January 20, 2023

ICYMI: For years (and years and years) we’ve been waiting for real solutions to the Tijuana River Valley pollution problems. When $300M was allocated to help chip away at those issues, it was a moment of celebration. But then? The money got stuck in policy mumbo-jumbo and couldn’t get unstuck. Until… a holiday miracle! The San Diego congressional delegation successfully got a provision included in the broader spending bill to authorize the transfer of those funds from the EPA to the International Boundary and Water Commission.

A little good news for ya.

Business Updates:

Our board Vice Chair, Alessandra Lezama, lays out a successful partnership between Mira Costa College and Tootris to secure childcare in this UT editorial.

Legislative Updates

Federal:

Campaign mode: This week, Representatives Katie Porter and Barbara Lee announced their intentions to run for Senator Dianne Feinstein’s seat – even though the election is far away and Feinstein has not officially announced her plans yet.

And a big sigh of relief from President Biden: Inflation down for the sixth straight month, hitting 6.5% for December.

There’s a House Speaker, and Congressional Republicans have laid out their policy goals including some tax policy. This morning, President Biden promised to veto any of those bills if they got to his desk (which, thanks to the Senate, they won’t).

International:

Presidents Biden, Lopez Obrador and PM Justin Trudeau met once again at the 2023 North American Leaders’ Summit in Mexico City to strengthen the three countries’ partnerships and advance their shared priorities. Some key takeaways include:

• Joint efforts to deepen economic cooperation.
• Develop a plan for operating standards and the installation of EV chargers along shared borders to ensure a seamless EV charging transition from country to country.
• Expand legal pathways and other humane measures to address irregular migration in the region.
• Coordinate actions and strategies to combat arms and drug trafficking, as well as trafficking in persons
• Information sharing and the development of public policies to protect our countries against current and future health crises

Want a deeper dive into what 2023 will look like for this trilateral relationship? Check out these previews of the US-Canada relationship and the US-Mexico relationship by our partners at the Wilson Center.

President Biden took President Lopez Obrador for a ride in the U.S. presidential limousine sometimes referred to as “the beast,” and chatted for the hour-long drive from the airport. This half-limousine, half-tank Cadillac is equipped with state-of-the-art weapons, protection, and even a supply of blood and oxygen.

While Title 42 continues in place, DHS announced the expansion of the CBP One™ Application which will now allow noncitizens to schedule interviews at ports of entry to seek an humanitarian exception from this policy. This new feature will allow asylum seekers to submit all necessary information and application without going or waiting at land ports of entry.

Through our membership with the Border Trade Alliance, the Chamber urged the administration to prioritize CBP in the FY2024 budget and work with Congress to ensure the agency has the resources it needs to facilitate trade and guarantee national security. In addition, we continue to advocate for a comprehensive immigration reform that improves the management of illegal migration, promotes trade and travel, and provides our businesses with access to workforce critical to its success.

Projects for this new year are rolling in by the minute! Assemblymember David Alvarez has introduced his first bill, AB 91, which would allow low-income students who reside within 45 miles from the border to attend local community colleges. The bill aims to address the increasing need of workers with post-secondary education to support regional growth and economic development. To provide feedback on AB-91, please submit this online form.

State:

Governor Newsom gave us a budget preview this week. TL;DR: $297B total, anticipated $22.5B deficit. Cuts to agencies will include some for EV infrastructure and other programs to advance climate goals (which is getting mixed reviews). The Governor is not expected to cut funds for housing or homelessness, but did signal that even those resources wouldn’t be enough.

California continues to be hit with atmospheric rivers and rainstorms – we even had a cyclone off of the coast. But, reservoirs aren’t able to capture or hold nearly as much as rainwater as we need to quench the drought. To add injury to insult, these storms and flooding are expected to cause up to $1 billion in damages per NOAA.

Local:

Small businesses in the City of San Diego are encouraged to see if they are eligible for the storefront improvement process. This can provide thousands of dollars to make improvements to a facade and provide city-supports. Check it out before the money is swooped up by your neighbors. If you’re in La Mesa, there’s also a La Mesa program.

