L.A. Area Chamber Voter Guide for Tomorrow

by Gary Toebben

Tomorrow, March 7, is Election Day in both the City and County of Los Angeles. This is a very important election and every vote counts! Here are the L.A. Area Chamber's recommendations. Please share them with your employees.

L.A, County
Measure H - YES
This 1/4 cent sales tax will invest $355 million a year for 10 years in services and facilities to dramatically reduce homelessness in all 88 cities in L.A. County.

LA City
Measure S - NO
This draconian measure would place a two-year building moratorium on all residential and commercial construction projects that need a general plan amendment, variance or zone change. It would prevent much of our currently planned housing construction, including permanent supportive housing for the homeless. It would cost L.A. thousands of jobs and millions in revenue for city services.

Measure P - YES
Extends maximum lease terms at the Port of Los Angeles from 50-years to 66-years in order to attract more waterfront investment and conform to State regulations on lease terms.

MAYOR- Eric Garcetti 
The Mayor has successfully partnered with the Chamber on a number of priorities, including the passage of Measure M and Measure HHH in November and aligning the County and City on solutions to address our homelessness crisis. He led the way on a three-year plan to reduce the City's Gross Receipts Tax and has been a champion of Hire LA's Youth in partnership with the Chamber. On this ballot, he is aligned with the Chamber in opposition to Measure S and in support of Measure H.

CONTROLLER - Ron Galperin 
Controller Galperin has made government transparency a priority in his first term and partnered with the Chamber on the launch of EconomyPanel LA. This dashboard on the Controller's web site gives businesses and residents a deeper look at important economic information and demographic trends in the City of L.A.

CITY COUNCIL

Gil Cedillo, District 1 - Gil has worked with the Chamber on policies to address our housing shortage and create more affordable housing.

Bob Blumenfield, District 3 - Bob has been a strong advocate for digitally upgrading the city and has brought a laser focus on economic development to the different communities he represents.

Monica Rodriguez, District 7 - Monica will prioritize issues of importance to the Chamber, including housing and infrastructure, areas in which she has extensive experience from her years with the California Realtors Association and as Vice President of the City’s Public Works Commission.

Mike Bonin, District 11 - Mike has worked with the Chamber on transportation and homelessness efforts, and helped to broker a settlement with the Westchester community that will allow LAX to move forward on essential projects.

Mitch O’Farrell, District 13 - Mitch has been a champion for housing in his district, as well as an advocate for helping small businesses engage more efficiently with the City.

Joe Buscaino, District 15 - Joe has been a close partner with the Chamber on numerous issues that have helped to create economic opportunities in the City, especially policies that benefit the Port of Los Angeles and the San Pedro waterfront.

While all of these races are important, I’d like to reiterate one more time the importance of YES on H and NO on S. The outcome of these measures will shape housing availability and efforts to end homelessness for the next decade.

And that's The Business Perspective.