Issues/Public Policy
2024 Policy Platform
Our Purpose
To coordinate, organize, and advance efforts that protect the common business interests of local Chambers of Commerce within the South Bay region, with dedicated collaboration and grassroots advocacy to promote local, state, and federal legislative issues of mutual interest.
Our Mission
The South Bay Association of Chambers of Commerce is an association of Chambers of Commerce dedicated to regional issue advocacy, local economic development, and workforce equity in the South Bay.
Our Vision
For SBACC to enhance the region’s emerging role in the global economy, while preserving, building, and maintaining economic vitality through the South Bay’s diverse industrial base and highly skilled workforce.
2024 Strategic Initiatives
Economic Development and Employment Outlook
Housing and Real Estate- The SBACC is dedicated to promoting affordable housing and sustainable development, addressing the region’s population growth. This includes championing increased housing stock, advocating for workforce housing near employment areas, and supporting local control in housing policy.
- Housing Cost: Advocacy for affordable housing solutions and sustainable development to accommodate the growing population.
- Housing Supply: Support initiatives for increased housing stock, including streamlined processes for housing developments.
- Workforce Housing: Promote housing options for middle-class workers close to employment areas, enhancing local economic stability.
- Local Control of Housing: Encourage local decision-making in housing policies to reflect community needs and dynamics.
Energy and Environmental Sustainability
SBACC is committed to ensuring reliable energy sources, adequate energy supplies, a transition to renewable energy, and promoting policies that harmonize economic growth with environmental sustainability.
- Energy Reliability: Advocate for consistent and reliable energy sources to support business operations.
- Energy Availability: Ensure adequate energy supplies for businesses and communities.
- Energy Transition: Support the shift towards renewable and sustainable energy sources.
- Energy and Environmental Sustainability: Promote environmentally responsible energy policies that balance economic and ecological interests
Infrastructure and Transportation
SBACC focuses on developing and maintaining critical infrastructure, advocating for comprehensive transportation solutions, prioritizing water resource management, and supporting efficient and reliable light rail systems for regional connectivity.
- Infrastructure: Support the development and maintenance of critical infrastructure for business operations and community welfare.
- Infrastructure & Transportation: Advocate for comprehensive transportation solutions, including road, rail, and public transit improvements.
- Water Infrastructure: Prioritize water resource management and infrastructure to ensure long-term sustainability and resilience.
- Reliable Light Rail: Promote the development of efficient and reliable light rail systems for enhanced regional connectivity.
Economic Factors and Business Environment
SBACC advocates for policies that reduce business operational costs, balances fair worker compensation with business viability, and addresses supply chain challenges to improve business competitiveness.
- Cost of Doing Business: Advocate for policies that lower operational costs for businesses.
- Labor Cost: Balance fair compensation for workers with the financial viability of businesses.
- Supply Chain: Address supply chain challenges to enhance business efficiency and competitiveness.
Public Health and Safety
SBACC prioritizes community safety measures impacting business operations and quality of life, and supports initiatives addressing mental health in the workforce and community.
- Public Safety: Focus on community safety measures that directly impact business operations and local quality of life.
- Mental Health: Support initiatives that address mental health issues within the workforce and community.
Supplementary Policy Priorities
Aviation
- Continues to support programs that leverage our region’s aerospace industry for improved passenger and cargo mobility, with an added focus on integrating sustainable and innovative technologies in local airports.
Ballot Initiatives
- Supports fiscally responsible ballot measures that address industry needs while considering the economic impact on the South Bay, with a heightened emphasis on sustainability and community welfare.
Budgeting
- Advocates for transparent budgeting based on realistic projections and long-term goals, ensuring that fee and tax increases do not disproportionately impact local businesses, with a focus on fiscal sustainability.
Education
- Supports educational and workforce development programs, including internships and mentoring, to meet future workforce demands. Promotes incentives for hiring trained students, with an increased emphasis on digital skills and green jobs.
Energy
- Backs the responsible sourcing of diverse, affordable energy, focusing on renewable resources, conservation, clean energy technology, and fuel-efficient goods delivery.
Environmental Regulations
- Supports regulatory reforms that consider environmental impacts without being used for political strategies, emphasizing a balance between environmental stewardship and economic growth.
California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
- Champions the modernization of CEQA to limit abuse and clarify language, promoting efficient and environmentally responsible development.
Goods Movement
- Advocates for transportation and infrastructure projects that enhance goods delivery, focusing on cost-effective and environmentally efficient import/export procedures.
International Trade
- Supports trade and tourism initiatives to drive local and regional commerce, enhancing the region’s global economic position.
Labor Costs
- Continues to support a balance between fair employee treatment and employer profitability, with an added focus on equitable labor practices in a changing economic landscape.
