed PLA.
The bottom-line is that the Long Beach Chamber-opposed
PLA that seven Councilmembers approved last night will
hurt employers, employees and this city. Our position is
based on the importance of a level playing field for all
contract negotiations. It is simply wrong when union and
non-union contractors are bidding against each other and
if a non-union contractor is selected, they have to hire
union workers upon a contract being awarded.
Contract negotiations should come down to four things:
Price; the ability to deliver the project on time;
quality; and ongoing efforts to reduce cost and improve
performance. If union contractors win the competition on
such attributes, no problem. But to dictate to winning
non-union contractors that they have to disrupt their
business practices by limiting them to only using 15% of
their workforce is highly inefficient.
Eighty five percent of the private construction industry is
non-union and a PLA prohibits non-union apprentices from
working at all. This means those seeking apprenticeship
training are limited to only 15% of the opportunities
available. Most importantly, studies have routinely
proven that PLAs add as much as 20% in costs to
constructions projects.
When we as a City, as do most, struggle to properly fund
our essential services, we should not be looking to add
costs to City construction projects. Other strapped
cities and counties understand the impact of PLAs on
their fiscal standing. Consider these examples: Voters
in the cities of Chula Vista, Oceanside and San Diego
County recently approved bans on new PLAs. Last year,
the Orange County Board of Supervisors banned county
government agencies from making new PLAs. And the City
of San Diego is gearing up to vote this November on a
PLA ban there, too.
The elimination of PLAs in these communities often times
came down to the fact that PLAs with a union-mandate
component have been shown to actually decrease the
number of local bids as well as limit the amount of
local workers that a construction company may hire.
Therefore, we believe it is clear that there is no
guarantee that local hiring will actually happen despite
what supporters of PLAs will tell you.
PLAs also mandate that all contractors and their
employees pay union dues and fees but the PLAs do not
require them to, quote, “be in” the union. This is a
win-win for a union because they get the employee’s
money but are not required to represent the employee’s
rights. Also, the
union exclusive PLA will force non union contractors to
lay off many of their current employees. It requires
that a non union contractor be allowed to employ one
current employee for every union employee they employ up
to a maximum of 15% of their workforce while working
under the airport PLA. After the 15% has been attained
all employees must be union members. Union contractors
may keep all of their current employees with no
restrictions.
Finally, unions contend that PLAs with a union-mandate
guarantee labor peace at sites and timely completion of
projects. Again, studies have proven these claims to be
false. In fact, many construction projects under PLAs
experience serious delays due to work stoppages and
projects going over budget.
The Long Beach Chamber sincerely hopes that our elected
officials will start taking the issue of fiscal
responsibility more seriously especially when it comes
to public policy decisions such as a PLA. We also hope
they understand that approving the PLA does nothing to
help local businesses
and is counterproductive
in our effort to get our economy moving again.
Most importantly we hope you will
tell the Mayor and the seven Councilmembers
that supported the PLA how disappointed you are in their
unwillingness to stop spending more money than we have
to spend...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Strictly Business | June 29, 2010
Free Workers, Valuable Experiences
As
a business owner or leader, you are always aware of the
need to watch the bottom-line while keeping a pipeline
of skilled applicants at the ready.
That’s why the Summer Youth Employment Training
Program is not only a great business tool to help you
get additional FREE staff resources this summer, it is
an outstanding way for your business to play a strong
role in providing leadership in the community. This
program gives our local youth – our future workforce –
entry-level training, confidence that comes from a job
well done, exposure to new career pathways, a paycheck
that will be spent locally, and a true sense of
accomplishment.
Between July 12 and early September 1,500 youth will be
ready to go to work across our communities. These young
people will be motivated, and ready to get to work. They come at no direct cost to you. For your in-kind
contribution of time and wages as a supervisor, the
youth will be placed by the Pacific Gateway Workforce
Investment Network's Hire-A-Youth team who will cover
their wages and taxes, payroll processing, worker
compensation insurance – and will provide you with a
staff liaison to assist with questions or needs.
To request one or more trained workers, go to
www.YourNextHire.biz and complete the brief online
form or call (866) 848-3321 now!
This program is coordinated by our regional Workforce
Investment Network. They understand our business
community's needs, and they have also really stepped up
in recent years to be a convener of relevant strategies
around preparing, accessing and placing a skilled
workforce in support of businesses. The Network makes
solid investments, along with our Unified School
Districts, Community Colleges, Universities, and others
to make that a reality.
Business assistance and incentives aside, the Workforce
Investment Network also puts great stock into career
pathways strategies that link our young people with
academic programs in their middle and high schools with
real-world experiences through internships and paid work
experience. In this era of high unemployment, youth
unemployment has spiraled – leaving thousands of high
school and college-aged young persons without meaningful
activities over the summer months.
I urge you to take advantage of the Summer Youth
program. It is your opportunity to bolster your
bottom-line, attack some special projects, and invest in
your future workforce…
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Strictly Business | June 21, 2010
Breaking Down The
Breakwater Issue
It
is the long-standing public policy priority of the Long
Beach Chamber to advocate for the City to take a more
prudent approach to its current and future budget
obligations. The Executive Committee of our Government
Affairs Committee made the decision last week, based on
the Chamber's long-standing priority mentioned above, to
oppose the funding of the Breakwater study because it is
the wrong time for our City or our Port to spend $4
million on a study.
