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FEATURED STORIES
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Just My Opinion
By Lucy Dunn
California is still waiting on a state budget, required by law to be done by June 15. Every special interest group from education to transportation to health care is saying "don't cut me," but no one shares just who should be cut, if not “me.” The stalemate is shaping up to be the longest since, well, last year, and the general public isn't helping matters much either. A recent PPIC poll says 60% of Californians say "don't cut anything" while an equal 60% say "don't raise taxes." Yet, this is why we elect a legislature--to weigh the options and make the tough decisions from tough choices. Leadership--it's very lonely at the top.
From the business perspective, this state economy thrives when business thrives. Goods need to move, jobs grow, roads need to get folks to work and home, a reliable water conveyance for Southern California is critical, a skilled workforce requires a successful education system, and a growing population needs adequate housing. Overarching all these priorities is a core California value favoring a clean, green environment. Watch this year’s budget discussions include these critical OCBC initiatives tied to negotiations.
For example, voters approved Prop 42 to protect gas taxes for transportation improvements and Prop 1A to protect cities’ revenue for local municipal services. Yet both funds are in play as our political leaders grapple with a $15 billion budget shortfall. Borrowing from these funds, however, only constrains further the needed traffic improvements and local services that our folks demand, which avoids fixing the systemic flaws that have yet to be addressed.
Can you balance the state budget? An interactive tool at Next10.org lets you try. Check it out and tell me how you did.
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UCI Law Dean Erwin Chemerinsky Discusses Legal, Educational Philosophies at OCBC's Chairman's Leadership Breakfast
OCBC was honored to host Erwin Chemerinsky, Founding Dean of the Donald Bren Law School at UC Irvine, at its second Chairman’s Leadership breakfast of 2008 this morning.
Interviewed by Tom Phelps of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips and introduced by UC Irvine Chancellor Michael Drake (pictured together at right), Dean Chemerinsky discussed key lessons from his career as a preeminent legal scholar and the emphasis on teaching he plans to bring to the law school. “We have an opportunity to create a very special place and a new kind of law school,” said Chemerinsky, who added that he believes the school could very well rank among the best in the country within 10 years. In response to a question posed by OCBC President and CEO Lucy Dunn, Chemerinsky also called on the business leaders present to engage his law students in the business community. "We will succeed only if the business and legal communities in Orange County partner with us to develop ethical attorneys ready to practice law."
OCBC would like to thank Manatt, Phelps and Phillips and their representative on the OCBC Board of Directors, Tom Umberg, for their generous sponsorship of today's Chairman’s Leadership breakfast. Read more about Dean Chemerinsky’s blueprint for the law school and his legal philosophy on OCBC’s website.
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The 2008 Executive Invitational Golf Tournament
Needs YOU!
On August 5, the Orange County Business Council and UC Irvine's Paul Merage School of Business will tee off at the Monarch Beach Golf Links for the annual Executive Invitational Golf Tournament.
Join major sponsors Chevron, The Disneyland Resort, Kaiser Permanente, Experian, UPS, AT&T, Gibson Dunn & Crutcher and others for a day of golf and great networking on an award-winning course. Sponsorships and foursomes are still available -- sign-up today!
| What: |
2008 Executive Invitational Golf Tournament |
| Where: |
Monarch Beach Golf Links |
| When: |
Tuesday, August 5, 2008 -- 12:30p.m. Start |
| How: |
Register Online at www.ocbc.org |
Tournament proceeds benefit OCBC's Latino Educational Attainment Initiative and
UCI's Paul Merage School Scholarship Fund.
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Support Building for Southern California Water Needs;
OCBC Makes the Case in Sacramento
OCBC advocates for a comprehensive solution to California’s ongoing water crisis. Last week, OCBC Communications Director Robb Korinke traveled to Sacramento to share the business community’s feedback on the latest Draft Strategic Plan produced by the Delta Vision Blue Ribbon Task Force. The Business Council supports the Task Force’s balanced approach to the complex issues presented by the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta -- the source of over 30 percent of Southern California’s water supply. This includes conveyance infrastructure to bring water from the Delta to Southern California and its 23 million residents, as well as a water bond for increased reliability and storage.
