News & Updates

Tijuana River Valley Updates

This month, the IBWC reported up to 5.8 million gallons per day flowing into the Tijuana River, with the South Bay treatment plant operating at twice its capacity. Authorities from both sides of the border have met regularly to reach bilateral agreements which include collaboration on site visits and surveys to better understand changes in flows.

Over $300M is still needed for a list of 17 water infrastructure projects, plus up to $80M in annual operation and maintenance, and other initiatives that can significantly reduce beach closures and ensure public health.

IB Mayor Paloma Aguirre, Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, and Coronado Councilman John Duncan, all traveled to D.C. to urge Congress and the White House to approve $310M in supplemental funds to address transboundary pollution.

They also advocated for expedited environmental studies needed for the Tijuana River diversion system. Chamber staff has met with Mayor Aguirre and regional stakeholders to continue to advance efforts to address this pressing issue, which will be part of our advocacy agenda for this year’s delegation to D.C. in April.

City Council Unanimously Revises Sidewalk Vending Ordinance 

This month, San Diego City Council unanimously passed a revision to the 2022 Sidewalk Vending ordinance. City officials assert that this measure will be instrumental in restoring the aesthetic and ambiance of to San Diego tourist areas.

The updated legislation represents a significant update to the city’s 2022 street vendor law, specifically stating that activities that lack free-speech protections include selling food, clothing, jewelry, soaps, oils, and creams. In addition, yoga, exercise classes, and dog training are not protected.

The revision also streamlines the process of impounding carts belonging to vendors who violate regulations and imposes restrictions on the locations where vendors exercising free speech can operate.

Learn More

Emergency Response Grant for Small Businesses

 

The City of San Diego’s Economic Development Department (EDD) will be providing emergency relief grants of up to $2,500 per applicant, with a 100% bonus (for a total of $5,000) for applicants located in the Promise Zone, Opportunity Zones, or Low-Moderate Income Census Tracts. EDD will be prioritizing businesses located in under-resourced communities and high-impact storm-affected areas for these grants. 

Eligible businesses and nonprofits are awarded funding based on a reimbursement basis for documented storm-related expenses incurred. 

Click here to see if your business is located within the Promise Zone, Opportunity Zones, or Low-Moderate Income Census Tracts.

*Note – the application will be available for translation with Google Translate. Google Translate is currently experiencing a technical issue but should be functioning shortly.

Learn More

 

Ballots Distributed for March Primary Election

California’s presidential primary is March 5, 2024, and ballots have hit mailboxes in San Diego County. 

Voters have the opportunity to participate in California’s statewide presidential primary election, with early voting already underway. The final day for casting ballots is set for what is known as “Super Tuesday”, March 5th.

The electoral landscape in San Diego County features numerous officials seeking reelection, including San Diego Mayor Todd Gloria.

Learn more about voting in the Primary Election.

Senate Leader McGuire Announces Democratic Leadership Team

This month, senate Leader Mike McGuire announced his choices for committee chairs and Senate leadership. The full list of committee chairs is available here

San Diego’s own Senator Steve Padilla has been named Assistant Majority Whip and is Chair of Budget Subcommittee #4 on State Administration and General Government. And another of our region’s great representatives, Senator Catherine Blakespear, is Chair of the Elections and Constitutional Amendments Committee.

Learn more

LEADers On The Move

We enjoy seeing what our graduates are doing and how they are making an impact on the world. Share your good news with us via email: lead@sdchamber.org.

Rachel Holiday (Impact 2023) is now the Business Development Manager of the Options for All.

Taylor Harrell (Impact 2023) is now the Chief People Officer for MAAC.

Molly Addington (Advance 2018) was named one of the 2024 Women of Influence in Accounting by the San Diego Business Journal.

Jenilee Cabading (Advance 2023) was named one of the 2024 Women of Influence in Accounting by the San Diego Business Journal.

Pamela Gabriel (Influence 2020) was named one of the 2024 Women of Influence in Accounting by the San Diego Business Journal.

Ben Moragal (Impact 2010) is now the President & CEO of the Rancho Santa Fe Foundation.

Eric Keen-Louie (Impact 2021) is now the Artistic Producing Director of the La Jolla Playhouse.

THE ESCAPE GAME – NEW EXPERIENCE!

Be the first to play! A new game is now at The Escape Game San Diego at Gaslamp Quarter!

