News & Updates

President Biden meets with President Lopez Obrador

InternationalNewsPolicy

March 24, 2021

Presidents Biden and Lopez Obrador met virtually on Monday to advance joint efforts to address migration and development in Southern Mexico and Central America. Both Presidents reaffirmed their commitment to bilateral collaboration to fight the pandemic, reactivate our shared economy, and address climate change. This includes efforts to deepen cooperation on the COVID-19 response by enhancing public health capabilities, information sharing, and the development of border policies. In addition, they recognized the strategic importance of the bilateral economic relationship and the role that the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement (USMCA) plays as a driver for North American prosperity. A joint statement is available here.

President Obrador was also in Tijuana earlier this month, where he met with state and local officials to discuss a plan to ensure public health and safety in the city.

Time To Vaccinate

News

March 17, 2021

Time to Vaccinate

Our business community plays a critical role in getting our region open and back in business – safely. A key part of this is ensuring our workers get the vaccine as soon as it’s their turn.

To help our business community in this effort, we are proud to launch Time To Vaccinate. This new education and awareness program offers resources and information employers can use to encourage their workforce to get vaccinated when they are able. By pledging to provide time and flexibility for employees to receive vaccines, you’re part of our region’s recovery.

All businesses and organizations across the county are encouraged to learn more about Time To Vaccinate and take the pledge today. As a supporter, you’ll receive a resource guide with educational tools and information you can use to design a program that fits your company’s needs.

Visit sdchamber.org/TimeToVaccinate for program details and information on how you can join.

Together, we can all do our part to end the pandemic and keep our workers educated, healthy, and thriving.

Available Board Opportunities

LEADNews

March 8, 2021

Our partners have opportunities to get involved in our region and are looking for knowledgeable and driven individuals to fill those spots. Explore the open board seats below.

The San Diego County Air Pollution Control District is looking for qualified candidates, within the following areas of expertise:

  • One physician or public health professional who actively practices in San Diego County and who specializes in the health effects of air pollution on vulnerable populations.
  • One environmental justice representative who works directly with a disadvantaged community in the region.
  • One scientific or technical professional with background on air pollution.

The application for the APCD Governing Board can be found here.

 

San Diego County Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board, which investigates citizen complaints against San Diego County Sheriff’s deputies and probation officers, is looking for a qualified applicant to fill a vacancy opening July 1 for San Diego County Supervisorial District 1. Find more information and apply here.

 

The Kroc School at the University of San Diego is now accepting applicants for its inaugural Activist-in-Residence program. The program is designed to promote the careers of activists at the vanguard of addressing systemic injustices and entrenched inequalities in the United States. Find more information and apply here.

LEADers On The Move

LEADNews

March 4, 2021

We enjoy seeing what our graduates are doing and how they are making an impact on the world. Share your good news with us via email: lead@sdchamber.org.

 

Maggie Schroedter (Impact ’14), President-Elect, Lawyers Club of San Diego

Mary Rose McDermott (Impact ’20), Director, Philanthropy, Rady Children’s Hospital Foundation

Shawn VanDiver (SDYL Board Member), Board Member, San Diego Convention Center

Sam Attisha (Influence ’11), Board Chair, California Cable & Telecommunications Association

Tish Berge (Impact ’10), Assistant General Manager, San Diego County Water Authority

Katherine Johnston (Impact ’14), Executive Director, San Diego Parks Foundation

Kenia Zamarripa (Impact ’19) Executive Director, International Business Affairs, San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce

Member Spotlight: Downtown Works

Member Spotlight

March 1, 2021

As we move into the second year of the COVID-19 pandemic, many professionals crave a safe place to work away from home, especially now that vaccines promise a new beginning. Downtown Works shows how it’s possible to create an inspiring and safe office environment that provides the space, community and amenities today’s professionals need to do their best work.

Constructed to model a tech campus with state-of-art technology, design and furnishings that encourage creativity, dynamic problem-solving and productivity, Downtown Works’ two locations – one in Little Italy on West B Street and the new North County location in Carlsbad – give members several office options. Some rotate between home and office in a safe-distancing environment; others lease a private office where they can enjoy quiet while feeling the energy of people around them.

When the pandemic started, Downtown Works quickly made changes to ensure its members were safe and comfortable. It added medical-grade air purifiers; cold plasma generators to kill viruses and bacteria; health and safety measures including touchless doors, keyless entry, limited seating capacity, and mandatory masks. This approach, coupled with flexible office options, led many San Diego-area companies and solo-preneurs to Downtown Works, providing an alternative to working from home.

Downtown Works in Little Italy San Diego offers private offices, exclusive desks, and meeting rooms throughout its 33,500 square feet of creatively designed space, becoming a hub for creatives and successful startups.

Downtown Works Carlsbad has 20,000sq. ft. of office space on 4.9 acres. It features 43 furnished offices with flexible, stand-up optional desks, plexiglass-separated workstations, a video/podcast studio, and plentiful outdoor workspaces.

Both Downtown Works locations offer flexible usage options, including virtual memberships with simplified services and an address. Dog-friendly offices, outdoor workstations and meeting areas can be rented by the month, week, day, or hour.

Both locations meet the “Work from Anywhere” trend with strict safety protocols to instill peace of mind. For more information, visit www.DowntownWorks.com

Councilmember Raul Campillo Explores Predictive Scheduling Policy

NewsPolicy

February 23, 2021

In partnership with the San Diego Workforce Partnership, District 7 Councilmember Raul Campillo is exploring a predictive scheduling policy. If successful, this would be the San Diego region’s first official use of such a policy, following other localities like Seattle and San Francisco. Statewide legislation proposing predictive worker scheduling was ultimately defeated in 2015 and again in 2018 following immense pushback from major retailers, restaurants, and others within the business community. Proponents of the proposal argue that it can improve absenteeism and spare employers from worker turnover, opponents however point to the rigidity of such a policy and its negative impact particularly on smaller businesses who would be on the hook for a potentially dramatic increase in costs at a time when small businesses are generally suffering. The Councilmember is holding robust conversations to engage the business community and further information is available. If interested, please contact the Chamber’s Policy Coordinator Summer Bales.