Also supporting the Business Council’s position last week, the Public Policy Institute of California released a report titled “Comparing Futures for the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta” which concludes that “building a peripheral canal to carry water around the Delta is the most promising way to balance two critical policy goals: reviving a threatened ecosystem and ensuring a reliable, high-quality water supply for California.”
OCBC praises the Governor's leadership on water issues, and supports his proposal for a comprehensive water strategy for California, including a $9.2 billion water bond slated for the November ballot.
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Orange County Comes Up Short on
Housing Bond Allocations
The State’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD) awarded $624.6 million in Proposition 1C and Proposition 46 housing bond monies this month. In Orange County, the Lincoln Anaheim Phase II project received nearly $7 million in funding and Irvine’s Tribeca Flats received $1.8 million as part of these allocations. Unfortunately, in a highly competitive statewide process, many Orange County projects did not make the cut.
In fact, with 3.1 million residents, Orange County received less than $9 million, when a "fair share" based on the county's size would have been closer to $56 million! OCBC has voiced its concern over this imbalance, and is working with HCD to develop a workshop in Orange County this fall to help applicants achieve a better success rate on their housing projects. Affordable housing projects tend to be very expensive to build, especially with supportive services for vulnerable populations, and this state funding is the last piece many builders use to help “make the projects pencil.”
For a complete listing of Orange County projects and allocations, click here.
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Workforce Housing
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Governor Signs Legislation Extending
Project Maps and Permits
OCBC commends Governor Schwarzenegger and Senator Alan Lowenthal for enacting SB 1185, Lowenthal's legislation that allows developers to postpone projects by 12 months without having to apply for mapping and permitting extensions or reapply for state agency approvals.
Noting a slowed economy, the legislature overwhelmingly passed the bill as an urgency measure and, now with the Governor's signature, it will take effect immediately. SB 1185 automatically extends the expiration date of certain subdivision and parcel maps for one year. OCBC member Nossaman, LLP issued a client alert on the passage of this legislation, for their full analysis click here.
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OCBC Applauds Irvine’s Economic Stimulus Plan
OCBC applauds the Irvine City Council's unanimous decision to approve an economic stimulus plan aimed at promoting recovery of the local housing market. Irvine's plan defers housing development impact fees for up to a year, an adjustment from the current practice of collecting fees for parks, libraries and other municipal services before construction begins.
The cities of Anaheim and Orange have approved similar plans, and OCBC applauds local leaders' efforts to adapt the development process to market conditions and maximize opportunities for rapid recovery in the housing sector.
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Investor Spotlight
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Investor Spotlight: Snell & Wilmer
The Orange County Business Council is pleased to highlight one of its newest investors, Snell & Wilmer. Founded in 1938, Snell & Wilmer is a full-service business law firm specializing in complex business litigation, intellectual property, securities, white-collar criminal defense, real estate and other corporate work. The firm is represented on the board by Wayne Gross, who joined the firm last year after heading the U.S. Attorneys office in Santa Ana where he was recognized as one of the best trial attorneys in the Justice Department.
“Wayne put on his Nikes and hit the ground running,” said Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of OCBC. “He has already stepped up to co-chair our first Global Strategies conference with UC Irvine this November, and we are thrilled to have him on our board.”
Snell & Wilmer also recently announced that Van Tran, Assemblyman for the 68th District in Orange County, will join the firm starting in July 2008. “I saw a huge potential for our firm to connect with the Asian American business community,” said Gross, a longtime friend of Tran. “Van is a well-regarded figure in politics and a tremendous lawyer.”
Click on the Full Story link for more on Snell & Wilmer and its future with addition of Assemblyman Tran.
[FULL STORY]
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St. Joseph Health System Receives Worldwide Award
For the second consecutive year The Gallup Organization has awarded St. Joseph Health System one of its highest honors -- the Great Workplace Award. St. Joseph Health System is one of only 20 organizations worldwide to receive the 2008 award, recognizing the most productive and engaged workplaces across the globe. Gallup’s ongoing recognition of St. Joseph Health System demonstrates the organization’s commitment to its workers and its core value of excellence.
“To say we are honored to receive this award is an understatement,” said Deborah Proctor, President and CEO of St. Joseph Health System. “The credit goes to our employees for their commitment to our mission, vision and values. At St. Joseph Health System we value all of our employees and the personal contributions each of them makes to our organization.”