The Chamber is aware that much must be done to improve
the quality of our beaches. We are proud of what our
beachfront has to offer and the fact that it is such a
rich asset. However, some agree that any reconfiguration
of the breakwater will improve the water quality near
our beaches and boost our local economy with increased
tourism. Others argue that any reconfiguration of the
Breakwater will have a devastating impact to our Port
and the communities impacted by the beachfront
proximity. It will be at least four years, if the
proposed study passes with Council approval tomorrow
night, before both sides of this debate is decided. As
of now, the Chamber does not have a position on the
reconfiguration of the breakwater and reserves its right
to take a position at the appropriate time.
In the meantime, the current economic vitality of Long
Beach and the quality of life of its citizens are a top
priority for the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. I
do want to thank our Mayor and City Council for their
continued commitment to working together to strengthen
our local economy. However, tomorrow evening, the Long
Beach City Council will consider whether it should move
forward with the study, at an estimated to cost of $4
million to the Tidelands Fund, to determine the best
course of action for the future of the Breakwater.
The Chamber firmly believes this is the wrong time to
make such a massive investment in the proposed study.
The City of Long Beach’s current fiscal crisis coupled
with the diminishing resources available through the
Tidelands Fund, does not warrant spending up to $4
million for a study. Furthermore, it is NOT the
responsibility of the Port of Long Beach to fund the
study on behalf of the City. Our concern is that the
Port is unfairly being expected to fund a City mandate
and while the results of the study are uncertain, the
financial impact to the Port, and the City itself, is
not.
During these challenging economic times, we need to
remain focused on immediate investments that instantly
retain and create jobs. We also need to focus on closing
a massive budget deficit and bringing short-term and
long-term fiscal responsibility back to City Hall.
Moving forward with this study under these circumstances
is the wrong idea at the wrong time...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Strictly Business
| June 17, 2010
Long
Beach City College Has 10,000 Reasons To Help You
One
of the most exciting things about working for our local
business community is when I witness ideas based on
innovation positively impacting our local economy
through action. This process is one of the core tenants
of the spirit of free enterprise. Now, couple that with
the resources and passion of our great Long Beach City
College - the opportunities are endless.
The Long Beach Community College District recently
partnered with the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small
Businesses initiative to help small businesses in
the surrounding area grow and create jobs. The program
at Long Beach City College is part of a $500 million national
five-year investment by Goldman Sachs to unlock the growth and job
creation potential of small businesses, and is based on
the broadly held view of leading experts that a
combination of education, support services, and access
to capital best addresses the barriers to growth for
small businesses.
Specifically, the 10,000 Small Businesses
initiative will offer a unique combination of three
resources to help small business grow and create jobs:
Business and Management Education
Small business owners will have access to a high quality
business education developed in partnership with leading
national business schools. Through the program, they can
develop a business growth plan through a practical
business and management education offered by Long Beach
Community College District.
Access to Capital
Goldman Sachs will commit $20 million of lending
capital, in addition to philanthropic support. This
investment will increase the amount of growth capital
available to small businesses in underserved communities
to deliver enhanced technical assistance to small
businesses.
Business Support Services
Business advice, technical assistance, and networking
will be offered to participating small business owners
through partnerships with the community colleges and
national and local business organizations, as well as
the people of Goldman Sachs.
The initiative is designed for owners of small
businesses with limited financial resources, and with
few opportunities to otherwise access a business
education designed to enhance small business success.
Broad characteristics of business owners targeted to
participate include, but are not limited to: business
revenues between $150,000 and $4 million in 2009;
business in operation for at least two years; at least
four employees; operations in economically underserved
areas; and a business model that could scale to create
more jobs.
This initiative and the leadership of Long Beach City
College will be a positive force in bringing stability
back to our local economy. I encourage you to log on to
http://www.lbcc.edu/10000smallbusinesses and
understand how the initiative can help you.
Initiative like these are very rare. It's up to you to
understand what it has to offer so you can continue to
retain and create jobs and...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
June 16, 2010
Long Beach Chamber Letter Of Opposition To Mayor
And City Council On Breakwater Impact Study Funding
Long Beach Area
Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Randy Gordon
sent the following letter to Long Beach Mayor Bob
Foster and the Members of the City Council today
regarding the Chamber’s opposition to the Breakwater
funding proposal on the June 22, 2010 City Council
agenda:
June 16, 2010
Mayor Bob Foster
Members, Long Beach City Council
City of Long Beach
333 West Ocean Blvd.
Long Beach, CA 90802
Subject: Funding of Federal Breakwater
Impact Study – OPPOSE
Dear Mayor Foster and Members of the Long Beach City
Council:
The economic vitality of Long Beach and the quality
of life of its citizens are a top priority for the
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce. I want to thank
you for your continued commitment to working
together to strengthen our local economy.