Last night, Mayor Todd Gloria delivered his 3rd State of the City Address (and this time, in-person). This year’s priorities include his commitment to improving streets and roads, 30 day permitting for 100% affordable housing projects, conservatorship reform, addressing the fentanyl crisis, and more. ICYMI: The full script of the Mayor’s State of the City Address can be found here.

After more than 17 years on the job, San Diego City Clerk Elizabeth Maland will be retiring effective this Friday, January 13. The Chamber is proud to have recognized Clerk Maland as an outstanding public servant at our 2021 Legislative Lounge Awards. We’ll miss you, Liz!

Earlier this week, the San Diego City Council received an informational update and offered feedback on how to move forward with the Civic Core Revitalization effort. Redeveloping the six blocks of city land is a priority for the Mayor and the Council, as well as what should be included when the City officially begins to seek bids.

Congratulations to Supervisor Nora Vargas for officially being elected as Chair of the Board of Supervisors, Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer as Vice Chair, and Supervisor Joel Anderson as Chair Pro Tempore! Chair Vargas will host her 2023 State of the County Address on February 1.

The City of Chula Vista has created a new department focused on housing and homeless services. The department will oversee initiatives related to Harborside Park, homelessness shelters and services, and programs and policies such as recently approved tenant protections ordinance.

Compost bins are coming! Starting with zip codes 92102 and 92113, the City of San Diego will be providing organic waste recycling kitchen pails and green bins to households. This is in accordance with SB1383, passed in 2016, which partially went into effect in 2022.

Upcoming Hearings & Public Input Opportunities

• The SANDAG Board of Directors will meet on January 13.
• The San Diego City Council will next meet on January 23.
• The San Diego County Board of Supervisors will next meet on January 24.
• The County of San Diego will be holding public outreach events in each supervisorial district in January on the progress of their proposed local climate solutions, which includes projects like the regional decarbonization framework. Event details can be found here.

Capital Opportunities & Resources

• The CPUC launched the Digital Divide Grant Program! Applications will be accepted until January 13, 2023 and must be submitted via Email.  Four grants of up to $250,000 each are available!
• 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:

Chamber Summit 

We will be welcoming business groups, chambers, and business improvement districts from across the region to share best practices and learn about pressing policy priorities in our region on January 23 from 2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M. Featured Speakers Include:

• Paloma Aguirre, Mayor, City of Imperial Beach
• Dike Anyiwo, Senior Government Relations Officer, SANDAG
• Steve Lockett, Deputy Director, San Diego County’s Economic Development & Government Affairs Office
• Ed Othmer, California Stormwater Sector Lead, Stantec

Transportation & Land Development Committee:

Our next meeting will be on January 17, 8:00am via zoom.

Economic Development Strategy Working Group:

Our next meeting will be on January 19, 9:00am via zoom.

Sustainability & Industry Committee:

Our next meeting will be on February 2, 8:00am via zoom.

Health Committee: 

Our next meeting will be on February 8 at 8:00am. Hybrid meeting option TBD.

January 13, 2023

This newsletter serves to remind you that it is, indeed, Thursday. We think?

Happy new year. We missed you. Our new years resolution is to not lose the umbrellas we bought this morning.

Business Updates:

Sharp Grossmont Hospital has completed their Central Energy Plant, which was financed through Proposition G – passed by voters in 2006. Powered by a 52-ton turbine built by Chamber member Solar Turbines, the CEP allows the hospital to cut costs and significantly reduce their environmental impact.

Legislative Updates

Federal: 

You have to wonder if there’s something Rep. McCarthy knows that everyone else does not. But alas, he is voluntarily heading into his tenth (? Who knows. We have to keep rewriting this) round of speaker votes. Rep. Santos remains silent but maybe glad for the lack of attention.

The FTC is proposing the end of noncompete clauses. President Biden has indicated early support, and for you readers, in California they are generally considered to be unenforceable.

The Department of Energy is sounding alarm bells about the solar industry supply chain- generally pointing to China and Southeast Asia. Related, but should be in a different bucket: the LAO has sounded off on the state’s climate goals, specifically its very, very ambitious 2022 scoping plan. Much like industry groups, the LAO points to lack of specifics and regulatory guidance to meet the goals, and sets the stage for a deeper dive at the state level into whether or not this plan, you know…. Works.

