Both Senate Pro Tem Don Perata and the California Chamber of Commerce are advancing separate initiatives to address the state’s water crisis, and it appears the Governor may file one as well.  The polling results presented to OCBC and its coalition partners indicates that two or more competing measures on the same ballot would likely fail. 

The issue of water is far too critical to concede to partisan wrangling and gridlock.  California's elected leaders must stand together and provide a lasting, workable solution for all Californians.  As such, OCBC continues to advocate for a bi-partisan comprehensive solution addressing longstanding issues regarding water storage and solutions to the state's most urgent needs.  Among these are restoration to the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta, investing in local water supply projects throughout the state, and Delta conveyance.

OCBC Chairman Dan Miller, of the Irvine Company, invites OCBC Investors to the final Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast of 2008 featuring Janet Lamkin, President of Bank of America, California, as interviewed by Tom Phelps of Manatt, Phelps and Phillips. 

Lamkin rejoined Bank of America this year after serving as President and CEO of the California Bankers Association.  Lamkin is among the highest ranking women in the banking industry in California, and is the first woman to be featured in the Chairman's Leadership Breakfast series. 

Presented by Strategic Resources Alliance, Inc., this exclusive event is open strictly to OCBC Investors.  Contact Michelle Hart for more information at 949.794.7219.

Officials and leaders from five Southern California counties gathered at the Ontario Convention Center Monday, as Mobility 21 hosted its 6^th annual Transportation Summit.

Mobility 21 was created in 2002 to bring together elected officials, transportation providers, businesses, local municipalities, labor and community leaders to develop solutions to the transportation issues facing Southern California.

The conference, attended by over 400 Southern California elected officials, business leaders and transportation stakeholders featured presentations by Dale E. Bonner, pictured at left and Secretary of the California Business, Transportation and Housing Authority, incoming OCBC Chair, Steve Lenzi of the Southern California Automobile Club and OCBC President and CEO Lucy Dunn.  

The focus of the five-county, regional Mobility 21 advocacy program is to significantly improve the return of state and federal dollars to fund the region’s critical infrastructure needs.  Ideas from Tuesday’s summit will be incorporated into the Mobility 21 plan of action for the coming year, including resolutions to be submitted to the region’s state and federal legislative leaders.   

OCBC Vice President of Government Relations Kris Leathers Murray organized a breakout session on transportation funding and positioning Southern California to compete effectively in the upcoming federal reauthorization bill.  Other key topics discussed at the event included the effective delivery of infrastructure projects with specific focus on the need for design-build authorization, and addressing air quality and environmental regulations.

As our population grows and businesses thrive, Southern California’s mobility is increasingly challenged by that expanding economy and limited transportation infrastructure to meet current and projected need.

Most of California’s urban roadways are congested for increasingly long time periods, and according to the Southern California Automobile Club, that congestion is increasing at a rate of 10 percent annually.

Los Angeles and Orange Counties lead the nation in congestion delays and costs, and San Diego and the Inland Empire are not far behind.

Moreover, the region’s own Southern California Association of Governments has given our transportation system a “D” rating in its last four consecutive “State of the Region” report cards.  So much for successful regional planning so far!  With all due respect, SCAG—as regional planners—your business community gives you a “D.”

Dams Provide One Key Element for State's Future Water Supplies
California needs every drop of water possible to ensure a healthy future for our state.

Yet - unless Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, Senate President Pro Tem Don Perata and Assembly Speaker Fabian Núñez come together on a single water bond proposal - California may be left high and dry.

So I'm urging both sides to sit down, find a compromise and work this out.

Here's the good news: Both sides in Sacramento recognize the need for action. Schwarzenegger has a plan to rebuild California's water infrastructure, as do Perata and Núñez.

Both plans provide for conservation, recycling and local solutions to water quality and supply issues. Any effective plan needs these features.

To better educate Californians about the significant challenges facing the state’s water supply, the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), has embarked upon a new public education program, “California’s Water: A Crisis We Can’t Ignore.”

One of the most significant focuses for California will be the future of the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.  OCBC strongly advocates that fixing the delta become a top priority as part of any solution emerging from the current Special Legislative Session in Sacramento.

Read more about the issues facing the Delta in ACWA's latest fact sheet.   

OCBC hosted a luncheon with California’s Director of Housing and Community Development Lynn Jacobs as part of the organization’s ongoing commitment to advocating for increased workforce housing in Orange County.

Advancing the theme of “Affordability Begins with Availability,” OCBC representatives including President and CEO Lucy Dunn and VP of Government Affairs Kris Leathers Murray discussed at length the findings of OCBC’s Workforce Housing Scorecard and urged Jacobs’ assistance in addressing the housing needs of the county and region.

OCBC gives special thanks to Pacific West Association of Realtors for their recent commitment of $10,000 to the production of OCBC’s Workforce Housing Toolkit, now in development as a follow-up to the inaugural Workforce Housing Scorecard, released in June of this year. 

The Workforce Housing Scorecard is a first-of-its-kind comprehensive evaluation of the current and future state of Orange County's Housing supply.  The Scorecard evaluates cities across Orange County on the ratio of jobs to available housing, and how each city will meet the needs of its workforce looking forward.  OCBC will produce Workforce Housing Toolkit in 2008 as a “one-stop shop” for best practices and direction on meeting the critical need for housing in cities of all sizes.  OCBC gives great thanks to Pacific West Realtors for their support of this effort. 

Affordability begins with availability!