The Chamber recognizes that more can be done to
improve the quality of our beaches. However, we are
proud of what our beachfront has to offer and the
fact that it is such a rich asset. Recent
discussions regarding the future of our beaches are
based on the idea of bringing waves back to the
shores of our City by reconfiguring the Breakwater.
Some agree that any reconfiguration will improve the
water quality near our beaches and boost our local
economy with increased tourism. Others argue that
any reconfiguration of the Breakwater will have a
devastating impact to our Port and the communities
impacted by the beachfront proximity. It is not the
intention of the Chamber to comment on any
reconfiguration proposal; however, the Chamber will
reserve its right to consider a position on any
reconfiguration of the Breakwater in the future.
On June 22, 2010, the Long Beach City Council will
consider whether it should move forward with a
study, estimated to cost the City $4 million, to
determine the best course of action for the future
of the Breakwater.
The Chamber firmly believes this is the wrong time
to make such a massive investment in the proposed
study. The City of Long Beach’s current fiscal
crisis does not warrant spending up to $4 million
for a study. Furthermore, it is NOT the
responsibility of the Port of Long Beach to fund the
study on behalf of the City. Our concern is that the
Port is unfairly being expected to fund a City
mandate and while the results of the study are
uncertain, the financial impact to the Port, and the
City itself, is not.
During these challenging economic times, we need to
remain focused on retaining and creating jobs. We
also need to focus on closing a massive budget
deficit and bringing fiscal responsibility back to
City Hall. Moving forward with this study under
these circumstances is the wrong idea at the wrong
time.
Thank you for your consideration.
Sincerely,
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
CC:
Pat West, City Manager,
City of Long Beach
Dick Steinke, Executive
Director, Port of Long Beach
Lori Lofstrom, Chairman,
Chamber Board of Directors
Jim Eaton, Chairman-Elect,
Chamber Board of Directors
Joanne Davis, Chair,
Chamber Government Affairs Committee
Strictly Business | June 2, 2010
The Chamber
Recommends
The
Long Beach
Area Chamber
of Commerce
reviewed and
considered
positions on
each of the
June 8, 2010
statewide
ballot
measures.
Taking
positions on
ballot
measures is
important
because each
proposal
will have an
impact on
the Long
Beach
business
community.
I am often
quoted as
saying, "The
Chamber was
put on this
earth to
fight for
business."
Well, taking
positions on
next week's
ballot
measures is
no exception
in our fight
to improve
the Long
Beach
economy so
businesses
can retain
and create
jobs.
When you
vote next
week, keep
in mind the
Chamber's
positions.
We take the
process of
determining
our
positions
very
seriously.
Two months
of
discussion
and debate
by our
Government
Affairs
Committee
made up of
over 30
business
people who
represent
small,
medium and
large
businesses
go into
considering
the Long
Beach
Chamber's
positions.
We also
bring these
position to
our Board of
Directors
for their
approval as
well.
So, we hope
that our
recommendations
will guide
you in
helping us
improve the
economic
vitality of
our city and
region.
Long
Beach
Chamber
Positions on
the June 8,
2010
Statewide
Ballot
Measures
Proposition
13: Seismic
Retrofitting
- SUPPORT
Proposition
14:
Elections:
Open
Primaries -
SUPPORT
Proposition
15:
California
Fair
Election Act
- OPPOSE
Proposition
16:
Taxpayers
Right To
Vote Act -
SUPPORT
Proposition
17:
Continuous
Coverage
Auto
Insurance
Discount Act
- NO
POSITION
June 8,
2010
Statewide
Ballot
Measures In
Depth
Proposition
13: Seismic
Retrofitting
Long Beach
Chamber
Position:
SUPPORT
Proposition
13 would
prohibit tax
assessors
from
re-evaluating
new
construction
for property
tax purposes
when the new
construction
is consider
earthquake
safety
improvements.
Tax
assessors
would only
be allowed
to
re-evaluate
for property
tax purposes
after the
building has
been sold.
The Long
Beach
Chamber
supports
Proposition
13 because
it will be a
benefit to
owners of
existing
structures
that have
complied
with
earthquake
retrofitting
laws.
Proposition
13 would
also ensure
equal
treatment of
property
owners who
incorporate
the seismic
safety
improvements.
Proposition
14:
Elections:
Open
Primaries
Long Beach
Chamber
Position:
SUPPORT
Proposition
14 would
require that
candidates
run in a
single
primary open
to all
registered
voters, with
the top two
vote-getters
meeting in a
runoff. This
system would
take place
in the 2012
elections.
This
Proposition
would not
affect
Presidential
and
political
party
leadership
positions.
The Long
Beach
Chamber
supports
Proposition
14 because
it will
provide all
voters the
opportunity
to choose
the best
candidate
possible in
the June
primary from
a list of
all
candidates.
Current
efforts to
secure
partisan
support in
the primary
process
prevents
pro-job
creating
candidates
from even
entering
some races.
Furthermore,
an open
primary will
level the
playing
field and
allow for
all
candidates,
regardless
of
partisanship,
to seek
support from
all voters
not just the
most active
within their
respective
party's.
