The Economic Development & Advocacy Advisory Council Sacramento Delegation Trip initiative was a unique opportunity for San Diego business leaders to collaborate and voice their needs to Sacramento legislators and policy officials.

Chamber wrote a letter to San Diego County Board of Supervisors strongly requesting a reconsideration of the candidate for the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) and restart the hiring process.

Chamber signed on to a broad stakeholder letter urging Congress to extend the Telehealth provision that provides employers the flexibility to offer their employees with a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) paired with a Health Savings Account (HSA) access to telehealth services pre-deductible. 

Legislative Positions Guide and Elected Official Scorecard for November 2022 election.

Chamber Opposes City of San Diego Measure B - Solid Waste Management System on the November ballot.

Chamber Opposes City of San Diego Measure D - Project Labor Agreements on City Construction Projects on the November ballot.

Chamber hosted a Candidate Conversation for the 49th Congressional District race featuring candidate Brian Maryott.  Rep Mike Levin was invited but was unable to attend. 

Chamber Opposes Proposition 30 - Tax on Personal Income Over $2 Million

Chamber hosted a Candidate Conversation for the San Diego County District 5 race featuring Supervisor Jim Desmond.  Tiffany Boyd-Hodgson was invited but was unable to attend. 

Chamber signed on to an AB 107 Support Letter with Senator Bob Archuleta and Senator Shannon Grove.  AB 107 will push CA into the “green” category, which will facilitate military spouse employment through facilitating temporary licenses for veteran and military spouses. 

Chamber signed on to a S. 2992 and S. 2710 Opposition Letter with the US Chamber.  S. 2992 “American Innovation and Choice Online Act” and S. 2710 “ Open App Markets Act” would have fundamentally rewritten America’s antitrust laws to protect competitors rather than consumers. 

Letter in support of Hire Heroes USA’s community project funding request.

Chamber hosted an Economic Development Meeting and invited SANDAG to present their update Regional Plan and gave members the opportunity to share their feedback.

Chamber wrote a Support Letter for AB 107 which would expand veteran and military spouse temporary license accessibility. Coordinated support letter campaign with Military Affairs Advisory Council.

Chamber wrote a Support Letter for the McClellan-Palomar Airport Master Plan Update which was originally approved by the County Board of Supervisors in 2018. Letter was featured during the May 5 Board of Supervisor's meeting.

Chamber created a Support Letter Campaign for AB 593 which would help fuel growth for Life Science Companies in California for the tax years of 2021 and 2022.

Chamber signed onto an AB 1041 Opposition Letter with the California Chamber of Commerce which which will significantly expand the California Family Rights Act.

Chamber President & CEO Debra Rosen and Sr. Manager of Economic Development & Advocacy Dylan Fisher provided testimony during City of Carlsbad City Council meeting encouraging the City to revisit tax policy that would negatively impact Carlsbad businesses.

Chamber sent out an e-blast educating members and public of AB 1139 that was quickly moving through the Assembly. AB 1139 would retroactively reduce the “grandfathering” of the Net Metering Agreements to 10-years from the original solar installation date.

Emerging Leaders created a Support Letter Campaign for The Trails Housing Project in Carmel Mountain Ranch. The Trails would create 1,200 new residential units in a high employment area that would be affordable for young families and emerging leaders.

Chamber signed onto an AB 61 Coalition Support Letter which supports restaurants impacted by COVID-19 by providing temporary regulatory flexibility.

Chamber wrote an Official Inquisition Letter for the California Relief Grant Fund requesting the exact criteria for awarding funds was shared. Letter was sent to all local Elected Officials at the state level.

Chamber signed onto a AB 1119 Opposition Letter with the California Chamber of Commerce which adds to the Fair Employment and Housing Act (FEHA), harming small businesses.

Chamber signed onto a AB 95 Opposition Letter with the California Chamber of Commerce. AB 95 will create increased leave benefits harming small businesses.

