The proposed alternative line would be beneficial to our overall community and our local economy. The I-15 freeway continues to undergo numerous improvements for increased traffic flow such as the development of the Mid County and Foothill Parkways. Both Parkways are expected to be open well before a proposed high-speed train station in Corona would be finished. This makes the City of Corona via the I-15 freeway an ideal location for a high-speed train system route and stop.

The need for alternative transportation has never been more apparent in our community. The High Speed Train System will not only help bring California into the future of transportation but the Cities that the system will move through. Thank you for your continued work for the Southern California region and we look forward to working with you and the High-Speed Rail Authority and other interested parties located throughout our region.

Click here to go to www.HighSpeed15.com NOW and submit your letter of support.

Click here to submit your letter and take action.

The Greater Corona Valley Chamber Legislative Action Committee Chair Cynthia Schneider released the following statement today regarding the recent Democratic state budget proposal:
 
“While on the surface the current Democratic state budget proposal seems promising, it contains numerous increases in personal income taxes and the vehicle licensing fee. The business community has continued to signal that raising taxes and fees are not the answers to closing the budget deficit. We need long-term reforms, not one-time tax increases to close a deficit this year only to worry about a deficit next year. Our business community continues to oppose one-time tax increases and asks that the state reduce its spending and begin to live within its means as many businesses have done in these tough economic times.”

The Greater Corona Valley Chamber Legislative Action Committee Chair Cynthia Schneider released the following statement today regarding the Governor’s call for pension reform:
 
“Pension Reform is a must if California wants to return to golden state of economic prosperity. We endorse the need for pension reform for our state during the state budget negotiations. We praise the Governor for making strides in negotiating with the public employee unions by helping to bring some of the pension system under control. We believe these renegotiated contracts are vital in order to help move the state budget negotiations forward.”

Proposition 15: California Fair Election Act
Proposition 16: Taxpayers Right To Vote Act

Below are some explanations of the Corona Chamber's positions:

Proposition 13: Seismic Retrofitting
Corona Chamber Position: SUPPORT

What Does This Measure Mean To You?

Proposition 13, a constitutional amendment, would prohibit tax assessors from re-evaluating new construction for property tax purposes when the point of the new construction is to seismically retrofit an existing building. Earthquake safety improvements made to unreinforced masonry (such as brick) buildings would not result in higher property taxes until the building is sold. The Corona Chamber believes it is reasonable to allow for seismic upgrades to not be considered as improves to commercial or residential property for the purposes of reassessing the value of the property.

Proposition 14: Elections: Open Primaries
Corona Chamber Position: SUPPORT

Proposition 14, a state constitutional amendment, would require that candidates run in a single primary open to all registered voters, with the top two vote-getters meeting in a runoff. The new system would take effect in the 2012 elections. One of the top priorities for the Corona Chamber in 2010 is reforming our state government. This proposition will open the primary to allow for all candidates to face voters in the June primary election regardless of partisanship. This will allow for more choices earlier in the election process and provide the voters with the opportunity to vote for any candidate.

Proposition 15: California Fair Election Act
Corona Chamber Position: OPPOSE

What Does This Measure Mean To You?

Proposition 15 would lift the state ban on public funding for political campaigns and asses fees on registered lobbyists in California in order to fund candidates for the Office of the Secretary of State of California in 2014 and 2018. The Corona Chamber does not support the idea of taxing lobbyists to pay for a new election process. Also, the Chamber is concerned that the process for qualifying for the public financing for the campaign to run for Secretary of State will be cumbersome and an administrative burden to the process.

Proposition 16: Taxpayers Right To Vote Act
Corona Chamber Position: OPPOSE

What Does This Measure Mean To You?

Proposition 16 is a state constitutional amendment, if passed, would require a two-thirds voter approval before local governments can provide electricity service to customers or implement a community choice electricity program using public funds or bonds. The Corona Chamber supports the idea of allowing municipal governments to engage in providing electricity covergage to their citizens. However, expanding the approval process for doing so from a vote of a city council to a super majority of their constituents is too constrictive and will limit any local government from even attempting the process int eh first place.

Proposition 17: Continuous Coverage Auto Insurance Discount Act
Corona Chamber Position: SUPPORT

What Does This Measure Mean To You?

Proposition 17 amends Proposition 103 (1988) that authorizes the use of an additional discount on premiums for automobile insurance policies. Proposition 17 would allow an insurer to offer a “continuous coverage” discount to new customers who have maintained their coverage while they previously were customers of another insurer. The Corona Chamber understand that many states already mandates this ability for consumers to maintain their discount if they switch insurance carriers. Also, most insurance companies in California already afford this ability to consumers. The Chamber feels it is reasonable to place this ability in state law to protect businesses and consumers from ever losing this ability.

The outcome of every measure on the June 8, 2010 statewide ballot will have an impact on the Corona business community. It is the role of the Corona Chamber to take positions on these issues and to educate our business community on the impact of the issues before them.