Proposition
15:
California
Fair
Election Act
Long Beach
Chamber
Position:
OPPOSE
Proposition
15 would
institute a
pilot
program of
publicly-financed
elections
for the
office of
California
Secretary of
State. The
publically-financed
election
would be
funded by
taxing
lobbyists,
lobbying
firms and
lobbyist
employers.
The
Proposition
is currently
the subject
of
litigation.
The Long
Beach
Chamber
opposes tax
increases on
any single
industry and
even though
Proposition
15 is a
pilot
program
aimed at
only one
particular
political
office, the
Proposition
unfairly
targets
lobbyists to
pay for the
financing of
a government
election.
The Chamber
is concerned
than the
ultimate
goal would
be to spread
this effort
to other
political
offices and
increase
taxes to pay
for more
public-financed
elections.
Proposition
16:
Taxpayers
Right To
Vote Act
Long Beach
Chamber
Position:
SUPPORT
Proposition
16 is a
state
constitutional
amendment,
if passed,
would
require a
two-thirds
voter
approval
before local
governments
can provide
electricity
service to
customers or
implement a
community
choice
electricity
program
using public
funds or
bonds.
The Long
Beach
Chamber
supports
Proposition
16 because
we believe
it is
reasonable
to require a
super-majority
vote of
residents
when
creating a
community
choice
electricity
program even
though not
all
residents
may not
benefit from
it.
Proposition
17:
Continuous
Coverage
Auto
Insurance
Discount Act
Long Beach
Chamber
Position: NO
POSITION
Proposition
17 amends
Proposition
103, passed
by the
voters in
1988, to
authorize
the use of
an
additional
discount on
premiums for
automobile
insurance
policies. In
particular,
the act
would allow
an insurer
to offer a
“continuous
coverage”
discount to
new
customers
who have
maintained
their
coverage
while they
previously
were
customers of
another
insurer.
Continuous
coverage is
defined to
also include
applicants
who
experienced
up to a
90-day lapse
in coverage
in the past
five years
for any
reason other
than
nonpayment
of their
insurance
premiums.
The Long
Beach
Chamber
decided not
to take a
position on
Proposition
17. The
Chamber is
concerned
that the
ballot
measure
process is
attempting
to mandate a
service that
should be
determined
by the
private
sector.
However,
many
insurance
companies
already
provide the
service
outlined in
Proposition
17.
Therefore,
the Chamber
does not
believe that
the
Proposition
was needed
in the first
place.
--
Each ballot
measure will
impact you
and our
local
economy. I
urge you to
take the
time to
consider our
positions
and do some
more
research
yourself by
clicking
here to
visit the
California
Secretary of
State's web
site.
Voting is
your right
and every
vote
counts...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
May
19, 2010
Long Beach Chamber
Volunteer Wins Statewide Business Advocate Award
Joanne
Davis
Honored as
California's
Small
Business
Advocate of
the Year
 The
California
Chamber of
Commerce
honored
Joanne Davis
in
Sacramento
this week as
its “2010
Small
Business
Advocate of
the Year"
for her
advocacy
efforts on
behalf of
Long Beach
small
businesses.
Davis is the
current Long
Beach Area
Chamber of
Commerce
Board of
Directors
Vice Chair
for Public
Policy and
Chair of the
Government
Affairs
Committee (GAC).
She was also
recently
named the
2011-2012
Chairman of
the Long
Beach
Chamber's
Board of
Directors.
The
California
Chamber
presented
the award at
a luncheon
before more
than 400
attendees at
the
California
Chamber
Business
Summit in
Sacramento.
Randy
Gordon,
president
and chief
executive
officer of
the Long
Beach Area
Chamber of
Commerce,
nominated
Davis,
saying, “I
am proud of
all Joanne
has done for
Long Beach.
She will
continue to
have a
bright
future with
the chamber
as she
continues
her
involvement
and activism
representing
the
interests of
Long Beach
businesses
at all
levels of
government.”
Davis led
one of the
most
productive
and results
driven years
in recent
memory. As
chairman of
the GAC,
Davis
focused the
chamber’s
public
policy
efforts on
three
strategic
initiatives
in 2009:
fiscal
reform and
responsibility,
environmental
balance and
economic
growth.
Davis
rallied more
than 1,600
people to
sign an
online
petition in
support of
approving
terminal
upgrades at
the Long
Beach
Airport
which
resulted in
the 2009
groundbreaking
of the
construction
effort. She
led the
chamber’s
efforts to
bring
clarity and
flexibility
to the
state’s meal
period laws
to minimize
employer
liability
and to
provide for
flexible
workweek
scheduling
for
California’s
employees by
rallying
hundreds of
businesses
to send
letters to
elected
officials
urging
support.
May
17, 2010
 Attend
Open Houses: SR-22/I-405/I-605 Construction Starts
This Summer
Please join the Orange
County Transportation Authority and the California
Department of Transportation at one of their open
houses to learn about planned improvements to the
SR-22/I-405/I-605 interchange.
Click here to download
information.