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Infrastructure
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Hearing on 241 Appeal Postponed
A hearing on the proposed 241 Foothill South toll road that had been set for July 25 at UC Irvine's Bren Events Center was officially canceled last Friday. Expectations of high turnout from supporters and opponents alike prompted officials to postpone the meeting until a venue with suitable capacity could be found.
The hearing is part of the Transportation Corridor Agency's appeal of the February denial of their proposed toll road by the Coastal Commission. OCBC maintains that completion of the 241 is essential to long term prosperity of Orange County, and accommodating its continued growth.
Also last week, the TCA released series of independent reports from federal and state agencies validating the proposed route for the extension of State Route 241 as safe for the environment, watershed, wildlife, campers, surfing and adjacent beaches. Read the full press release from the Transportation Corridor Agencies here.
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Upcoming Events
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OC Cattle Drive is Back!
The OC Fair is in full swing, and so is the annual Cow Cattle Drive and Cow Camp BBQ presented by the Automobile Club of Southern California. In its second year, this charitable event raises funds for the Centennial Farm Foundation, which supports the year-round after school programs at the Orange County Fairgrounds.
The BBQ will take place July 26 from 11:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. at the OC Fair. To register, or for more information, contact Desiree Mouzoon at 949.794.7204.
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Committee Meetings
August 2008
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Friday, August 1 |
Latino Educational Attainment, 9:00 a.m. |
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Tuesday, August 12 |
Infrastructure Committee, 7:30 a.m. |
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Wednesday, August 20 |
Workforce Development Committee, 7:30 a.m. |
All meetings are at OCBC's main offices unless otherwise indicated. Please also view OCBC's Master Calendar.
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Community Events
World Affairs Council of Orange County
July 24, 2008
The World Affairs Council will host Dr. Abbas Milani, Director of the Iranian Studies Program at Stanford University and a visiting professor in the department of political science. In addition, Dr. Milani is a research fellow and co-director of the Iran Democracy Project at the Hoover Institution. He is an expert in U.S./Iran relations, Iranian cultural, political, and security issues. Please see www.worldaffairscouncil.org for more information or to register email or email: wacoc@hotmail.com.
OC Technology Career and Job Fair
July 30, 2008
This job fair is presented by the Institute of Electrical & Electronics Engineers and the Institute for Women Entrepreneurs. The fair will be held at the Rancho Santiago Community College District Building from 2:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. Free admission and parking for job seekers. For more information on participating in the OC Technology Career and Job Fair, contact John Gibson at 714480.7455.
Support the US Men's Olympic Volleyball Team
July 29, 2008
Anaheim Mayor Curt Pringle and other community leaders are hosting a send-off reception honoring the members of the USA Men’s national volleyball team on the eve of their departure for the 2008 Beijing Olympic games. For more information call: Mike Schroeder at (714) 647-6488 or Anne Dunsmore at (818) 654-5840.
Industry Summit Series
July 31, 2008
OCBC is partnering with the OCWIB, BW Research Center, Anaheim WIB and Santa Ana Work Center present an Energy & Environment Forum addressing workforce needs of the Orange County Energy and Environment Industry. The forum will take place at the Rancho Santiago Community College from 9:00 a.m. – 11:00 a.m. and will be followed by a Technology Forum from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. addressing the technology industry. To register, or for more information, RSVP to ocwib@hcs.ocgov.com or 714.567.7528.
Orange County Medical Device Industry Conference
August 13, 2008
Join business leaders, service providers and industry professionals at the Southern California Medical Device Industry Conference in Anaheim August 13. This conference focuses on emerging trends in education to fill entry-level jobs, a report on the future of the regional medical device industry, and significant public policies affecting medical device companies. The event is presented in partnership with the North Orange County Community College District's School of Continuing Education. Register for this free event online here.
Rancho Santiago Community College District - Chancellor’s Ball
Friday, October 24
The eleventh annual Chancellor’s Ball, “By the Light of Lanterns,” will be a celebration of diverse Asian cultures. Since 1998, the black tie optional event has raised nearly $650,000 to support student scholarships and programs at Santa Ana College and Santiago Canyon College. The 2008 Chancellor’s Ball is slated for Friday, October 24 from 6 to 11 p.m. in the Disneyland Hotel Grand Ballroom. For information on sponsorships or to RSVP, contact (714) 480-7450 or visit www.rsccd.org.
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