Land Use
- Supports balanced land use addressing housing, job creation, and preservation of industrial/commercial zones, with an emphasis on sustainable development and community revitalization.
Los Angeles Air Force Base
- Remains committed to retaining the Air Force Base in South Bay, seeking partnerships to bolster the Base Retention Committee’s efforts.
Litigation
- Supports reforms against frivolous lawsuits to protect employers and public agencies, promoting a fair legal environment for businesses.
Pensions
- Advocates for reducing public tax liability on pensions and encourages sustainable solutions for fiscal health.
Taxation
- Supports reducing the tax burden on businesses, advocating for a tax/fee structure that promotes economic recovery and growth without disadvantaging small businesses.
Telecommunications
- Supports innovative funding for enhanced mobility and transportation systems, focusing on sustainable and efficient goods movement.
Waste Management
- Backs fair and consistent waste management policies, focusing on responsible practices to minimize industry carbon footprint and protect the environment.
Water
- Supports a comprehensive, forward-thinking state water plan, including conservation, new supply, safety, reclamation, storage, and equitable conveyance.
Workplace Standards
- Advocates for aligning California’s workplace standards with progressive states, setting an example in diversity, inclusion, equity, and ethical labor practices.
Supplementary Policy Priorities
- Aviation: SBACC supports programs that capitalize on our region’s innovative aerospace industry to drive projects and policies that improve efficient mobility of passengers, goods, and cargo in and out of local airports.
- Ballot Initiatives: SBACC supports fiscally sound ballot measures that address critical industry needs and realistically account for possible detrimental impact to the South Bay economy.
- Budgeting: SBACC supports transparent budget decisions that are based on realistic projections with long-term goals in mind, while ensuring that proposed fee and tax increases do not unfairly target or burden local business owners.
- Education: SBACC supports educational training, workforce development, internship and mentoring initiatives, and skilled labor programs to assist South Bay businesses in meeting future workforce demands, and promotes creation of incentives that encourage businesses to hire students after completion of proper training.
- Energy: SBACC supports responsible sourcing of affordable and diverse energy supplies, as pertaining to renewable resources, conservation, improved air quality, incorporation of clean energy technology, and fuel-efficient delivery of goods.
- Environmental Regulations: SBACC supports regulatory reforms that fully consider environmental impacts but are not misused against projects as political strategies.
- California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)- SBACC champions the modernization of the CEQA to limit abuse and eliminate outdated language that remains open to interpretation.
- Goods Movement: SBACC supports transportation and infrastructure projects that improve the delivery of goods throughout our region to allow cost-effective and environmentally efficient import and export procedures.
- International Trade: SBACC supports trade and tourism initiatives to drive robust growth in local and regional commerce, and to bring greater visibility and awareness to the region’s leading position in the global economy.
- Labor Costs: SBACC supports striking a balance between employees’ expectations for fair treatment and pay equity with employers’ abilities to remain profitable and achieve long-term business success.
- Land Use: SBACC supports a balanced approach to addressing workforce housing demands, shortage of affordable housing options, creation of new jobs, and protection of industrial and commercial zones, as well as preserving open space, restoring commercial areas, and maintaining our unique quality of life.
- Los Angeles Air Force Base: SBACC supports retaining the Air Force Base here in the South Bay, and continually works to identify powerful partnerships that will supplement the enduring efforts of our Base Retention Committee.
- Litigation: SBACC supports reforms to California’s litigious environment so that employers and public agencies are protected against frivolous lawsuits that are costly and without merit.
- Pensions: SBACC supports reducing the public’s tax liability on unrealistic and unfunded pension plans, and encourages long-term remedies to ensure fiscal health.
- Taxation: SBACC supports reducing the tax burden on South Bay businesses, and advocates for a tax/fee structure that facilitates economic recovery and regional growth but does not put small businesses at a competitive disadvantage.
- Telecommunications: SBACC supports growth of technology to provide our region with access to advanced communication methods and digital tools that enhance performance of the South Bay’s diverse job sectors, as well as military, schools, residents, and the regional community at large.
- Transportation: SBACC supports innovative funding solutions to accommodate increased mobility on the region’s roadways, enhance our overall transportation system, and aide expansion of our goods movement sector.
- Waste Management: SBACC supports realistic, fair, and consistent water discharge requirements, as well as policies on solid waste management that facilitate responsible collection, transport, processing, and disposal of solid waste, in order to minimize the industry carbon footprint and reduce harmful impact on our beaches, marine life, and businesses.
- Water: SBACC supports a long-term, comprehensive state water plan that is reliable and forward-thinking, and includes policies surrounding conservation, new supply, water safety, reclamation, storage, and conveyance that is equitable for all Californians.
- Workplace Standards: SBACC supports efforts to align California’s workplace standards with other progressive states in the nation, setting a true example of diversity, inclusion, equity, and ethical labor practices for all employees.