The US Military will be providing 12 weeks of parental leave, upping from 6 weeks for the primary caregiver and a measly three for the secondary caregiver.

International:

Big news for our binational region – CBP announced the reopening of PedWest at the San Ysidro Port of Entry starting Monday, January 9, from 6am to 2pm. San Ysidro processes up to 25,000 pedestrians every day, which makes this second pedestrian port of entry vital for our efforts to enhance and facilitate border crossings in our region. PedWest suspended operations in March of 2020 and has remained closed for over one year after travel restrictions at land ports of entry were lifted.

Anybody traveling to Europe after the holidays? Croatia officially joined the Eurozone, so bye bye kunas! You can now spend your euros when visiting the country where Game of Thrones was filmed.

Presidents Biden, Lopez Obrador, and PM Justin Trudeau will convene in Mexico City for the 2023 North American Leaders’ Summit next week. The so-called “three Amigos” summit will meet to discuss efforts to tackle migration challenges and implementing Inflation Reduction Act provisions which extend some benefits to our USMCA partners.

Biden will also take his first trip to the border since taking office. This visit will follow the announcement of a new humanitarian “parole” program for migrants from Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua and Venezuela.

Canada set an immigration record last year granting over 437,000 foreign-born individuals with permanent residency status. This is a huge win as the country fights a tight labor market, with Ottawa planning targeted draws to help connect the business sector across the nation with the skilled workforce they need to thrive.

The California Air Resources Board (CARB) will host a public meeting to discuss the Advanced Clean Fleets regulation proposal following the Board hearing held back in October. Click here to register and hear details on the infrastructure delay provision and the transition to  zero emission vehicles.

State:

A new legislative cycle (and new faces) brings new committee assignments. Ready, aim, lobby.

New Year, New Insurance Protections: 11 new state laws ranging from addressing climate change protection against fraud, to preserving health protections have taken effect.

The Department of Cannabis Control has received approval from the Office of Administrative Law for its rulemaking action regarding large cultivation licenses and conversion to large and medium cultivation licenses. Regulatory provisions subject to this rulemaking are effective on January 1, 2023.

The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) and five commercial managed care plans (MCPs) have agreed on a plan on who and how they will deliver Medi-Cal services to 21 counties across the state in January 2024. MCPs will soon operate under new contracts that focus on a coordinated approach to providing quality, equitable, and comprehensive coverage. This represents a practically violent reversal of their earlier decision.

Local:

The City of San Diego is currently conducting a parking study in the Convoy District, aiming to make the neighborhood more pedestrian and bike friendly. Businesses and customers can share their feedback through a quick online survey by January 15.

The Election may be over, but there’s still vacant seats in various cities throughout the region. In Chula Vista, the application period is open to fill the District 3 Councilmember seat (formerly represented  by newly elected Senator Steve Padilla) and a special election will be set for City Attorney. The City of Escondido is also taking applications for the District 3 Council Seat. Next week, the Carlsbad City Council will determine whether to appoint or hold a special election for the District 2 seat.

City of San Diego’s Development Services Department Updates

• DSD’s factory-built housing (FBH) subcommittee consisting of designers and contractors, working alongside DSD staff, have developed submittal, review, and inspection guidelines. Check out the updated information bulletin here.
• Beginning January 1, certain projects deemed complete after December 31, 2022 will now require contractors and subcontractors verification to comply with the Transparency Ordinance that was passed by City Council earlier this year. A webinar on January 6 will be held for customers. Learn more about whether your project requires contractor and subcontractor verification here.

Upcoming Hearings & Public Input Opportunities

• The San Diego City Council will meet on January 9 and January 10.
• Mayor Todd Gloria will hold his 2023 State of the City Address on January 11.
• The County Board of Supervisors Swearing-In Ceremony will be on January 9.
• The County Board of Supervisors will meet on on January 10 and January 11.
• The SANDAG Board will not meet until January 13.
• The County of San Diego will be holding public outreach events in each supervisorial district in January on the progress of their proposed local climate solutions, which includes projects like the regional decarbonization framework. Event details can be found here.

