March 22, 2023

Hold on to your hat. Literally. Your hat is blowing away. Oh, and now the trees are falling down. This is fine. It was only last week there was torrential rain, so this is fine. Totally normal, really. What’s that you say? Fire season soon? Ah, great. Yes, this is fine.

Why don’t you take all that nervous energy and join us in DC for our annual trip. Where, as far as we know, trees are not falling down but also there is chaos.

Business Updates:

Congratulations to Chamber member, National CORE on their groundbreaking of Greenbrier Village, an integrated supportive housing community in Oceanside! Together with San Diego Community Housing Corporation, the project will bring forward 60 units for homeless community members or individuals at risk of homelessness.

Our beloved Dog Society has been named as one of the best dog-friendly restaurants in the region by the San Diego Union Tribune. The UT highlighted the Dog Society as, “ the best all-around place to take your dog [possibly].” And we agree.

Legislative Updates

Federal: 

Tax Filing season has begun and the IRS has set Tax Day as April 18th!

President Biden has a new Chief of Staff! Get to know Jeff Zients. Zients was the White House COVID Czar and was elevated to Chief in the new year.

Three years later, we are still dealing with the Coronavirus. COVID-19 and its strains have become a part of our day-to-day life, like the flu. Therefore, the FDA is considering annual COVID shots as their new approach to the vaccine strategy.

The FTC and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have announced that they will both collect information that prevents rental applicants or tenants from housing within their jurisdictions. This is a first for both agencies.

Manchin takes the stage again: he’s introduced a bill that stops electric vehicle tax credits without sourcing of new materials for those EV’s. This brings an uncomfortable point to light: the reliance on electric vehicles to address GHG emissions reasonably is a reliance on the materials to build those things…. Which are…. Finite, to put it mildly. Senator McConnell is not pleased.

Military spouses, rejoice! President Biden signed the Military Spouse Licensing Relief Act (MSLRA), making license reciprocity across states a reality for thousands of military spouses moving around due to active-duty orders.

International:

International Business Affairs Forums are back!! Join us on March 9 for a conversation on fostering international ties throughout with the San Diego Sister Cities Association by supporting cultural, educational, and economic relationships. Speakers will share an overview of San Diego’s first Sister City, Yokohama, and other Sister City relationships from planning to implementing cooperative activities and exchanges. Click here to register.

This world chef championship known as “Sirha Bocuse d’Or” kicked off this week after 70+ national and continental events. Representing Mexico and our region this year was chef Marcelo Kenji Hisaki Itaya, a Baja California native, who has a *delicious* gastronomic trajectory in Tijuana and Tecate. Several cuisines and efforts were recognized, and Mexico was presented with the Social Commitment Award for outstanding work raising awareness and funds for separated/reunified children and their families at the US-Mexico border in joint efforts from the team of regional chefs and This is About Humanity. Rings a bell? the organization’s co-founder, Yolanda Walther Meade, was honored at last year’s LEAD Visionary Awards with the Charles Nathanson Memorial Award for Cross Border Region Building.

With egg prices rising due to the massive outbreak of deadly avian flu among American chicken flocks, attempts to bring eggs into the US from Mexico have increased. We take this opportunity to remind you to follow federal guidelines when shopping south of the border, as it is illegal to import uncooked eggs. Travelers who have failed to declare even a dozen eggs for individual consumption have paid $300 in penalties and repeat offenders face higher fines and risk their trusted traveler status. It’s not worth it.

Our friends at the Consulate General of Mexico in San Diego, Cross Border Express, and MAAC need your help to raise funds to support the Colibri MX Scholarship. This program aims to support Latino students who are planning to attend college who have a GPA of 2.5 or higher, need financial support, and reside in San Diego County. Click here for more information on how to support the program.

State:

What makes the world go round? Paperwork! CalOSHA reminds you that your annual summary of work related illnesses and injuries information must be posted by February 1st.  Find it in form 300-A here.

Well, all that rain wasn’t for nothing. Governor Newsom announced this week that California’s 29 public water agencies will all be receiving an increased allocation of water from the State Water Project as a, “direct result,” of the atmospheric rivers earlier this month filling up our reservoirs and increasing snowpack.

Local:

As the healthcare sector continues to report a growing rate of children overdosing on fentanyl, the County and regional partner agencies have expanded the free naloxone/narcan distribution plan. The resources will be available at the County’s health centers and the Sheriff’s department will continue to pass out kits at their stations and substations.

The City of La Mesa broke ground on the largest affordable housing project in the City – 147 units, 100% affordable housing! Chamber Member, Clay Co., is a proud partner on the project.

While San Diego’s median home price hit an all-time high in May of 2022, by December the median home price decreased by nearly $100k. As we reported last week, many economists predict this trend to continue throughout 2023.

City of San Diego Development Services Department Update: A friendly reminder that the public – including DSD customers – are welcome to participate in their Technical Advisory Ad Hoc Committee with senior leadership. These meetings are held virtually and quarterly, and industry expertise is always welcome to provide feedback on DSD processes. Click here to check out previous agendas, materials, and how to get updates for future meetings.

Here’s what happened at the San Diego City Council hearings this week:

• Heard an informational presentation on a recently completed audit of the City’s Towing Program, noting how it has been negatively impacting low-income residents.
• Voted to move forward with ending the city’s COVID-19 emergency declaration and employee vaccine mandate by the end of next month.
• Voted unanimously to support a resolution declaring housing as a human right, which includes a commitment for the City to continue to implement and encourage policies that address homelessness and the need to build more affordable housing.

Here’s what happened at the San Diego County Board of Supervisors hearings this week:

• Approved an emergency declaration to address the severe storm damage recently caused by the winter storms.
• Approved the creation of an environmental justice working group which will work closely with the County’s Office of Sustainability and Environmental Justice.

The County of San Diego’s draft Inclusionary Housing Ordinance, Guide, and Economic Analysis is out for public review until March 7. County staff seek industry feedback on a list of options for the Board to consider, ranging from incentives, in-lieu fees, project size thresholds, and more. The Chamber plans on providing feedback by the end of public review. If you have any questions or feedback to share, please email Chamber staff: Angeli Hoyos.

Upcoming Hearings & Public Input Opportunities

• The SANDAG Board of Directors will meet tomorrow, January 27.
• The San Diego City Council will meet on January 30.
• Chairwoman Nora Vargas will deliver the 2023 State of the San Diego County Address at the County Administration Center on Wednesday, February 1.
• 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.
• The County of San Diego’s 2023 Housing Zoning Ordinance Update, which aligns their current regulations with new state housing laws, is out for public review. PDS will host a virtual public meeting on February 2, and public comment is due by February 13.

Capital Opportunities & Resources

• 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:

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 via zoom.

Cannabis Working Group Forum:

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

Economic Development Strategy Working Group: 

Our next meeting will be on February 16, 9:00am via zoom. This is expected to be our final meeting.

Transportation & Land Development Committee: 

Our next meeting will be on February 21, at 8:00am. Hybrid meeting option TBD.

Education & Workforce Committee: 

Our first meeting of 2023 will be on March 15, at 8:00am via zoom.