Chamber signed onto a AB 1041 Opposition Letter with the California Chamber of Commerce. AB 1041 will significantly expand the California Family Rights Act (CFRA) and paid sick leave.

Chamber signed onto a AB 62 Support Letter with the California Chamber of Commerce. AB 62 will facilitate and assist with California’s economic recovery by providing a tax credit for struggling businesses seeking to comply with costly new COVID-19 regulations.

Chamber created and coordinated a H.R. 842 Opposition Letter Campaign with the US Chamber. H.R. 842 or the PRO Act would rewrite American labor policy through many harmful provisions listed in the letter linked here.

Chamber created a Support Letter Campaign for The Trails Housing Project in Carmel Mountain Ranch. The Trails would create 1,200 new residential units in a high employment area that would be affordable for young families and emerging leaders.

Chamber created a Support Letter Campaign for Brewers in San Diego. All letters were directed to the San Diego County Supervisors requesting support for the brewing industry through the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021.

Chamber created and sent a letter to the San Diego County Board of Supervisors respectfully requesting the reclassification of Law Enforcement Personnel for the COVID-19 vaccine. We encouraged members to sign onto the letter and received 169 signatures.

Chamber signed onto a SB 74 Support Letter through the California Chamber of Commerce. SB 84 will facilitate and assist with California's economic recovery.

Chamber signed onto a AB 84/SB 95 Opposition Letter through the California Chamber of Commerce. AB 84/SB 95 would mandate that all public and private California employers provide more paid leave for employees.

Chamber signed onto a COVID-19 Liability Protections Coalition Letter through the U.S. Chamber. The letter urged Congress to provide critical COVID-19 liability protections that would help safeguard educational institutions, healthcare providers, businesses and non-profit organizations from unfair lawsuits.

Chamber hosted a Candidate Forum for the San Diego County Board of Supervisors District 3 race featuring candidates Kristin Gaspar and Terra Lawson-Remer.

Chamber hosted a Candidate Forum for the San Diego Mayoral race  featuring candidates Barbara Bry and Todd Gloria.

Chamber hosted a Candidate Forum for 50th Congressional District race  featuring candidates Ammar Campa-Najjar and Darrell Issa

Chamber hosted a Meet the Candidate Forum for the San Diego City Council District 5 Race featuring candidate Joe Leventhal

Chamber signed coalition letter in support of Proposition 22 (App Based Drivers as Contractors) which would allow app-based drivers to be designated as independent contractors.

Chamber Supports Proposition 22 - App Based Drivers as Contractors.

Created editorial educating members and public of the Real Impact of Proposition 15 on November Ballot

Legislative Positions Guide for November 2020 election.

Chamber President & CEO Debra Rosen provided testimony during County Board of Supervisors meeting encouraging them to not reclose businesses again.

Chamber organized Emerging Leaders Testimony in support of Alante Housing Project in front of San Diego City Council.

Organized letters of support for HR2326 (Mil Transition Program Improvement) which creates increased accountability for transition service programs and a grant program for transition service hubs that offer multiple services.

Chamber Supports Measure P on the City of Poway November ballot. The Farm in Poway is a housing development proposed at the site of a former country club.

Chamber President & CEO Debra Rosen provided testimony during County Board of Supervisors meeting several times encouraging local officials to continue allowing local businesses to open

Organized Chamber members to testify at County Board of Supervisors meetings to advocate on behalf of business.

Emerging Leaders Advisory Council began a letter campaign in support of Alante Housing project

Signed Coalition letters in opposition of Proposition 15 (Split Roll) & Proposition 21 (Rent Control)

Chamber testified in front of County Board of Supervisors with the real impacts of COVID-19

Chamber Opposes Proposition 15 on the November ballot which proposes property tax increase on commercial properties.

Chamber Opposes Proposition 21 on the November ballot which would grant local governments ability to enact rent control.

