June 23, 2025

The IPA team visited Baja California and California’s capital in the span of two weeks to further advance ongoing collaborations with partners in both capitals. The IPA team first traveled to Mexicali and Calexico late May to further strengthen relationships with Mexicali Mayor Norma Bustamante and key stakeholders to enhance the Chamber’s leadership in economic and business development efforts across the CaliBaja region. The agenda included meetings with the Mexicali EDC and a working lunch with the leadership of ten business and industry associations in Mexicali (CCE), as well as a visit to PIMSA Industrial Park, Honeywell, and CETYS Universidad. Conversations highlighted policy and infrastructure projects that will be a top priority for this year’s binational delegation to Mexico City. On day two, the team met with U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s Calexico Port Director Roque Caza and Imperial County Supervisor Jesus Escobar to discuss border infrastructure projects and efforts to facilitate trade and travel across the border.  

The Chamber led and supported regional efforts to secure necessary funds for the expansion of the Calexico West land port of entry, which is now close to finalizing the last stage of its expansion project, with its pedestrian expansion beginning in August of 2025. Next steps include securing funds to boost CBP staff recruiting and retention, also in consideration of the upcoming construction of the Otay Mesa East land port of entry here in San Diego. 

The IPA team also traveled to Sacramento in early June to attend CalChamber’s Business Economic Outlook Summit, where they heard from a series of panels on international trade and tourism, zero-emission vehicles, state’s economic outlook, and Prop 36. The team additionally lobbied in support of SDRCC/CalChamber’s top priority bills – SB 310(Weiner) and AB1331(Elhawary)– and closed the day with a dinner panel hearing from the six governmental candidates on key issues that impact the business community.  

The following day, the team lobbied members of the Senate Environmental Quality Committee and the Senate Environmental Quality Committee Consultant on another SDRCC priority bill, AB 652 (Alvarez). The Chamber, and our coalition partners opposing the bill, are certain that AB 652 takes an inequitable approach to the appointment process for Air Pollution Control District (APCD) Governing Board members. The bill would require a weighted vote process in the case of tie during the appointment process for APCD, which gives disproportionate influence to larger cities like San Diego and Chula Vista despite APCD’s impact on all municipalities within the region. This would allow larger cities to override the voices of smaller municipalities within the same supervisorial district, such as logistics and trucking industry regulations. This approach undermines the principle of equitable representation and risks marginalizing the interests of our region’s smaller communities. 

The IPA team also met with the California Business Properties Association, who the Chamber oftenworks with on commercial and land use related bills brought forward in the state legislature. The team discussed a continued partnership with the organization, including expanding collaborative efforts throughout this legislative cycle and in future years. Next steps include further conversations with state committees on a list of Chamber priority bills.