Strictly Business |
May 14, 2010
Bob Curry: The Entrepreneur At Work
 My
proudest moments in almost three decades as a chamber of
commerce executive are when I witness the spirit of free
enterprise at work. At the core of that spirit are
people who dedicate their lives and their passion to
providing jobs for others, a tax base that supports a
thriving community and the leadership in their industry
so progress can be forged.
The people working at that core are called
entrepreneurs.
Each year the Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce honors
an entrepreneur at our annual City National Bank
Entrepreneur of the Year Luncheon. We held this year’s
even last week and honored one man who embodies the
spirit that I talked about. The Press-Telegram said it
best in an
editorial last week about our 2010 recipient,
Robert Curry:
“Whatever image you have of truckers who wrestle their
big rigs and tons of cargo onto and off the twin ports'
docks, it doesn't fit Robert A. Curry, CEO of California
Cartage Co., operator of a fleet of trucks and several
million feet of warehouse space. Curry seems more like a
gentle and generous uncle. Our guess is that's the way
he comes across to most of his employees as well. But
however he comes across, he runs his business well. The
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce acknowledged that
Thursday by naming him Entrepreneur of the Year. The
award over the past 10 years has singled out some of the
most innovative and successful entrepreneurs of the
region. But if it zeroed in on public service, Curry
would have deserved it just as much."
Bob Curry is a modest, kind and humble man. The Long
Beach Chamber honored Bob as our City National
Entrepreneur of the Year because as a leader in the
trucking industry he served as an early supporter of
cleaner trucks. And, he turned that support into action
by investing in clean trucks…700 of them.”
Bob’s company, California Cartage Co., started in 1944
as a small pickup and delivery carrier in Los Angeles
supporting the country’s aircraft industry during World
War II. Today they are a leader in the industry with
facilities here and in Port of Savannah, Georgia, at the
intermodal hub at Centerpoint, Elwood, Illinois, in the
Port of Oakland in Northern California, and several
other locations. They have created jobs for hundreds of
people, support our community and Bob is considered one
of the foremost leaders in the trucking industry.
A successful company, like California Cartage, is made
possible by the people who come to work each and every
day. Bob reminded us of that last week by telling us so.
He also reminded us that many of his teammates have been a
part of his company for decades. But, Bob’s spirit and
his will to succeed, change and improve is what makes
his team strive for that success. Thank you and
congratulations to Bob Curry for being an entrepreneur at
work...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
May 4, 2010
Long Beach Chamber Statement On The Passage Of The
Worthington Ford Loan
The
following
statement
was
delivered
this evening
by Randy
Gordon,
President
and CEO,
Long Beach
Area Chamber
of Commerce
at the Long
Beach City
Council
meeting
regarding
Agenda Item
25.
The Council
approved the
Chamber-supported
agenda item
by a vote of
8 to 0 –
Councilmember
Patrick
O’Donnell
was absent.
Recommendation
to authorize
City Manager
to execute
all related
documents to
implement a
business and
job
retention
loan using
Community
Development
Block Grant
(CDBG) funds
amortized
over five
years in the
amount of
$600,000,
with
interest at
five percent
per year to
Worthington
Ford, Inc.,
with
$200,000
being
dispersed
upon
execution of
the loan
agreement,
and $400,000
being
dispersed
upon the U.
S.
Department
of Housing
and Urban
Development
(HUD)
approval of
the City's
FY 2010 - FY
2011 Action
Plan
Amendment.
Mr. Mayor
and members
of the Long
Beach City
Council.
I am Randy
Gordon,
President
and CEO of
the Long
Beach Area
Chamber of
Commerce.
I am here
tonight in
support of
the agenda
item to
approve the
proposed
business and
job
retention
loan for
Worthington
Ford.
Worthington
Ford is an
important
job creator
in Long
Beach with
nearly four
decades of
service to
our
community.
They are on
their way to
employ up to
150
employees in
Long Beach
and reach a
sales goal
of nearly $1
billon in
the next
decade.
We are all
here tonight
to support a
company that
maintains
and creates
high paying
jobs and is
dedicated to
driving over
$10 million
in revenue
directly to
Long Beach’s
general fund
in the next
decade.
The proposed
loan is the
right
investment
to retain
this
important
company so
they can
expand and
grow their
operations
at a time
when more
jobs and
much needed
revenue
impacts
every
citizen in
Long Beach.
And, most
importantly,
the proposal
tonight
provides a
unique
return on
the City’s
investment.
On behalf of
the Long
Beach
Chamber, I
want to
thank this
Council for
their
willingness
to consider
options to
retain
important
jobs.
I also want
to thank the
Mayor and
Pat West and
the
extraordinary
City staff
team that
worked so
hard to
bring this
proposal to
you tonight.
They are
committed to
doing the
right thing
as it
relates to
improving
our local
economy.
I think we
all
recognize
what the
impact will
be to our
local
economy if
we were to
lose
Worthington
Ford.
Not only
would we
lose decades
of benefits
from the
Worthington
Ford
branding,
but we would
also lose
millions of
dollars in
general fund
revenue.
I urge you
to support
the proposed
motion
before you
tonight and
let’s move
forward,
together, on
supporting
this
important
revenue
generating
and job
creating
proposal.
Thank you.