Capital Opportunities & Resources

• The CPUC launched the Digital Divide Grant Program! Applications will be accepted until January 13, 2023 and must be submitted via Email.  Four grants of up to $250,000 each are available!
• 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:

Chamber Summit 

We will be welcoming business groups, chambers, and business improvement districts from across the region to share best practices and learn about pressing policy priorities in our region on January 16 from 2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Health Committee: 

Our next meeting will be January 11, 8:00am via zoom.

Transportation & Land Development Committee: 

Our next meeting will be January 17, 8:00am via zoom.

Economic Development Strategy Working Group: 

Our next meeting will be on January 19, 9:00am via zoom.

Sustainability & Industry Committee:

Our next meeting will be February 2, 8:00am via zoom. We’re dark in January!

January 5, 2023

We have SIGNIFICANT doubts that this last of the year newsletter will be read. But alas, like the Elves on the Internet Shelf, the Snoops on the Website Stoop, holiday cheermongers that we are…. We couldn’t help but gift you with one last love letter to the news.

…What would the Chamber version of that rhyme be? Jerry on a cranberry? Commerce on a converse? We tried.

Business Updates:

Stockdale is beginning to ink leases in the Horton Plaza re-do expected to open within the next year. Here’s what to expect within the new Horton Plaza. 

San Diego-based real estate firm SENTRE has sold the Warwick Luxury Apartment building in Hillcrest for a whopping $37.4 million.

The San Diego Blood Bank is urgently seeking donors as blood supply in the region is very low due to the holiday season and supply chain issues. Donate if you can!

Legislative Updates

Federal: 

Santa decided to heck with the naughty and nice list this year. It was getting complicated, anyway. So instead, he gave us all the gift of a 2023 spending bill with bipartisan support! What it means: no shutdown (yay!) New fights about the cute little add-ons that show up in big bills like this (sad trombone). What’s in it: $1.7 trillion in spending total. $858B for the military (10% increase). $45B for Ukraine. $8B for childcare via the Child Care and Development Block Grant. $6.3B in homeless assistance grants (13% increase). And more! Areas of contention: the future location of the FBI headquarters (seriously). Additional funds for the National Labor Relations Board, per the Congressional Labor Caucus.

This morning, the Senate passed the bill, 68-29, to avoid a government shutdown. The SAFE Cannabis Banking was noteably cut from the final omnibus. $1.2 million was designated for, “centers to support LGBT students,” in the San Diego Community College District.

A bipartisan group in Congress is circulating a sign-on letter calling on President Biden to endorse federally descheduling cannabis as his administration’s position. We’ll be blunt- we don’t expect this to happen any time soon. In addition, Senate Majority Leader Schumer is making a “last ditch effort” to include cannabis banking in the omnibus appropriations bill.

International:

Congratulations Argentina! Over 4 billion people tuned in to watch Lionel Messi finally win a World Cup, 34 years after Argentina took the cup home for the first (and only) time. We’re now 4 years away from the U.S., Canada, and Mexico hosting the World Cup in 2026 #USMCA. The closest stadium will only be a few hours away in Los Angeles.

The Supreme Court temporarily blocked the administration from ending Title 42 following an emergency appeal from 19 states. This measure authorizes border officers to “prohibit the entrance of individuals to mitigate the spread of a contagious disease” and deport migrants. It was initially enacted for 30 days back in March 2020 but extended later on. Migrants arrested at the border were previously processed under immigration law, and thousands have been waiting in shelters south of the border for over two years. President Biden has previously advanced efforts to suspend Title 42 amid declining COVID-19 cases, and while litigation proceeds, DHS has stated to continue preparations to manage the border in a safe and humane way. The Chamber continues to closely monitor the evolving situation working closely with our partners on both sides of the border, prioritizing uninterrupted border operations.

The EPA will host the California-Baja California Regional Coordinator meeting covering ongoing projects and upcoming milestones of the Border 2025: US-MX Environmental Program. This will include updates on air and water goals, and emergency response and preparedness. The hybrid meeting will take place on January 24th and you can register and review additional information here.

State:

Acronyms, incoming: CARB has announced that in partnership with the CPCFA, small businesses have been supported in buying 40,000 trucks via the CalCAP Truck Loan Assistance Program. Translation: state agency has provided money to businesses who need to buy trucks for their work that are more green, helping the state to ease its GHG emissions. Yes, the program will continue into 2023 in case you did not know how to navigate alphabet soup.