One of the ballot measures, Proposition 16, should gain the majority support of voters, would require a two-thirds voter approval before local governments can provide electricity service to customers or implement a community choice electricity program using public funds or bonds.

“The Corona Chamber opposes Proposition 16 because it makes it more difficult than it is currently for local entities to form either municipal utilities, or community wide electricity districts,” stated Bobby Spiegel, President CEO/President of the Corona Chamber. “Our Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee’s outreach efforts, will continue its efforts to notify members and others about the wrong message that those supporting Proposition 16 are presenting,” Spiegel continued.

Proposition 16 places new voter approval requirements on local governments before they can use “public funds” – defined broadly in the measure to include tax revenues, various forms of debt, and ratepayer funds – to start up electricity service, expand electricity service into a new territory, or implement a Community Choice Aggregation (CCA).

First, before an authorized local government entity can start up electricity service, it must receive approval by two-thirds of the voters in the area proposed to be served.

Second, before an existing publicly owned utility can expand its electric delivery service into a new territory, it must receive approval by two-thirds of the voters in the area currently served by the utility and two-thirds of the voters in the new area proposed to be served.

Third, the measure requires two-thirds voter approval for a local government to implement a CCA.

Californians generally receive their electricity service from one of three types of providers: investor-owned utilities (IOUs), local publicly owned electric utilities, or electric service providers (ESPs). These provide 68 percent, 24 percent, and 8 percent, respectively, of retail electricity service in the state.

According to Mark Toney, Executive Director of The Utility Reform Network (TURN), a nonprofit consumer advocacy group, Proposition 16 takes self-interest in a ballot initiative to a new level, by rewriting the constitution to protect a private corporation from competition from public entities.

Elisabeth Brinton, Director of Communications for the Sacramento Municipal Utility District, a public utility, has said that Proposition 16 reduces the ability of people to choose between private and public utility companies. Holding local elections where people vote on whether to have a private or public utility company would be expensive.

The Chamber urges a NO vote on Proposition 16 on June 8, 2010.

The Corona Chamber is supporting AB 2283 which would legalize alkaline hydrolysis, a process that speed up the natural decomposition process, in California. The proposal was authored in the State Legislature by State Assemblymember Jeff Miller and sponsored by Chris Miller (no relation), owner of Thomas Miller Mortuary and a member of the Corona Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors and LAC. Chris Miller has become the state-wide spokes person in support of the proposal.

Alkaline Hydrolysis is defined as a water-based chemical resolving process using strong alkali in water at temperatures of up to 180C (350F) to rapidly yet sympathetically reduce the body to ash. It is essentially a highly accelerated version of natural decomposition chemistry. Hydrolysis as the name suggests is the process of forcing water molecules between the chemical bonds holding large tissue molecules such as fats, DNA and proteins together. This process breaks the tissue down to its original small molecular building blocks. This is a natural process found in body decomposition after death.

AB 2283 would require the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau to adopt regulations for the safe operation of alkaline hydrolysis chambers by July 1, 2011. Under current law, the Cemetery and Funeral Bureau licenses and regulates crematoria and various professions relating to the disposition of human remains. Violating these provisions is considered a misdemeanor.

“The Corona Chamber is proud to support one of our Chamber leaders in his effort to bring positive changes to his industry,” stated Cynthia Schneider, Chair of the Corona Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee. “In any industry, change that is accomplished though meaningful policy reform at the statewide level and led by someone at the local level, is something we need to rally behind. Chris’ ability to gain not only this Chamber’s support but the support of many legislators throughout California is deserving of recognition. The Corona Chamber of Commerce is proud to have such an entrepreneurial individual as part of our business community and our Board.” Schneider continued.

In a recent article in the Press-Enterprise Assembly member Jeff Miller was quoted as saying, “I'm excited! It just gives Californians an option on how they want to bury their loved ones.”
Chris Miller was also quoted saying, "I thought, 'Wow, this could be a nice alternative.' It doesn't seem as violent as people think cremation is. And … it doesn't create any sort of carbon footprint."

AB 2283 has passed out of the Assembly Committee on Business, Professions and Consumer Protection and is now awaiting a hearing in the Assembly Appropriations Committee.

California Chamber of Commerce

The Corona Chamber of Commerce opposed a Project Labor Agreement (PLA) before the Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees and launched an aggressive letter writing campaign to urge a “NO” vote. The Riverside Community College District Board of Trustees approved the PLA despite the Chamber’s efforts to secure wide community opposition.

“At a time when job creation is crucial, the Riverside Community College District should not use taxpayer-money to exclude certain workers by imposing painstaking labor requirements on non-union workers and contractors,” stated Cynthia Schneider, Chair of the Chamber Legislative Action Committee.

“The Chamber is concerned that many small business contractors in our region will be unfairly excluded from the opportunity to bid on the work due to the mandate a PLA places on businesses to hire union workers,” stated Bobby Spiegal, President/CEO of the Corona Chamber. Spiegal attended the vote and hand-delivered the letters of opposition.