Organized letters of support for AB 2549 (Department of Consumer Affairs: temporary licenses) allowing an out-of-state licensed applicant in good standing who is married to, or in a domestic partnership or other legal union with, an active duty member of the Armed Forces to receive expedited, temporary authorization to practice while meeting state-specific requirements.

Organized letters of support for AB 3045 which would provide a temporary license for veterans and military spouses when moving into California.

Organized Emerging Leaders Testimony in support of Alante Housing Project in front of San Diego Planning Commission

Letter to Governor Newsom and San Diego elected officials urging him to reopen Lodging and Attractions in San Diego.

Letter in support of SB 878 from Senator Jones office which will increase transparency at the Department on Consumer Affairs.

In partnership with the California Chamber of Commerce - sent letter in of Opposition of AB 398 - Employee Headcount Tax. Bill would create a statewide tax on jobs by imposing a new “headcount” tax on California employers who have more than 500 employees. The tax rate would be $275 per employee.

Letter of opposition to Governor Newsom in opposition of an expansion in the ability of workers to file for worker’ compensation claims in CA that may or may not be related to COVID-19.

Letter to Governor Newsom urging him to grant local control to reopen San Diego Businesses

• Over 900 Letters sent by Chambers & local businesses
• Local control granted within 2 weeks of letter campaign

Economic Development & Advocacy Advisory Council began a letter campaign in support of Alante Housing project

Email campaign in coordination with Cal Chamber to local elected officials requesting they oppose expanding a mandatory 12 week leave of absence for small businesses and up to 24 weeks for large businesses (50 or more employees)

Opposition email campaign to possible Emergency Order that would expand Workers Comp claims to those that may or may not be related to COVID-19.

In partnership with the California Chamber of Commerce - sent letter in opposition of SB 950 - California Environmental Quality Act. Proposes to expand the California Environmental Quality Act’s (CEQA) patchwork of existing requirements with costly new mandates

In partnership with the California Chamber of Commerce - sent letter in of Support of SB 806 – Worker Status: Employees: Independent Contractors Support. Would amend the ABC test of AB-5 and give more flexibility to those who would prefer to be considered independent contractors

Hosted Resource Forum for businesses with local partners, the City and County of San Diego, the Small Business Development Center, San Diego Workforce Partnership, Office of Congressman Scott Peters

Sent a Chamber Coalition letter to all San Diego Assemblymembers and Senators to urge Gov. Newsom to allow more businesses to open in compliance with State requirements

Embarked on two separate email campaigns in coordination with County Supervisor's Jim Desmond and Kristin Gaspar to collect information that will allow them to lobby for opening business sooner

Created virtual resource center to provide aid to San Diego businesses and individuals out of work.

Created Open for Business page on Chamber site that featured over 260 members and 100+ non-members to help generate business for open organizations

Letter to the Federal Reserve urging for less stringent PPP requirements to allow more Non-Profits and other businesses to apply for funds

In partnership with the California Chamber of Commerce - sent letter in opposition of AB 828 - Unlawful Detainer Moratorium. Would force a 25% reduction in rents due to COVID-19.

In partnership with the California Chamber of Commerce - sent letter in opposition of AB 2843 - Local Employer Affordable Housing Fees. Would require a city, county, or city and county to impose an annual tax of up to $150 per employee on all applicants for a local business license, unless they have 50 or fewer employees.

In partnership with the California Chamber of Commerce - sent a response to California Labor Federation Letter - Cal Labor Fed sent a letter to Gov. Newsom that CA businesses should be the safety net to mitigate COVID outcomes. This letter explained why businesses cannot support a new employer-financed safety net.

Chamber President & CEO Debra Rosen appointed to County of San Diego Responsible COVID-19 Economic Reopening (RECOVER) Advisory Group.

Legislative Positions Guide for March 2020 Primary

Chamber Opposes County of San Diego Measure A - Voter Approval for Land Use Amendments to County General Plan (Save Our San Diego Countryside)

Chamber Supports County of San Diego Measure B - General Plan Amendments for Newland Sierra Project (Better Choice)