June 18, 2018

The first annual Real Estate Business Summit in Baja California will take place June 21st and 22nd at Hotel Real Inn in Tijuana. This event welcomes developers, investors, builders and other stakeholders interested in property development opportunities in the region. This year, the summit will focus on the impact of the hotel industry, new residential or residential/commercial complexes, and how these are bolstering investment in Baja California.

Featured speakers include:

• Oscar Escobedo, Secretary of Tourism for the State of Baja California
• Harold Hoekstra, NAI Mexico
• Eduardo Lopez, Expedia
• Hector Bustamante, Bustamante Realty Group
• Jorge Balderrama, Airbnb
• Alex Mai, Hilton
• Juan Pablo Arroyuelo, Bruma

For a full agenda and event details, click here to download a brochure, full agenda, and visit their website to register. You may also contact Heidy Salum, Director of Binational Affairs for the Government of Baja California at (619)595-5606 or heidysalum@gmail.com.

Please note that this event will be held in Spanish.

June 18, 2018

The City of Tijuana and DIF (the National Institution for Integral Family Development) invite you to the “Binational Gala Cocktail Event” held on Friday, July 13t, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. This gala is part of the City’s 129th anniversary celebration and will take place at the Central Patio of Tijuana’s City Hall.

The event is in benefit of “Network of Young Adults Development”, an assistance program that seeks to establish a relationship with young adults from high-risk communities in order to help them stay out of the streets and back to school. In an effort to serve this noble cause and strengthen the collaborative relationship between Tijuana and San Diego, the First Lady of Tijuana extends an invitation to this fundraiser, which asks for a donation of $90 USD which will go towards this program.

For San Diego guests, the City of Tijuana will be providing transportation from and back to San Diego:

• 3:00 p.m. Departure from Old Town Trolley Station
• Tijuana Tourism and Conventions Committee Presentations (hors-d’oeuvres and refreshments will be served)
• Tijuana Cultural Center tour
• Binational Gala Cocktail, hosted by Mayor Juan Manuel Gastelum and First Lady Maria Rivera de Gastelum
• 9:00 p.m. Departure from Tijuana back to Old Town Trolley Station

For details and information on how to attend, please contact Kenia Zamarripa at kzamarripa@sdchamber.org.

June 18, 2018

On June 7th, Kenia Zamarripa, Chamber Director of International Business Affairs acting as USIBWC Citizens Forum board member attended the second quarterly meeting held at the Tijuana Estuary. The meeting addressed Imperial Beach’s state-mandated plan for growth and development and included a presentation by the County of San Diego on its beach and bay water quality monitoring program.

The City of Imperial Beach provided a presentation of the city’s General Plan and Local Coastal Plan adopted in 1994. The state of California has since then enacted a number of laws requiring state and local authorities to address climate change impacts including SB 32 (California Global Warming Solutions Act of 2006).

The beach and bay water quality monitoring program implements a comprehensive monitoring and surveillance program in South San Diego County to protect public health year-round at ocean beaches. Program representatives provided an update on water quality monitoring activities which was finalized with a discussion of the interrelated system of the Tijuana River, the Tijuana Slough National Wildlife Refuge, and the Pacific Ocean.  

The Citizens Forum Board will be touring the U.S. infrastructure of the Tijuana River Valley (Southbay Plant, Stewarts Drain, Silva Drain, Canon Del Sol, Smugglers and Goat Canyon Collector, Canyon Collector Pump Stations and the Tijuana River Flood Control Project) later this month. Future tours will cover remaining areas including infrastructure in Tijuana.

For more information about the USIBWC’s current work plan or progress on the Tijuana River Valley transboundary pollution, please visit their website.

June 18, 2018

On May 30th, the Chamber hosted a Cross-Border Business Forum focusing on the importance of the Colorado River to the border region and the efforts in the U.S. and Mexico to maximize water reliability and prepare for climate change impacts. A panel of experts answered key questions such as current and future conservation measures to ensure a steady water supply.

This binational region has a combined economy of $1 trillion that continues to grow and prosper, in great part thanks to its access to water. The Mexican Water Treaty of 1944 enforced the reduction of water deliveries during a shortage and the increase during wet periods allowing Mexico and the U.S. to benefit from each other. Additionally, minute 323 provided certainty to binational collaboration by extending the treaty until 2026. Panelists discussed the challenge and need for the agreement to represent a win-win for both countries.

Furthermore, the Quantification Settlement Agreement enabled California to implement major Colorado River water conservation transfer programs, stabilizing water supplies for 75 years and reducing the state’s water demand and impact on the river to its 4.4 million acre-foot entitlement. Benefits include reducing California’s overdependence on the Colorado River, Salton Sea Restoration, and water supply.

The Chamber’s next Cross-Border Business Forum will take place August 16th, at Club de Empresarios in Tijuana.