Upcoming
Event
Reserve Your Seat:
Candidate For Governor Steve Poizner To Address Long
Beach Chamber
 The
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce continues its
award-winning California Visionaries Luncheon Series
by hosting California Insurance Commissioner
Steve Poizner who is a candidate for Governor of California.
Thursday, May 13, 2010
Hilton Hotel – Downtown Long Beach
701 W. Ocean Blvd.
Registration begins at 11:00am
Luncheon begins promptly at 11:30am
Click here to download your invitation.
For questions, call Sarah Nguyen (562) 432-7830
or email at
snguyen@lbchamber.com
About Commissioner Poizner:
A highly
successful
entrepreneur,
Steve
Poizner
founded two
successful
technology
companies in
Silicon
Valley. His
last
company,
SnapTrack,
pioneered
the
technology
that put
life-saving
GPS
receivers
into 700
million cell
phones
around the
world. Steve
also founded
and served
as chief
executive
officer of
Strategic
Mapping
Inc., a
company that
assists
police
departments,
utilities
and
transportation
companies
with
strategic
planning and
logistics.
In 2006,
Steve became
one of only
two
Republicans
elected
statewide
when he
defeated
Democratic
Lieutenant
Governor
Cruz
Bustamante
in the race
for
Insurance
Commissioner.
As Insurance
Commissioner,
Steve
oversees the
California
Department
of Insurance
(CDI), the
largest
consumer
protection
agency in
the state.
Since
assuming
office,
Steve has
permanently
cut the
operating
budget at
the
Department
of Insurance
by 15% -
making him
the only
candidate
running for
Governor who
has
actually cut
waste from
state
government.
Along with
cutting the
budget at
CDI, Steve
has cut
thousands
of dollars
of fees,
infusing
consumers’
pockets with
extra money
and
stimulating
the economy.
Steve’s
entrepreneurial
success in
Silicon
Valley
earned him
the
opportunity
to serve in
the White
House
fellowship
program.
Steve
started the
program one
week before
the
September
11, 2001
attacks. As
the
Director of
Critical
Infrastructure
Protection
in the
National
Security
Council,
Steve was
responsible
for
issues such
as emergency
communications
planning for
the 2002
Winter
Olympics in
Salt Lake
City and
protecting
the nation’s
banking
system and
power grids
from
cyber-attacks.
In 2006, he
was elected
as a
lifetime
member of
the Council
on Foreign
Relations
after being
nominated by
former U.S.
Secretary of
State George
Shultz.
Following
his time on
the National
Security
Council,
Steve spent
a year "in
the
trenches" as
a volunteer
teacher at
Mount
Pleasant
High School
in East San
Jose, where
he taught
12th grade
American
government.
After seeing
the crisis
conditions
facing
public
schools in
California,
Steve
demonstrated
his
passion for
local
control of
schools by
co-founding
EdVoice and
the
California
Charter
Schools
Association
- the
state's
leading
charter
school
organization.
Since his
involvement
in the
charter
school
movement
began, the
number of
charter
schools in
California
has doubled.
Steve moved
to
California
in 1978 to
attend
Stanford
University,
where he
earned a
Master's
Degree with
Honors in
Business
Administration.
A Texas
native,
Steve was
born in
Corpus
Christi and
raised in
Houston. He
did his
undergraduate
work at the
University
of Texas
where, based
on academics
and
extracurricular
leadership,
he was named
the Top Male
Student in a
student body
of 40,000.
Steve was
also
recognized
as one of
the top 10
electrical
engineering
students in
the nation.
In addition
to his
academic
degrees,
Steve also
earned a
black belt
in Shotokan
karate, a
contact-style
martial art.
Steve and
his wife,
Carol, live
in Los Gatos
with their
daughter,
Rebecca.
April 29, 2010
Long Beach Chamber Supports California Jobs
Initiative
AB 32
Implementation
Threatens
Economic
Viability of
California
and the Long
Beach Region
Citing
concerns
over the
enormous
financial
and
employment
hardships
associated
with AB 32
implementation,
the Long
Beach
Chamber of
Commerce is
protecting
jobs,
businesses
and the
economy in
the Long
Beach region
by
supporting
the
California
Jobs
Initiative.
The
California
Jobs
Initiative,
which will
go before
voters in
November
2010, would
postpone
implementation
of AB 32
until the
state’s
unemployment
rate
declines to
5.5% for
four
consecutive
quarters.
“Long Beach
has been hit
particularly
hard by the
recession,
with goods
movement in
the Port
area
significantly
reduced as
higher costs
and
declining
business
activity
take their
toll,” said
Randy
Gordon,
President
and CEO of
the Long
Beach
Chamber.
“Couple that
with a
California
regulatory
system that
makes ports
outside the
state a more
affordable
option for
businesses
and shippers
alike, and
it makes for
a less than
optimistic
economic
outlook,”
continued
Gordon.
The Long
Beach
Chamber has
traditionally
supported
the creation
of
environmentally
sound
policies
that reward
responsible
business
practices,
including
the
reduction of
greenhouse
gas (GHG)
emissions.
