January 6, 2010
South Bay Chambers of Commerce Sets Strategic
Initiatives and Policy Platform for 2010
The SBACC
provides coordination to advance the common
business interests of local Chambers of Commerce
within the South Bay area. Each year, the SBACC
develops its strategic initiatives and a policy
platform so that it can serve as the public policy
advocacy body on issues that impact the business and
economic climate of the South Bay.
2010
Strategic Initiatives
Click here to download the 2010 Strategic
Initiatives.
SBACC’s 2010 Strategic Initiatives are the regional business
community’s proactive approach to the top four
public policy priorities for 2010 when representing
the interests of South Bay businesses at all levels
of government.
Economic Recovery
The SBACC will support opportunities for “green”
economic development proposals that aim to create
much needed jobs throughout the South Bay. We will
support increased resources for tourism, business
retention and business attraction so that the South
Bay remains an attractive place to do business. We
will increase our efforts to secure a robust
manufacturing presence while attempting to support
attempts to encourage increased trade and foreign
investments throughout the South Bay.
Infrastructure: Water and Utilities
The SBACC will continue to monitor the
implementation of the recent water and delta
legislation passed by the Legislature and signed by
the Governor. We will review all proposed bond
measures and improvements to the delta and delivery
system of our water. We will support enhancements by
local utilities (public and private) that help to
increase efficiency of energy use and also enhance
our energy delivery infrastructure without
threatening the economic vitality of the South Bay.
We will oppose onerous legislative and regulatory
proposals that might have a negative impact on the
end user.
State and Local Government Reform
The SBACC will monitor and support attempts to
reform the current California state government to
help facilitate a policy climate that encourages
job-creation and retention. This will include but
not be limited to, a State Constitutional
Convention, maintaining the two-thirds legislative
vote requirement for the passage of the State Budget
and tax increases, giving consideration to the idea
of a part-time legislature, and the implementation
of the Citizens Redistricting Commission.
Transit, Transportation and Goods Movement
The SBACC will continue to support policies that
attract investment to improve the transportation
infrastructure and movement of goods throughout our
region. We will encourage ways to enhance the public
transit system by supporting economical and
environmental improvements that will benefit our
entire region and cooperation among the many
jurisdictions and environmental agencies involved in
transportation and goods movement.
2010
Policy Platform
Click
here to download the 2010 Policy Platform.
The South Bay
Association of Chambers of Commerce supports public
policy at the regional, state and federal levels of
government that:
Taxation and Government Finance
1. Ensures that regulations on business are kept to
a minimum and do not put South Bay businesses at a
competitive disadvantage.
2. Encourages a tax and fee system that is market
competitive.
3. Requires the government to be accountable for its
actions and for the programs it operates.
4. Requires government and its actions to be
measured periodically to ensure maximum efficiency
and return on investment with public funds.
5. Encourage the state legislature and the Governor
to work together each year to ensure that the state
budget is developed and passed in a timely manner.
Without sacrificing the two-thirds requirement to
pass the State Budget.
6. Maximize funding for area projects from statewide
and federal funds.
7. Seek opportunities for appropriate funding for
homeland security, public safety and emergency
preparedness demands on the region.
Business Attraction and Retention
1. Support job creation, workforce development
opportunities, and an educational system that
prepares the South Bay workforce for jobs and
careers targeting specific industries such as
aerospace, trades, sciences, engineering,
environmental, and healthcare including the
bio-medical field.
2. Forge partnerships with our local legislators so
that they can utilize the SBACC and the private
sector as a resource to create pro-jobs legislation.
The SBACC is committed to holding local
representatives accountable to the business
community by tracking their votes. These votes
impact not only their constituents, but also the
vitality of the economic environment.
3. Promotes economic development opportunities
including the utilization of tax incentives such as
an enterprise zone in the South Bay for business
retention, attraction, and expansion.
4. Promotes a quality of life that supports the
South Bay region as an affordable place to live,
work, and do business.
5. Encourages the protection of private property
rights.
6. Ensures that government focuses on the functions
meant for only government to do; and view the
private sector as a resource.
7. Promotes a legal system that minimizes frivolous
lawsuits to ensure fairness to all.
8. Encourages local governments and legislators to
cooperate to streamline and reduce unnecessary
regulations that will inhibit the job growth in our
region and for local governments to work proactively
to recruit and retain businesses in the South Bay
region.
9. Recognizes the positive economic impact of the
Los Angeles Air Force Base on the South Bay region
and supports the retention of the Los Angeles Air
Force Base.
Infrastructure and Environmental Improvements
1. Encourages an adequate, reliable, and
cost-effective utility infrastructure system
(including gas, electric, water, telecom) be
promoted, developed, and maintained to meet the
needs of our community.
2. Supports a regional solution to meet air
passenger and cargo needs including a
reconfiguration of the Los Angeles International
Airport not to exceed 78 million passengers
annually; and, only when concerns of airport
security, air and ground traffic, infrastructure,
air quality, sufficient and convenient passenger
access, and ground transportation are adequately
addressed.
3. Ensure responsible health care infrastructure and
insurance policy proposals that result in increased
availability of affordable health care coverage for
employers and their employees.
4. Encourage “green” ports, the continued
implementation of the Clean Air Action Plan, and
future port expansion to meet the demands of
increased cargo and international trade.
5. Support efforts to repair our aging
transportation infrastructure for future development
growth and engage MTA in long term regional
transportation planning as it relates to issues such
as traffic flow, parking, and improving traffic
corridors.
6. Supports the development and retention of
workforce housing in the South Bay region given the
expensive housing prices in Southern California. In
addition, adequate supply of smart development
growth is needed to retain businesses and ensure job
opportunities in the region.
7. Encourage government, business, organizations,
and residents work collaboratively to reduce carbon
emissions and conserve energy and natural resources.