June 18, 2018

On June 5th, Jerry Sanders met with the newly appointed Director of CESPT – the State Commission of Public Services for Tijuana – German Lizola Marquez, to discuss opportunities for collaboration that advance cross-border issues. CESPT provided an overview of the work that has been done after last year’s sewage spill which was caused by the collapse of a collector due to heavy rain. In order to provide maintenance and improve water sanitation and the sewage system in general, CESPT started working on the replacement of over 4 kilometers of collectors thanks to funds provided by the Mexican Water Commission (CONAGUA), CESPT, and the North American Development Bank, and acquired specialized wastewater management equipment to provide maintenance and improvements to wastewater treatment plants.

Improving sanitation and minimizing pollution of the Tijuana River Valley is a shared concern across the border, and CESPT reiterated how related projects are a priority to Baja State’s Government. The Chamber offered CESPT a platform to continuously communicate their work, needs, and achievements with the San Diego business community and offered help in advocating for the necessary funds that are needed to fulfill these projects for the benefit of our cross-border community.

Earlier this year during federal budget appropriations discussions, the Chamber advocated in support of funding the EPA’s U.S.-Mexico Border Water Infrastructure Program which ultimately received $10 million. Additionally, Mexico’s National Water Commission (CONAGUA) announced an investment of $4.35 million for improvements to repair Tijuana’s sewage infrastructure. In collaboration with CESPT, these funds are currently covering the replacement sewage pipelines and the main wastewater treatment plant in order to prevent major sewage spills along the canal.

In search of more sustainable projects along the U.S.-Mexico border to finance, NADBank met with a group of over 50 regional stakeholders last month at the National Chamber of Commerce (CANACO) in Tijuana. Credits may cover up to 85 percent of a project’s cost with competitive rates for up to 25 years, which has allowed NADBank to certify and finance 244 projects so far with a total investment of $9.31 billion.

In San Diego and Baja California alone, these projects have built 22 water treatment plants and 37 potable water distribution systems. Baja California has submitted 31 projects that were financed for $381 million, of which 23 have been completed having focused on clean water/waste and air quality. To address the Tijuana River Valley transboundary pollution issue, the NADBank and the EPA contributed $790,000 in support of the sustainable projects providing upgrades and maintenance to Tijuana’s pumping stations, water treatment plants, and sewage pipes.

For more information about the North America Development Bank, project requirements, and/or to submit a project, please visit their website.

June 18, 2018

The Spirit of the Barrio event was held on May 18th. Chamber VP Paola Avila participated on the panel of experts who discussed border security, immigration and the emotional toll and economic impacts of cross-border issues on the San Diego-Tijuana region.

Other panelists included

• Dulce Garcia, Immigration Lawyer and DACA recipient
• David Nisleit, San Diego Chief of Police
• Rodney Scott, Chief Patrol Agent, San Diego Sector, U.S. Customs and Border Protection
• Maya Srikrishnan, Voice of San Diego Border Reporter
• Emcee: Steve Atkinson, 10News Anchor

Paola Avila shared the business perspective, highlighting the negative impact misperceptions the border region can have and the importance of maintaining the U.S.-Mexico relationship and a positive tone when discussing border security.

June 18, 2018

Earlier this year, three federal judges ordered the current administration to continue the DACA program and provided the Department of Homeland Security 90 days to present an appeal with proof that the program lacks authority.

During this period, US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) resumed accepting renewal requests for DACA. For information about the DACA renewal process, please visit their website. USCIS is no longer accepting requests from individuals who have never before been granted deferred action under DACA.

Last month, a lawsuit to end DACA was filed by Texas, Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana, Nebraska, South Carolina, and West Virginia. Federal Court has rejected a motion to dismiss the lawsuit against DACA and ordered the federal government several deadlines for the case.

The Chamber has been working to garner support in the House for a discharge petition in an effort to force a vote on proposed legislation to prevent the deportation of Dreamers. This week’s vote in the House on two immigration bills that consider new immigration restrictions and funds for President Trump’s border wall proposal are highly contentious. We believe the best solution is Reps. Hurd and Aguilar’s bipartisan bill The USA Act.

June 18, 2018

Earlier this year, the Trump administration requested $1.6 billion for border wall construction projects, however, White House officials have stated that this amount will be increased to at least $2.2 billion in fiscal year 2019.

The $1.3 trillion spending plan this year did not include any funds for the border wall project. It is estimated that the proposed wall could cost $25 billion to complete.

Security at most of America’s 2,000-mile southern border is tighter than it has ever been. The federal government invests $18 billion a year to ensure that safety. More than all other federal criminal-law-enforcement agencies combined.

As a military town and gateway to trade, the Chamber understands the vital importance of security and trade to our entire nation, however, a wall does not ensure security. To further increase border security we need to increase efficiency. An efficient border is a secure border and a thriving national economy.

The Chamber’s advocacy efforts are aimed at building critical infrastructure and investing in technology and staffing. The funding needs are many and will generate a higher return on investment than a border wall. These projects have been part of the Chamber’s priorities as we meet with top-level government officials during our Mexico City and Washington D.C. delegation trips. For more information about our upcoming trip to Washington D.C. please click here.