Jobs are scarce and small businesses are doing everything they can to stay in business. Mandating who businesses should and should not hire is another attempt to prevent job providers and job seekers from getting our economy moving again. Most importantly, this PLA has the potential of excluding contractors that could get the projects done at a more economical cost.

Below is a recent Press-Enterprise editorial outlining the drastic impact of the PLA.

The Riverside Community College District has a public duty to protect taxpayers’ $350 million investment in new facilities. That duty requires the district to seek the best deal on new construction, not give labor unions an effective monopoly on the work.

The district Board of Trustees should reject the “project labor agreement” on the agenda tonight. Instead, the district should opt for a truly competitive bidding process that seeks the best value for public construction dollars. District voters approved Measure C in 2004 to renovate aging buildings and provide room for expansion, not so that board members could hand favors to union supporters.

The agreement between the college district and labor unions would cover all construction projects of more than $1 million financed by Measure C. The pact would basically force all contractors — union and nonunion alike — to follow union rules and pay union fees and benefits. The goal is to wipe out any competitive advantage nonunion construction firms might have.

That approach serves union interests at the public’s expense. The bidding process for the jobs cannot be truly competitive when the rules are slanted to favor union companies — usually the highest-priced labor around. Why should the district want an agreement that stands to inflate the cost of new construction? Furthering a union agenda comes nowhere close to meeting trustees’ responsibility to spend tax money wisely.

The Union Membership and Coverage Database, built on federal statistics, finds that only about 18 percent of California private-sector construction workers were covered by union contracts in 2009. What sense is there in the college district excluding companies that compose four-fifths of the state’s construction labor force?

The pact says that the provisions would help avoid work stoppages or delays. But the only real threat of work stoppages comes from the unions themselves. The agreement is a promise by the unions not to cause trouble if the district plays by labor’s rules — a thinly disguised form of blackmail, not a means of public-spirited cooperation.

The Corona Chamber of Commerce has voiced its opposition to SB 518. The legislation would reduce the availability of free parking that helps to attract customers to local shops and businesses in certain communities.

“SB 518 would stall economic recovery and push potential foot traffic out of downtown communities that desperately need consumers,” said Cynthia Schneider, Chair of the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC). “This regulation would directly impact small businesses and would hurt Main Street. This is a terrible time to deter behavior of the customers that small businesses rely upon to grow.”

The proposed bill is sponsored by State Senator Alan Lowenthal (D-Long Beach) and would, through a series of credits and points, incentivize city and county governments to stop providing free parking on the street and at government offices and to reduce the amount they require businesses to provide. The Chamber believes that in jurisdictions that provide reliably funded public transit systems, reductions in parking availability may be a viable alternative and some of these communities have begun to independently explore that option. However, due to a lack of reliable funding, limited schedules, lack of freedom of mobility and possible health concerns of some at-risk individuals, public transit is not always a viable option throughout Corona.

“We need our elected officials to focus on policies that will help the economy,” said Schneider. “And spend a little less time inventing new government programs based on point systems, credit processes, and regulations that nobody really understands.”

The Corona Chamber of Commerce has announced its opposition to legislation that would block the channeling of water from the Sacramento River to Southern California, more importantly to the City of Corona.

“Enacting AB 1594 would undermine water supply reliability throughout Southern California and Corona, threatening jobs and the economic health of three quarters of the state’s population residing south of the Delta,” said Cynthia Schneider, Chair of the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC). “In this case, it would be major mistake to benefit the particular at the expense of the general,” continued Schneider.

If passed, the legislation would revise a historic compromise and a series of laws that was passed just last year that addressed the prevention of water flow to other regions throughout the state. The Chamber believes that the compromise and laws appropriately addressed the matter and should not be revisited. Part of the compromise is a bond, slated for the November 2010 ballot in which voters will decide to spend the necessary money to fix California’s broken water system to the north.

“AB 1594 would cause a technical decision to evolve into a political one, which will surely delay the timing and process of securing the region’s water supply reliability,” continued Schneider.

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Corona Chamber Delivers Results!

In its on-going mission to represent the interests and articulate the value of local businesses, the Corona Chamber of Commerce is pleased to report 2010 was an active and results-driven year.

“Too often, activity doesn’t translate into productivity,” remarked the Chamber’s Legislative Action Committee (LAC) Chair, Cynthia Schneider. “By all accounts, the Chamber’s efforts in 2010 materially benefited local businesses. From fighting against the implementation of proposed increases in workers compensation rates to advocating on behalf of workplace flexibility to lobbying against tax increases, the Corona Chamber played a meaningful leadership role in influencing the outcome of debates that matter to its members.”

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“Corona State Legislators – Senator John J. Benoit and Assembly Member Jeff Miller – continued the work of former legislators that served our area,” stated, Linda Pearson Chair of the Corona Chamber’s Board of Directors. “As always, it was the Chamber’s responsibility to take the lead in 2009 to work with both of our leaders and to inform them of our local business community’s point of view on important issues. Again, Corona businesses were well represented in Sacramento on critical legislative issues impacting our members,” Pearson continued.

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