January 17, 2019

If your business or organization took steps to increase its recycling or reduce its waste in 2018, the City of San Diego wants to recognize your efforts. Through Friday, February 8th applications are being accepted for the 2019 Business Waste Reduction and Recycling Award. Each year, the Environmental Services Department recognizes businesses and organizations in San Diego that have implemented or expanded innovative and successful waste reduction and recycling programs, as well as recycled product purchasing programs. Applicants with the most comprehensive, creative and/or improved recycling programs will receive the City’s Business Waste Reduction and Recycling Award. Top recyclers will be recognized at an awards ceremony in May 2019 at the San Diego Central Library. All applicants will be invited to the awards event. Download the application now.

January 17, 2019

As Governor Newsom settles into Sacramento, his team is starting to shape up. Newsom’s incoming chief of staff will be Ann O’Leary, who has worked closely on the Children’s Health Insurance program, signifying a focus on healthcare. Jared Blumenfeld, a former Obama administration official and longtime environmental advocate, was named the new secretary of the California Environmental Protection Agency. Ana Matosantos was hired as cabinet secretary, and also helped lead negotiations to expand health insurance access under former Governor Schwarzenneger. Lindsey Cobia will serve as deputy chief of staff, previously serving on the Governor campaign and has worked for Lyft. Kate Gordon will be Director of Planning and Research. Gordon is a nationally recognized expert on clean energy and economic development. Analea Patterson will be Deputy Legal Affairs Secretary. Patterson was a Partner in the D.C. office at Orrick, Herrington & Sutcliffe LLP, where she specialized in developing creative, multi-faceted solutions to business problems that incorporate legislative and regulatory strategies. Read more about Governor Newsom’s senior appointments.

January 17, 2019

Governor Gavin Newsom was sworn in this month and in his inaugural speech, he provided a broad look at what he believes are California’s greatest challenges and opportunities as he takes the helm of state government. Citing an adversarial relationship with Washington, D.C., Governor Newsom routinely cited the state’s role as a leader and an example on the world stage. With particular enthusiasm, he cited the state’s progress on climate change, specifically surpassing the goals set for GHG reductions in the past. The priorities laid out by the Governor include addressing affordable housing, ending the stigma of mental health issues, training opportunities for the workforce and finding solutions to homelessness. Furthermore, the Governor swore to create the “largest fiscal reserve of any state” in history, and praised the state’s economic engines- particularly the “entrepreneurial spirit” that he said defined California. While this speech was not intended to lay out specific policies, it was an important level-set for those of us watching eagerly to see how the new Governor will tackle the state’s more complex problems.

The Governor also shared his $209 billion budget proposal earlier this month. It was ambitious, significantly increasing spending with regard to education, preschool/childcare, healthcare, and housing. The budget will be reviewed by budget subcommittees within the legislature and return with further details and adjustments in May during the May Revise process. Read the full budget recap.

January 17, 2019

The California Competes Tax Credit was created to help businesses that want to come to California or stay and grow in California. Since the program launch, 112 San Diego companies have won $66 million in tax credits. The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (Go-Biz) has set aside $75 million this round of the $200 million available for this fiscal year. Specific eligibility requirements can be found here. The next application round opens March 4, 2019 and closes March 25, 2019. Application available here.

January 17, 2019

Chamber delegates are gearing up for an exciting trip to our state Capital during the 2019 Leadership Delegation to Sacramento on February 26^th and February 27^th. This trip will provide the opportunity to share expertise on issues that matter most to San Diego and all of California. Policy areas and issues that will be addressed on the trip include: infrastructure, improving mobility, housing supply and affordability, climate change, and more. Sign up today.

January 17, 2019

Mayor Kevin Faulconer delivered the 2019 State of the City Address on January 15^th and addressed housing supply and affordability, homelessness, quality of life, and climate change. His focus was on transforming San Diego into a “YIMBY” city by removing height limit restrictions outside coastal zones, implementing more affordable housing incentives, allowing by-right approval for affordable housing and housing for the homeless to avoid unnecessary review, and eliminating parking requirements to lower housing cost. The Mayor also expressed a commitment to tackling the county’s mental health crisis by opening new Housing Navigation Centers, hiring skilled case managers and housing specialists at the City’s bridge shelters, proposing new affordable projects in every district, calling on City Council to approve additional storage capacity, and calling on the County to step up and lead in tackling the mental health crisis. The Mayor also highlighted his priority of improving local communities through road repairs, the “Clean SD” program, opening libraries, improving the San Diego Police Department, and commissioning a disparity study to determine if the companies that do business reflect San Diego’s diversity. Lastly, the Mayor committed to making San Diego the greenest city in the county, a monumental pledge that reaches across the aisle. The Mayor will create a community choice energy program for San Diego, create new bike lanes and mobility options, and push for a new transit center that will connect the trolley to the airport.

January 17, 2019

In January and February, Chamber Policy Committees are finalizing updated policy platforms intended to guide policy advocacy for 2019. Policy Sub-Committees include Healthcare; Energy & Water; Infrastructure, Housing & Land Use; Defense, Veterans and Military Affairs; the Small Business Roundtable; and the Education & Workforce Roundtable. The Sub-Committee Platforms are anticipated to be adopted by the Public Policy Committee in February. At the Public Policy Committee’s January meeting, the 2019 priorities were adopted and include  housing, homelessness, healthcare and supporting the innovation traded economy.