November 10, 2022

Our signature Legislative Lounge event is just ONE WEEK FROM TODAY! Join some of our favorite elected officials and staffers for a night of post-election fun, celebrating individuals doing the tough work in our region!  RSVP here.

And seriously, polls close Tuesday night at 8pm. Need some guidance? Check out our endorsements. If you’re looking for the briefest of brief summaries about what to expect from Tuesday, here it is: WHO KNOWS. (You are very welcome).

Business Updates:

Are those jingle bells we hear already? Starbucks brought back their holiday drink selection, cups,  and red aprons today. This year they are celebrating 25 years of the iconic holiday cups!

Congratulations to USD’s School of Leadership and Education Sciences (SOLES) for receiving grant funding from the San Diego Foundation to create a college access and early literacy program for Black students. The Black InGenius Initiative (BiGI) will launch in Fall 2023.

The San Diego Community College District will be hosting their first in-person Fall Career Fair in two years on November 17 and we’ve noticed quite a few chamber members participating!

Legislative Updates

Federal: 

President Biden has hit the road to support Democratic candidates in tight races, including a stop today in San Diego, where he will be welcomed by Governor Gavin Newsom and our very own Mayor Todd Gloria.

Less publicized results of elections: the assignment of powerful positions that can make or break certain policies or budget. Case in point: the lead Republican on the Ways & Means Committee (responsible for that pesky budget the feds have to do) is retiring this year. That kicks off a big inter-party race for Republicans which they acknowledge as “awkward” but nobody is backing down.

Happy 30 year anniversary (on Saturday) to Sen. Feinstein who will be the longest serving female senator in our country’s history. (And whose lack of a retirement announcement is really messing with some aspirational people’s plans).

Interest rates are making history (in a bad way, of course). The Federal Reserve has approved another increase to interest rates by three quarters of a percent; bringing the base to 4% in an attempt to combat inflation.

Elon Musk has officially taken over Twitter and continues to fire the masses. Some are celebrating, many are leaving, a few are starting to pay $8/month for a blue checkmark… all we know is Twitter isn’t a Chamber member, but Meta is.

Movie slogan redo: IF YOU DON’T BUILD IT THEY WILL MOVE. Duh. Home buyers are now living further than ever from “work” thanks to remote options. And, we’ll add, the absolutely infuriating lack of home building in places like, oh… we don’t know, San Diego? What community saw the biggest in-migration between 2020 and 2022? Our friend, Riverside.

International: 

Join us on November 17 for a conversation on regional strategies to create more diverse and resilient creative and cultural sectors. Speakers will also share an overview of our region’s most recent designation: World Design Capital 2024 and its exciting programme that will showcase San Diego-Tijuana in a new light and emphasize the ways design can connect us. Click here to register.

After 26 years in place, Mexico’s Congress put an end on daylight saving time. This will however not impact states at the northern border, which will continue to adjust their clocks to match their US neighbors to avoid disruptions to bilateral, integrated supply chains, business activities, and affecting local communities. Just in our binational region, at least 60,000 people cross the border to work on a daily basis, not including thousands of students and tourists that also regularly commute back and forward.

Following the resignation of Tatiana Clouthier from Mexico’s Secretariat of Economy, incoming Secretary Raquel Buenrostro has created controversy for cleaning house and bringing new faces in. With Undersecretary Luz María de la Mora and key trade negotiators overseeing USMCA compliance gone, the business sector and US authorities have expressed great concern in President Lopez Obrador’s energy policy proposals and Mexico’s ability to maintain USMCA commitments such as advancing and facilitating renewable energy projects and private investment.

Happiest place on earth? Thousands were stranded in Shanghai Disneyland when the park went into lockdown after city authorities reported 10 locally transmitted COVID cases. Rides continued to operate as visitors waited to be tested in order to exit. China is still enforcing strict lockdowns as part of their zero-COVID policy, often criticized for cutting access to food and medical care.

November is a BUSY month:

The Tijuana EDC will host the 3rd Annual Borderless Business Conference next week on November 8 and 9th. In partnership with the Chamber and other business organizations, our dynamic binational region will be showcased virtually and onsite, to demonstrate our unique strengths and resources which make us a hub for foreign direct investment across industries.

The California-Mexico Border Relations Council will host a public meeting on November 14 to share comments on agenda items including border regional efforts, tribal collaborations, and grant opportunities.

The Ministry of Economy of Mexico extends an invitation to Chamber members to the third edition of the Mexican Foodvenirs virtual fair, which seeks to link Mexican producers with US companies interested in importing, buying or distributing food and beverages from Mexico. The fair will take place from November 14 to 17 and registration is free.

Any metal fans out there? The Chamber is proud to promote cross border collaboration across industries, including the 2nd edition of the RED DRAGON METAL FEST that will take place on November 19 – 20 at Chevron Stadium in Tijuana. Click here to see further details of this exciting event including musicians from both sides of the border.