Baja Election News

Uncategorized

February 23, 2021

Karla Ruiz, formerly Tijuana’s Secretary of Education, took office as Mayor of Tijuana earlier this month following Arturo Gonzalez’ resignation—who left office due to family reasons and announced he will not seek re-election. This is the second time since October that he has stepped down from his role, having abruptly returned after less than a month the first time. Once again, Ruiz became the first female mayor in the city’s history. She joins Mexicali Mayor Marina del Pilar Avila, Mayor of Tecate Zulema Adams, and Mayor of Rosarito Araceli Brown, with now four out of five municipalities in Baja under female leadership.

Within days of taking office, Mayor Ruiz registered as a pre-candidate with the MORENA party seeking to potentially continue her work as Mayor of Tijuana, and has already met with regional authorities from both sides of the border including Baja Governor Jaime Bonilla, Mexicali Mayor and governor candidate Marina del Pilar Avila, and San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria. She has been vocal about her commitment to strengthening binational ties and addressing cross-border priorities such as a coordinated COVID-19 response, promoting trade, and mitigating transboundary pollution impacting the Tijuana River Valley. In addition, Ruiz announced a strategic plan for her first 60 days in office which includes immediate action to ensure public health and safety; increase transparency; advance infrastructure development and mobility projects; address environmental issues; and a list of initiatives that contribute to increase quality of life.

The Chamber looks forward to working with Mayor Ruiz and supporting her administration as we continue our work to facilitate and strengthen cross-border commerce and reactivate our binational economy.

In other election news, Tijuana businessman and former mayor Jorge Hank Rhon will be running for governor of Baja with PESBC (Partido Encuentro Solidario de Baja California),  a conservative political party that has partnered with MORENA in the past including the coalition that secured President Lopez Obrador’s election in 2018. The remaining opposition formed a coalition composed of the PRI (Partido Revolucionario Institucional), PAN (Partido Accion Nacional), and PRD (Partido Revolucionario Democratico) political parties. The coalition has yet to announce any candidates.

Upcoming elections for governor, as well as for local offices across Baja, will take place in June 2021.

U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021

InternationalNewsPolicy

February 23, 2021

Following an announcement from the White House of an immigration reform bill, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 was introduced to Congress last week by Sen. Bob Menendez (NJ) and Rep. Linda Sanchez (CA).  The bill would provide an 8-year pathway to citizenship for 11 million undocumented immigrants, increase the number of available diversity visas, and direct more funding to immigration courts and technology.

Specifically, the U.S. Citizenship Act of 2021 would:

  • Provide pathways to citizenship and strengthen labor protections: Dreamers, TPS holders, and qualifying agricultural workers would be able to apply for a green card immediately and can apply for citizenship after 3 years. All other undocumented immigrants who pass background checks and pay taxes would have an 8-year path to citizenship and receive authorization to work in the meantime.
  • Clear employment-based visa backlogs, recapture unused visas, reduce lengthy wait times, and eliminate per-country visa caps. These actions help retain STEM advanced degree holders from U.S. universities, facilitate access to green cards for workers in lower-wage industries, and provide H-1B visa dependents with work authorization while also preventing children of H-1B holders from aging out of the system.
  • Reform border security by providing additional resources, state-of-the-art technology, infrastructure improvements. It also creates a Border Community Stakeholder Advisory Committee.
  • Address the root causes of migration, while improving immigration courts and increasing protections for asylum seekers.
  • Provid funding for immigrant integration services.

These actions help retain STEM advanced degree holders from U.S. universities, facilitate access to green cards for workers in lower-wage industries, and provide H-1B visa dependents with work authorization while preventing children from aging out of the system. In addition, prioritizing smart border controls ensures national security while facilitating cross-border commerce and promoting economic development. Advancing border infrastructure projects such as the Otay Mesa East Land Port of Entry in our region will help reduce air pollution and alleviate congestion at the border which already causes over $7.2 billion in lost economic output for the U.S. and Mexico.

The bill has received wide support from technology companies including Google, Apple, and other business groups which have underlined that the bill would boost U.S. economy, create jobs, and attract talent from across the world.

President Biden Makes Changes to the PPP Process

NewsPolicy

February 23, 2021

The Paycheck Protection Program application process will undergo some minor changes, according to President Biden’s administration. For the first two weeks of the the application period that opened on Wednesday, only firms with fewer than 20 employees will be eligible. Following that exclusive timeframe, it will reopen for the broader business population to apply. Additionally, eligibility has been expanded to include business owners with certain felony convictions, and the equations have changed to ensure that sole proprietors and very small businesses receive larger fund amounts.

Governor Newsom Unveils Economic Package

Uncategorized

February 23, 2021

Last week, Governor Gavin Newsom presented his $9.6 billion relief package designed to give a boost to struggling California companies and families. In summary, the bill includes $600 payments to individuals earning less than $30,000/year and/or people who received an Earned Income Tax Credit in 2020. For the business community, over $2 billion will go to restaurants and small businesses in chunks of $25,000 grants, and bars and restaurants will have fee relief for two years. Additionally, businesses who received PPP money in 2020 will be able to deduct $150,000 of those funds in their taxes – a compromise sought following Chamber and coalition engagement on the nonconformity with federal law.