The California CRD has issued new guidance on language in employment agreements, severance agreements, and settlement agreements. While the law became effective in January 2022, this new guidance specifies what can and cannot be included in confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses.  New state guidance on confidentiality and non-disparagement clauses – The San Diego Union-Tribune (sandiegouniontribune.com)

Sen. Scott Weiner has reintroduced his failed psychedelics decriminalization bill (SB58), but this time he has left out synthetic psychedelics (such as LSD and MDMA).

California got itself a shiny new state auditor. Grant Parks was announced this week. May the odds be ever in your favor, Mr. Parks. (Unrelated: if you click that link you’ll note that the Governor is really lacking on the San Diego appointments. If you’re interested in a state appointment, let a Chamber staff member know!)

Cal/OSHA’s Board recently approved a number of COVID-19 non-emergency regulations and procedures. The Office of Administrative Law (OAL) has 30 days to review the procedures and if approved, the new regulations will be in place through 2024. Included are removing exclusion pay requirements (there are still workers compensation protections in place at the state level), changes to outbreak protocols, and close contact definitions.

Local:

The City of San Diego is considering paid beach parking and additional rental car taxes for visitors as a potential revenue stream to combat the looming structural deficit in the City’s budget. The independent budget analyst (IBA) has suggested that boosting parking revenue in tourist destinations (such as beaches and parks) is one of the most feasible options for additional revenue.

City of San Diego’s Development Services Department Alert: Beginning January 1, 2023, certain projects deemed complete after December 31, 2022 will now require contractors and subcontractors verification to comply with the Transparency Ordinance that was passed by City Council earlier this year. Webinars on December 20 and January 6 will be held for customers. Learn more about whether your project requires contractor and subcontractor verification here.

Congratulations to the City of San Diego for earning “Prohousing Designation” from the state. This designation is given to cities who demonstrate a commitment to housing action and will give those an advantage when competing for state funding for housing. Earlier this week, Mayor Todd Gloria, State HCD Director Gustavo Velasquez, Assemblymember Chris Ward, Councilmember Raul Campillo, and department leaders held a press conference at a Community HousingWorks project in Linda Vista to acknowledge the City’s recognition. Build, baby, build!

While Mission Beach received a large amount of short term vacation rental licenses, all other areas of the City have leftover licenses. The City is providing a second chance for interested parties beginning next week.

101 Ash… TL;DR The City needs to refile complaints against ex-real estate broker Jason Hughes, because he was not explicitly excluded from the settlement terms from this summer.

The La Mesa LEAP Program is funding 14 new storefronts in La Mesa with American Rescue Plan Act relief funds – this is the first program of its kind using ARPA funds. The City hopes to consider more applications in the future.

SANDAG’s Board leadership may soon change with Mayor Todd Gloria nominating Supervisor Nora Vargas as 2023 Chair and Council President Sean Elo-Rivera for Vice Chair. The SANDAG Board’s next meeting will be on January 13, 2023.

Upcoming Hearings & Public Input Opportunities

• The San Diego City Council will not meet until January 9, 2023.
• The County Board of Supervisors will not meet until the Swearing-In Ceremony on January 9, 2023.
• The SANDAG Board will not meet until January 13, 2023.
• The County of San Diego will be holding public outreach events in each supervisorial district in January on the progress of their proposed local climate solutions, which includes projects like the regional decarbonization framework. Event details can be found here.

Capital Opportunities & Resources

• The CPUC launched the Digital Divide Grant Program! Applications will be accepted until January 13, 2023 and must be submitted via Email.  Four grants of up to $250,000 each are available!
• 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:

Chamber Summit 

We will be welcoming business groups, chambers, and business improvement districts from across the region to share best practices and learn about pressing policy priorities in our region on January 16 from 2:00 P.M. – 3:00 P.M.

Health Committee: 

Our next meeting will be January 11, 8:00am via zoom.

Transportation & Land Development Committee: 

Our next meeting will be January 17, 8:00am via zoom.

Economic Development Strategy Working Group: 

Our next meeting will be on January 19, 9:00am via zoom.

Sustainability & Industry Committee:

Our next meeting will be February 2, 8:00am via zoom. We’re dark in January!