July 26, 2023

The City of San Diego’s Environment Committee heard an update on their first report of a multi-phased study to evaluate the feasibility for the City to create its own public power entity. The City retained services from NewGen Strategies & Solutions LLC to conduct the study, with their Phase 1 report finding cost-benefit projections to be between $2-6 billion.

The Chamber spoke during the Council hearing and cited concerns over the costs, legal and regulatory hurdles, and capacity on the efforts. Others spoke against municipalization due to union agreements and the city’s staffing shortage.

Two years ago, the Chamber partnered with the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council to commission an independent, third-party economic analysis of the costs and benefits associated with municipalization, which found startup costs would likely be $8.9 billion.

July 26, 2023

The Chamber’s Policy Team continues to be part of stakeholder discussions involving development services’ process improvements at the City and County.  

Last week, County Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer presented a board letter on expanding the County’s self-certification program, starting with creating a working group comprised of the development community.  

The Chamber weighed in on this discussion at the hearing, citing the need to consider ideas such as self-certification to streamline the permitting processes for commercial and residential development. 

The City of San Diego’s Environment Committee heard an update on their first report of a multi-phased study to evaluate the City’s feasibility of creating its own public power entity. The City retained services from NewGen Strategies & Solutions LLC to conduct the study, with their Phase 1 report finding cost-benefit projections to be between $2-6 billion.  

The Chamber spoke during the Council hearing and cited concerns over the costs, legal and regulatory hurdles, and capacity of the efforts.  

Two years ago, the Chamber partnered with the San Diego and Imperial Counties Labor Council to commission an independent, third-party economic analysis of the costs and benefits associated with municipalization, which found startup costs would likely be $8.9 billion.  

July 26, 2023

The City of San Diego is partnering with the World Economic Forum for a City Sprint series. These workshops are focused on developing strategies to implement the City’s new Climate Action Plan, helping to create a roadmap for building decarbonization, and enhancing public and private partnerships.

The Chamber’s Policy Advisor, Lauren Cazares, is one of 50 regional stakeholders participating and ensuring that industry has a voice in the conversations. Other participants include the Building Industry Association, California Apartment Association, SDG&E, and the San Diego Housing Commission.

Mayor Todd Gloria speaks to the World Economic Forum City Sprint cohort.

July 25, 2023

Chamber President & CEO Jerry Sanders, and Executive Director of International Business Affairs Kenia Zamarripa joined city and county officials last week to celebrate the beginning of the $60.6 million construction project on San Diego’s La Media Road.

The Chamber has worked to help secure funding for the project which will expand and improve part of the designated truck route for the Otay Mesa Port of Entry. This is a vital segment of the region’s trade corridor which facilitates the movement of goods across our border, with the Otay POE processing over $50B in trade every year and up to 4,000 trucks per day.

Expected to be completed in 2024, the project will help alleviate congestion at the crossing increasing efficiency at the border.

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