State:

Governor Newsom has paused on distributing the rest of the third round of Homelessness Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) grants. Instead, he announced earlier today that he will convene with local leaders to review the state’s approach to the homelessness crisis and consider a more aggressive approach for solutions. Which has great timing, because what every local elected official wants is the Governor to yank back funds for voters’ number one concern: homelessness.

Oh, maybe those aren’t Christmas bells we’re hearing but alarm bells. The state’s revenues are signaling danger ahead. A violent turn from a $100B surplus, the state’s historic ability to bring companies public and bolster the stock market may be in serious decline.

Attorney General Rob Bonta sent a letter (political-speak for “you in trooouuuuuuuble”) to the biggest plastic bag manufacturers demanding that they prove their bags can be recycled as required by law. They have until November 16th to turn in their homework.

The state’s Department of Housing & Community Development has dropped its funding calendar for FY 22-23. This is important because most affordable housing relies on specific grants/loans from the state. So do local governments doing community plans or trying to expand things like transit.

Local:

Earlier this week, the San Diego City Council directed the City’s Attorney Office to draft a resolution to declare housing as a Human Right as part of the growing effort to combat homelessness in the City of San Diego and also discussed ways on how to potentially strengthen tenant protections in the City. The Council discussed forming a working group to further discuss any new tenant protections proposal in the near future.

City of San Diego’s Development Services Department (DSD) updates:

• DSD’s Small Business Restaurant Assistance Program has assisted 221 businesses so far this year. Take a look at how DSD is working to better help small businesses and restaurants here.
• Congratulations to Leslie Gallagher who will be DSD’s new Deputy Director of Project Submittal and Management.
• Reminder! The 2022 California Building Standards Code will go into effect on January 1, 2023. Construction project applications submitted on or after that date must conform to the new regulations.

Ah, the good ol’ San Diego River. It’s…dry… and kind of gross. But, local officials including Chair Nathan Fletcher have unveiled a $700 million dollar plan to revitalize it and create more green space in our region.

Wooden high rises may be in San Diego’s future. Along with UC San Diego’s School of Engineering, the NHERI Tall Wood Project has been testing the benefits of using mass timber in high-rise buildings in Scripps Ranch, and some developers are already ‘on board’ with using the new building material.

Nonprofit Healthcare in Action has partnered with Chamber member Molina Healthcare of California to continue providing on-the-spot and long-term health care to individuals experiencing homelessness at no cost to patients. The effort is a first in San Diego to provide services on the street five days a week.

SDSU and the County’s HHSA department have officially formed a new partnership in the creation of the Live Well Center for Innovation and Leadership. This Academic Health and Human Services department is a five-year agreement that will help address and conduct research community health issues and streamline workforce development.

If you have driven by Randy’s Donuts in Los Angeles you probably know it, the giant donut the store dons is hard to miss. Well, San Diego County is getting a slice of the action with the company announcing plans to expand here. The first location is slated to be in Mission Valley, opening in December or January.

Want to learn more on how to be a confident bike commuter? SANDAG will be hosting a virtual webinar on bike commuting on November 15.

Upcoming Hearings & Public Input Opportunities

• The San Diego City Council will be in legislative recess until November 14.
• The MTS Board of Directors will meet on November 10.
• On November 3, the County of San Diego’s Planning and Development Services will host a public workshop on the 2023 Housing Zoning Ordinance Update. The purpose of the update is to comply with new state housing laws.
• On November 9, the County of San Diego’s Planning and Development Services will host a public workshop to seek feedback on identifying environmental justice communities in the unincorporated areas. Learn more about the County’s efforts here.

Capital Opportunities & Resources

• The California Rebuilding Fund is offering small businesses with fewer than 50 full-time equivalent employees loans up to $100,000. Learn more and apply here. Applications close on November 15.
• San Diego County’s Small Business Stimulus Grant funds are still available for local small businesses and nonprofits impacted by the pandemic. County Districts 1, 2, and 3 are still accepting applications. Learn more here.
• Small business owners may currently receive $2,000 per employee that participates in the paid family leave program. Small business owners can apply here.
• Businesses can reach out to their nearest Small Business Development Center (SBDC), which has developed the Small Business Survival Resources Guide. SBDC can help with applying for COVID-19 relief, guiding you through available resources, and assisting with cash flow concerns, supply-chain interruptions, workforce capacity, insurance coverage, and more–all at no cost!

Future Chamber Meetings (Virtual) & Committee Actions:

Public Policy Committee:

Our next meeting will be in December. We’re dark in November!

Health Committee:

Our next meeting will be on November 9, 8:00am via zoom.

Transportation & Land Development Committee:
Our next meeting will be on November 15, 8:00am via zoom.

Economic Development Strategy Working Group: 

Our next meeting will be on November 15, 9:00am via zoom.

Education & Workforce Committee: 

Our next meeting will be on November 16, 8:00am via zoom.

Cannabis Forum:

Our next forum will be on November 16, 8:00am via zoom. RSVP to LCazares@sdchamber.org.

International Business Affairs Forum:

Our next forum will be on November 17, 10:00am via zoom.

Sustainability & Industry Committee:

Our next meeting will be on December 1, 8:00am via zoom.