You have 60 minutes to save the future. In “Timeliner: Train Through Time” time travel just became a reality in this digitally-interactive escape room. As part of the Time Crisis Management team you’re tasked with addressing life-threatening issues no matter what decade they happen in. You can easily hop between centuries from the Jurassic to Medieval and everything in between with just one ticket swipe on Timeliner, the time-traveling train. Now the fate of reality is in your hands — it’s up to you to restore the past and save the future. And you’ll have to hurry! All it takes is one mistake in the past for the entire future to fall apart…

   

MEMBER SPOTLIGHT: THIS FEELS RIGHT

THIS FEELS RIGHT WANTS TO BUY YOU A CUP OF JOE!

TFR collaborates with Modrn Medicin for a caffeinated event in honor of SDRCC Members  

This Feels Right did the unthinkable.  

This Feels Right (TFR) combined Product Development, Performance Marketing, Design, PR, and Content under one roof. Why is that important? Well, if you’re a business owner, you may have noticed that wrangling multiple teams across all those services is a bit like herding cats, and rarely produces the measurable results you’re looking for. It all works better when everything’s working in concert and keyed to measurable ROI. That does feel right 😉  

TFR is new to the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Since they were taught never to arrive at a party empty-handed – and love making an entrance – they’re coming with gifts. 

So, like the *effing* Catalina Wine Mixer before us, TFR wants to get to know you (and maybe sing some Andrea Bocelli) by buying you a cup of coffee. 

They’re partnering with Modrn Medicin, a Normal Heights coffee staple infusing Ayurvedic principles into coffee to add healing properties to your familiar caffeine ritual. Modrn Medicin harnesses the power of nature to harmonize the body, mind and spirit in every cup, and their wellness focus makes a perfect collaboration with This Feels Right’s positive community objectives.  

How Does It Work? How do you get that liquid-gold jumpstart to your day, free of charge? Just book a meeting with TFR HERE. Write SDRCC in the invite notes, tell them a bit about yourself, and chat. They’ll coordinate a meeting, and send you a coupon code for your coffee after you talk. 

Why Should I Meet This Feels Right?  TFR wants to learn about you and see if they can help your business take that next step. If you’re curious, they can tell you how they build measurable and scalable success for businesses like you, how they’ve reliably given clients their best SOV & social growth to date, and turned retail strategy into Target success. 

Or you and TFR can watch LOLCat videos together on YouTube. Or you can tell them about your day or your vacay. They’re happy to hear you out. They’re great listeners. Coffee’s for talking. 

Click here to book a meeting. This Feels Right can’t wait to meet you soon!  

 

CA Health Department Updates COVID Guidance

The State’s Department of Public Health has updated its COVID-19 guidance with a more relaxed approach to isolation and testing. People who have tested positive but do not have any symptoms will now be able to return to work and school. Cal/OSHA and school districts across the state have also adopted these guidelines.

Read the Guidance

Additional CDPH R​​resources

Additional Cal/OSHA Resources

Ped West Reopens North and Southbound Lanes

PedWest is now operating from 6 am to 2 pm northbound, and 3 pm to 11 pm southbound. 

Following a call between President Biden and President Lopez Obrador last month, where they agreed on the need for increased enforcement at the border, a U.S. delegation traveled to Mexico City to identify concrete actions to be taken. 

At the time, several pedestrian, vehicle, and rail crossings continued to be suspended until further notice, severely impacting trade and border communities. 

Senior officials including DHS Secretary Mayorkas, DOS Secretary Blinken, and White House Homeland Security adviser Sherwood-Randall met with President Lopez Obrador and other Mexican authorities in a shared commitment to address challenges at the border region. 

This includes managing irregular migration, combating illicit drugs, and reopening key ports of entry. Mexico’s Secretary of Foreign Affairs Alicia Barcena–with whom the Chamber met back in November–highlighted the “importance of reopening border crossings” as a priority for Mexico. More than 11,000 migrants continue to wait in shelters south of the border hoping to enter the U.S. through legal pathways such as the CBP One App. 

Even partial port of entry closures have tremendous economic consequences. From food and fuel to auto parts, key supply chains are disrupted and prices begin to surge, not to mention that grocery and certain products could become scarce. Since their partial closure last month, rail operations in Eagle Pass and El Paso, TX, which account for $33.95 Billion in annual trade, have resumed. 

In Lukeville, travelers had been adding a two- or three-hour detour to their closest ports of entry, and pedestrians waited up to five hours in San Ysidro during the busiest time of the year. CBP resumed vehicle and pedestrian operations in Eagle Pass, TX, Lukeville and Nogales, Arizona, and PedWest in San Ysidro, CA. 

The Chamber continues to urge Secretary Mayorkas to avoid any disruptions to ports of entry moving forward, as each port plays a key role in bilateral trade and everyday life for our border communities.