However, the
Chamber
opposed AB
32 four
years ago
and
continues to
oppose its
implementation.
“Our
business
community
includes
energy
producers
and other
carbon-intense
industries
that would
be
disproportionately
punished by
AB 32’s $143
billion
cap-and-trade
auction tax,
almost $4
billion in
higher
gasoline and
diesel
costs, and
up to 60%
higher
electricity
rates,” said
Lori
Lofstrom,
Chairman of
the Long
Beach
Chamber
Board of
Directors.
“Those costs
will put
Long Beach
at an even
greater
competitive
disadvantage
with states
that have
less
draconian
climate
change
regulations.
AB 32 has
the strong
potential to
devastate
businesses
here, which
in turn will
lead to
heavy job
losses and a
reduction in
the tax base
that this
area just
can’t
afford,”
continued
Lofstrom.
The
California
Jobs
Initiative
is limited
to AB 32
policies
aimed at
global
warming, and
will not
alter the
vast array
of unrelated
environmental
regulations
that already
protect the
state’s air
and water
quality, and
are the
strictest in
the country.
The
Initiative
will also
protect jobs
and save our
economy
billions by
merely
adjusting
the
timetable
for AB 32
regulations
until the
state’s
unemployment
situation
improves.
Log on to
www.jobs2010ca.com
April 19, 2010
Take Action: Submit Your
Letter In Support Of Education Funding Flexibility
Supporting our
education community is one of the Long Beach
Chamber's top three strategic priorities for 2010.
The Chamber is working with State Senator Alan
Lowenthal to secure the passage of SB 1396 which
will establish a three-year pilot program for three
school districts in California to receive maximum
categorical program funding flexibility that is
linked to improving student achievement.
We believe this is an important piece of legislation
because we think that in order to improve student
achievement, school districts must be given the
flexibility to manage their resources on programs
and services that have proven results in improving
student achievement.
Click here to submit your letter of support!
Strictly Business | March 31, 2010
A Bridge To Somewhere Important
 The
Port of Long Beach plays a crucial role in our local,
regional and national economy. Hundreds of millions of
people depend on the Port to efficiently transport the
nation’s incoming goods.
Fifteen percent of all of the goods coming into the
United States are transported across the Gerald Desmond
Bridge. Built nearly a half-century ago, the bridge is
now overdue for much needed improvements both in safety
and technology.
Replacing the Gerald Desmond Bridge is an urgent
priority for the Long Beach Chamber. Although the bridge
is safe for commuters today, it is rapidly deteriorating
-- even crumbling. The Port has had to install netting
below the bridge to catch falling pieces of concrete and
stop them from hitting the ground and waterways below.
However, the bridge is nearing the end of its planned
lifespan and handles far more traffic than that for
which it was designed over 40 years ago. The traffic
load – between about 58,000 and 68,000 vehicles per day
and 18 million vehicle trips per year – vastly exceeds
its intended capacity. The bridge lacks emergency lanes
and thus when accidents occur traffic can be delayed for
hours or diverted through surrounding neighborhoods,
moreover, emergency responders are challenged to reach
the emergency to assist. All of these factors negatively
impact our community and local economy and the time has
come to take action.
So, the Chamber is proud to support the Port's efforts
to secure the additional funding necessary to build a
new bridge. In a time of economic uncertainty, the
construction of a new bridge will produce 4,000 jobs
over the five year construction period and yield $2.8
billion in economic activity. Such construction will
produce a modern bridge with increased clearance
allowing large cargo ships to pass safely under the
bridge and through the Port. For those commuting across
the bridge, six lanes instead of the current four will
create a smooth flow of traffic and emergency access.
Click here to watch a video on replacing the bridge.
Click here for more information on the project.
The Gerald
Desmond Bridge is in desperate need of structural
improvements and Long Beach deserves an iconic bridge.
We must seize this opportunity to build a new bridge
capable of handling the rapid flow of trade and create
an icon that will rival the design and admiration of
structures outside of Southern California. The
importance of such modernization is unlike any other, we
must support the Port's actions to protect Long Beach’s
vital link to national trade...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Strictly Business | March 22, 2010
Google Deserves
Long Beach
Google
recently announced that they are planning to launch an
experiment that they hope will make Internet access
better and faster for everyone.
Their plan, according to their web site, is to "test
ultra-high speed broadband networks in one or more trial
locations across the country. Our networks will deliver
Internet speeds more than 100 times faster than what
most Americans have access to today, over 1 gigabit per
second, fiber-to-the-home connections. We'll offer
service at a competitive price to at least 50,000 and
potentially up to 500,000 people."
Recently, the Long Beach City Council unanimously
approved a motion by City Councilmember Robert Garcia to
direct City staff to apply on behalf of the City of Long
Beach for a spot as one of the “pilot” locations. The
City intends to submit its application by this Friday's
deadline. The Chamber supports Councilmember Garcia and
the City's effort to apply for this important and
innovative opportunity.
In the meantime, your help is needed! The Chamber is
teaming up with Councilmember Garcia to help promote a
massive letter writing campaign in support of the City
of Long Beach winning the bid to be a test-case for
Google.
