NAIOP San Francisco Bay Area Chapter: Latest News

CBPA's California Legislative Update 11/1/19

November 1, 2019 Filed under: Legislative News: California

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CCDA!
AG’S BIASED TITLE AND SUMMARY FOR SPLIT ROLL SPARKS OUTRAGE
SPLIT ROLL PROPONENTS DECEIVING VOTERS FROM THE START
CALIFORNIA VOTERS ARE ANXIOUS
CALCHAMBER VOTE RECORD: MAJOR BILLS 2019
REGISTER NOW FOR THE STRATEGIC ISSUES CONFERENCE
CBPA 2019/2020 CALENDAR

10 YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF THE CCDA!

We are extremely proud to be included as part of the California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA) Ten (10) Year Anniversary Event. It was a wonderful celebration of past accomplishments and future goals. Support of the Commission and its mission by the commercial real estate industry ensures a barrier-free California for all.

CBPA Vice Chair Doug Wiele serves as the business representative on the CCDA and is the Vice Chair. If you own or manage a property with, send many “thanks” to Commissioner Wiele as he has spent countless hours working with the state and advocates for the disabled to make sure our rules and regulations make sense.

As an example, the CCDA recently hosted forums in locations throughout the State to address various issues facing citizens and businesses regarding disability issues. They, along with legislators discussed issues related to parking accessibility, including the DMV Disabled Parking Placard Program; and solutions to deter the misuse of disabled parking placards while maintaining access for individuals with disabilities.

According to the CCDA the most ADA lawsuits filed against property owners are related to parking issues.

Congratulations and thank you to the CCDA for serving California so well for the last decade!

Click here for more information on the California Commission on Disability Access (CCDA).

AG’S BIASED TITLE AND SUMMARY FOR SPLIT ROLL SPARKS OUTRAGE

The San Diego Union-Tribune published a scathing editorial opposing California Attorney General Xavier Becerra's biased title and summary for the split-roll measure.

According to leadership at Californian’s to Stop Higher Property Taxes, the biased wording gives the proponents an unfair advantage at passing their $12.5 billion-a-year property tax increase.

The measure received its title and summary last week, sparking outrage across the state for the blatant misrepresentation in what is supposed to be a nonpartisan, impartial analysis for voters.

Proponents of the split-roll property tax hike are now collecting signatures to qualify the measure for the November 3, 2020, ballot. The editorial states:

The union-led Schools & Communities First coalition has moved to scrap its original planned 2020 initiative that would require commercial and industrial properties to be taxed at their present value, ending the Proposition 13 protection that their property taxes can go up no more than 2% each year. Now the coalition has launched a revised version that’s friendlier to small businesses but still creates a “split roll” allowing the collection of as much as $12 billion in new annual tax revenue from commercial and industrial properties.

The ballot summary that Attorney General Xavier Becerra approved for the original measure starts off by citing how it would affect such properties, then explores how the increased revenue would be used. The far vaguer new summary focuses on the benefits to public schools, community colleges and local governments from “changing” property taxes.

Read the full editorial by clicking here and share with all your friends and colleagues!

Learn more about how to fight the attempt to raise your property taxes atCalifornian’s to Stop Higher Property Taxes. You can help by donating to your defense by clicking here.

SPLIT ROLL PROPONENTS DECEIVING VOTERS FROM THE START

Proponents of the flawed $12.5 billion a year split-roll property tax measure have begun gathering signatures for their second, equally flawed split-roll property tax measure, which, if passed, will be the LARGEST TAX INCREASE IN CALIFORNIA HISTORY.

The campaign, desperate for support, is deceiving voters as signature gathers are telling them that the measure “will protect Prop 13” – the exact opposite of the measure’s intended purpose.

This comes after a September poll by the Public Policy Institute of California (PPIC) found that only 47 percent of likely voters support a split-roll property tax, but 64 percent of likely voters support Prop 13.

