Blogs of the LA Area Chamber

"I join with all those who say Measure S goes too far."
- Gov. Jerry Brown

Last week Gov. Brown agreed with what a historic coalition of community residents and civic leaders has been saying for over a year - Measure S goes too far. In his second term, the Governor has led the charge to address the housing crisis in California's cities. His 2017-2018 budget warned specifically of the dangers of anti-housing policies like Measure S. The Governor's budget demonstrated how a housing ban would raise rents, drive away the middle-class, and worsen homelessness, climate change and traffic. Thank you Gov. Brown for joining us. 

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For decades, treating people for free or for very little money has been the role of community health centers in California and across the United States. In 2015, 1 in 12 Americans sought care at one of these clinics; nearly 6 in 10 were women, and hundreds of thousands were veterans.

The community clinics — now roughly 1,300-strong — have also expanded in recent years to serve people who gained insurance under the Affordable Care Act. In 2015, community health centers served 24.3 million people — up from 19.5 million in 2010. Most of the centers are nonprofits with deep roots in their communities and meet the criteria to be a federally qualified health center. That means they can qualify for federal grants and a higher payment rate from Medicaid and Medicare.

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The Los Angeles Daily News began its editorial this past weekend in opposition to Measure S with these two sentences: "Measure S, the Neighborhood Integrity Initiative, is by far the most consequential ballot measure facing Los Angeles city voters on March 7. While it aims to quell conflicts of interest and pay-to-play politics, its good points are outweighed by its unintended consequences, hurting economic vitality and progress in L.A. It deserves a no vote."

We're only two weeks away from one of the most impactful elections in Los Angeles history. That is why the Chamber is urging all of its members to encourage their 650,000 employees in L.A. and L.A. County to vote on March 7.

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"Measure S would block the construction of new and much-needed housing ... Measure S would make it harder to address homelessness ... Measure S would also stifle economic development in communities that want the development."  - Los Angeles Times Editorial Board, 2/11/17

The largest, most diverse coalition of business, labor, elected officials, civic leaders and non-profits has been communicating with voters for months how dangerous Measure S is to the future of our city. This past weekend, the Los Angeles Times editorial board weighed in, strongly urging a NO vote. While acknowledging the issues that laid the groundwork for the measure, the editorial board stated in no uncertain terms that "Measure S isn't a solution to L.A.'s housing woes, it's a childish middle finger to City Hall."

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The individual health insurance marketplace has long benefited from efficient online sales and enrollment tools. And the majority of consumers and agents in the individual market have readily adopted these tools. Web-based, anonymous quoting and agent-affiliated web portals have become commonplace, making the online purchasing experience the norm for both agents and consumers alike.

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Four weeks from today, City of Los Angeles residents will head to the polls to vote for city-wide elected offices and odd-numbered Council Districts. If you vote by mail, please keep an eye out for the ballots that will be mailed this week.

The L.A. Jobs PAC, sponsored by the Chamber, interviewed candidates in selected races over the last few months and is proud to present this list of candidate endorsements for the March 7 election. As you can see, the Jobs PAC did not endorse in all races. 

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