I urge you to take a few moments of your time to log on
and submit your letter of support now!
Submit your letter no later than Wednesday, March
24 at 5:00pm by clicking here:
www.RobertGarcia.com/google
The Long Beach business community is one of the most
innovative communities in the world. Let's step up to
the plate and secure an opportunity to increase access
to a new technology and to show Google why Long Beach is
the best place to start...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Strictly Business
| March 10, 2010
Supporting Real Reforms
Californians,
including Long Beach, are in desperate need of work. The
solution to this challenge is very simple: our state legislators
must support real reforms that stimulate our local economy.
Recently the Governor outlined a few reforms that deserve the
support of our state legislators. Here is an overview of what's
on the table:
Through the Governor’s Jobs Initiative, $200 million will be
provided for employers to pay for training new employees or
retraining existing employees for a new job. The average
reimbursement for each employee is approximately $1,400.
In an
effort to employ out-of-work Californians, employers will also
receive $3,000 for each unemployed worker who completes ETP
training and stays employed for a minimum of nine months. The
Governor hopes to create 100,000 new jobs and will provide
training for 140,000 individuals to qualify them for better
paying jobs.
In an effort to create jobs and spur economic activity, the
California Environmental Quality Act Litigation Protection Pilot
Program of 2010 will allow the Business, Transportation and
Housing Agency to select projects that meet specified
requirements. Such projects will take place for each calendar
year between 2010 and 2014 and each project will be exempt from
judicial review in the final stages of an environmental impact
process.
With a slumping housing market, it is of dire importance to
extend the Home Buyer Tax Credit to encourage homeownership.
Such action will give a maximum credit of up to 5% of the
purchase price for a qualified principle residence or $10,000 of
the purchase of a new residence for first-time buyers who
purchase between May 1, 2010 and December 31, 2010. The credit
is available for the tax period after December 31, 2010 and
before August 1, 2011. Extending the tax credit will encourage
homeownership and help rescue the failing housing market in
California.
California’s fastest growing economy is in green technology. To
give a boost to this green economy financial assistance will be
allowed for the purchase, sale or lease arrangements of green
equipment and will now qualify for exclusion from Sales and Use
Tax Law. As a project under the California Alternative Energy
and Advanced Transportation Financing Authority Act, items
exempt from such law include machinery or equipment utilized for
the design, technology transfer, manufacture, production,
assembly, distribution, or service of an alternative source
component.
These are not a “cure all” by any means, but they are small
steps in the right directions and just some of the ideas the
Chamber is supporting in 2010 to get Long Beach and California
moving again. We urge our state legislators to work together to
support the Governor's efforts in bringing real reform to our
ailing economy...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
Strictly Business | March 5, 2010
Dealing With Ballot Measures
The Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce will carefully review,
discuss and determine a position on the proposed
June 8, 2010 statewide ballot measures. The Chamber urges you to
evaluate available information related to all the ballot
measures over the next several months and most importantly, to
exercise your right to vote on Election Day.
"The measures on the June statewide ballot propose to change
laws related to taxes, elections, insurance and energy -- issues
that affect everyone who lives or works in Long Beach,"
California's chief elections officer, Secretary of State Debra
Bowen, tells me. "I am partnering with businesses, their
employees and their customers in nonpartisan ways to ensure as
many eligible people as possible participate in the June 8
statewide election. I thank the Long Beach Chamber for stepping
up to promote civic engagement and helping Chamber members get
the information they need before going to the polls."
In the meantime, I have prepared a brief outline on what to
expect. For more details, please visit Secretary Bowen's web
site by clicking here.
Proposition 13
Dealing with the property taxes, Proposition 13 would revisit
and redefine provisions in a 30-year old tax bill for purposes
of expanding the tax liability of new construction intended to
minimize earthquake damage.
Proposition 14
Dealing with elections, Proposition 14 would put into place in
California a model presently used in Washington State whereby,
among other elements, the top two vote getters, regardless of
party, would square off in the general election.
Proposition 15
Dealing with the financing of elections, Proposition 15 would
change the funding mechanism for elections. If passed, elections
would become funded by taxing lobbyists, lobbying firms and
lobbyist employers. The legality of this funding model is
currently being challenged in several state courts.
Proposition 16
Dealing with the local public electricity providers, Proposition
16 would require local governments to obtain the approval of
two-thirds of the voters before making certain changes to the
extent to and manner in which electricity is provided. For
instance, the approval of two-thirds of the voters would be
required for local governments to provide electricity to new
customers or expand such service to new territories if any
public funds or bonds are involved.
Proposition 17
Dealing with auto insurance prices, Proposition 17 would amend
an existing law to allow auto insurance customers to receive a
discount based on their record of having maintained insurance
coverage over an extended period of time. Children residing with
a parent may qualify for the discount based on their parent's
eligibility.
The Chamber looks forward to assessing the impact of each of
these measures on the Long Beach business community and
communicating our positions in mid-April 2010. We will work with
Secretary Bowen to get out the vote and will also continue to do
what we do best: representing your interests with government...
...and that’s Strictly Business.
Randy Gordon
President and CEO
Long Beach Area Chamber of Commerce
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