“This $12.5 billion a year property tax increase will hurt the pocketbooks of seniors living on fixed-incomes, hardworking families, and all Californians. Ultimately, the split-roll property tax will drive up the cost of living in one of the most expensive states in the country and make life even more difficult for those already struggling to get by,” said Deborah Howard, Board Member of the California Senior Advocates League. “California already has the highest percentage of population living in poverty. Destroying Prop 13 will put more families in jeopardy.”

Don’t be fooled by the deceiving nature of this campaign. The purpose of this measure is to break up Proposition 13 benefits by going after commercial properties first. Residential properties are next.

Learn more about how to fight the attempt to raise your property taxes at Californian’s to Stop Higher Property Taxes. You can help by donating to your defense by clicking here.

CALIFORNIA VOTERS ARE ANXIOUS

Our good friend Loren Kaye, President, California Foundation for Commerce and Education, is a deep thinker about politics and policy and someone we listen to when it comes to issues in California. He recently penned the following article:

Reports of steady growth and low unemployment cheer political leaders, but voters are disturbed by decaying public order and an unaffordable cost of living, according to a recently released CalChamber poll, The People’s Voice, 2019.

One of the not-so-surprising consequences of this anxiety is reluctance to embrace new taxes to pay for even popular ideas. But top of mind for voters is the erosion of public order.

Central to that perception is homelessness. Fully half of voters say they see homeless people on the street more than five times a week. Three out of four voters say homelessness has gotten worse in California, and their perception is not much better in their own communities, where 64 percent of voters say homelessness has gotten worse.

Regarding proposed solutions, voters indicate a mix of compassion and no-nonsense. Voters most strongly supported:

– Funding more mental health and homeless service centers specifically focused on serving homeless populations (91% support; 60% strong support).

– Involuntary commitment of homeless individuals who have severe mental/behavioral issues that may be a danger or harm to themselves or others in the community (89% support; 49% strong support)…

Click here to read the full article.

CALCHAMBER VOTE RECORD: MAJOR BILLS 2019

As proud members of the CalChamber, we are happy to be able to present to you the legislative “Voting Record” for 2019.

No vote record can tell the entire story of a legislator’s attitude and actions on issues of importance to business. To fully evaluate your legislative representative, consult the legislative journals and examine your legislator’s votes in committee and on floor issues. You can view these via links at www.calchambervotes.com.

Many anti-business bills were rejected by legislators in policy or fiscal committees, thus stopping proposals before they reached the floor for a vote. The vote record does not capture these votes.

Most bills in this report cover major business issues that are of concern to both small and large companies.

The CalChamber recognizes that there are many bills supported or opposed by business that are not included in this vote record and analysis.

Click here to see the CalChamber legislative Vote Record for 2019.

REGISTER NOW FOR THE STRATEGIC ISSUES CONFERENCE

The 2019 Strategic Issues Conference is just around the corner! This year’s conference is being held at the recently renovated Embassy Suites in Napa, California on December 5-6.

The goal of the Strategic Issues Conference is to increase public policy and political awareness of state and national issues, and to foster collaborative efforts among business leaders from all sectors of the California economy.

Ten major business groups have come together to host an event you don’t want to miss! California Business Properties Association (CBPA), American Council for Engineering Companies (ACEC), Building Owners and Managers of California (BOMA CAL), California Alliance for Jobs (CAJ), California Building Industry Association (CBIA), California Business Roundtable (CBRT), California Manufacturers & Technology Association (CMTA), California Retailers Association (CRA), NAIOP, Commercial Real Estate Development Association (NAIOP), National Federation of Independent Business (NFIB) and Retail Industry Leaders Association (RILA).

CLICK HERE to register now. For more information on this exciting event CLICK HERE.

For hotel accommodations, please contact the Embassy Suite, Napa Valley directly at 707-253-9540. Group rate cut-off date is almost here - November 4, 2019. In order to get the special conference room rate of $209.00 you must reserve your room by November 4, 2019.

We hope to see you in December!

CBPA 2019/2020 CALENDAR

2019

Thursday-Friday, December 5-6

Strategic Issues Conference

Embassy Suites Napa Valley

2020

Wednesday, February 26

CBPA Winter Board Meeting

CalChamber, Sacramento

Thursday, April 2

CBPA’s Industry-Wide Legislative Committee Meeting