Visit the Santa Clarita Valley Chamber of Commerce (SCV Chamber) Election Watch 2020 page, under the Advocacy tab, for all the latest information on this year’s election.

Currently, you are able to find the Chamber’s official candidate endorsements as well as local and state initiative positions. There are also resources for you to find out where you can drop your ballot off, how to track your ballot once it’s been submitted and where you can vote safely in person.

On the night of election, check out our page and click on Election Results to follow along during the evening as results are announced.

SCV Chamber Hosted Congressional Candidate Forum With Congressmember Mike Garcia And Assemblywoman Christy Smith

We were pleased to host Congressmember Mike Garcia and Assemblywoman Christy Smith for the only Congressional Candidate Forum held in the 25th District.

We had a chance to hear what each candidate’s vision is for the 25th Congressional District, what their goals are for continuously bettering our business community and what their plans are as soon as they get into office.

If you missed this, or the City Council forum, please visit our Election Watch 2020 page, under the Advocacy tab, to check out both forums.

Chamber Candidate Endorsements

The Chamber’s Board of Directors has endorsed 16 candidates. Below, and on the Election Watch 2020 web page, which can be found on our website, www.scvchamber.com under the Advocacy tab, you will be able to find which candidates have officially been endorsed.

California’s 21st State Senate District

Scott Wilk

California’s 38th Assembly District

Suzette Martinez Valladares

Santa Clarita City Council

Cameron Smyth

Jason Gibbs

College of the Canyon Board of Trustees

Tony Watson – Area 2

Fred Arnold – Area 3

Michele Jenkins – Area 4

Santa Clarita Valley Water Agency

Gary Martin – District 1

Karla Waymire – District 1

Ed Colley – District 2

Piotr Orzechowski – District 2

BJ Atkins – District 3

Maria Gutzeit – District 3

William S. Hart Union High School District

Linda Storli – Area 1

Steve Sturgeon – Area 4

Saugus Union School District

Matthew Watson – Area 4

Chamber Local And State Initiative Positions

The Chamber’s Board of Directors have officially taken a position on the following initiatives:

LA COUNTY MEASURE J – OPPOSE

The measure, annually allocating in the County’s budget no less than ten percent (10%) of the County’s locally generated unrestricted revenues in the general fund to address the disproportionate impact of racial injustice through community investment and alternatives to incarceration and prohibiting using those funds for carceral systems and law enforcement agencies as detailed in the ordinance adopting the proposed charter amendment, be adopted.

PROPOSITION 15: SPLIT ROLL – OPPOSE

Increases funding for public schools, community colleges, and local government services by changing tax assessment of commercial and industrial property. Increases funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and local governments by requiring that commercial and industrial real property be taxed based on current market value. Exempts from this change: residential properties; agricultural properties; and owners of commercial and industrial properties with combined value of $3 million or less. Increased education funding will supplement existing school funding guarantees. Exempts small businesses from personal property tax; for other businesses, exempts $500,000 worth of personal property.

PROPOSITION 19: PROPERTY TAX BREAKS AND CLOSING THE “LEBOWSKI LOOPHOLE” (ACA 11) -SUPPORT

Allow homeowners who are over 55, disabled or victims of natural disaster to take a portion of their property tax base with them when they sell their home and buy a new one. It would also limit the ability of new homeowners who inherit properties to keep their parents’ or grandparents’ low property tax payments. Most of the additional money raised would go into a state fire response fund.

PROPOSITION 21: RENT CONTROL – OPPOSE

Expands local governments’; authority to enact rent control on residential property.

Amends state law to allow local governments to establish rent control on residential properties over 15 years old. Allows rent increases on rent-controlled properties of up to 15 percent over three years from previous tenant’s rent above any increase allowed by local ordinance. Exempts individuals who own no more than two homes from new rent-control policies. In accordance with California law, provides that rent-control policies may not violate landlords’ right to a fair financial return on their property.

PROPOSITION 22: SELF-EMPLOYMENT FOR RIDE-HAIL AND OTHER APP-DRIVERS – SUPPORT

Changes employment classification rules for app-based transportation and delivery drivers.

Establishes different criteria for determining whether app-based transportation (rideshare) and delivery drivers are “employees” or “independent contractors.” Independent contractors are not entitled to certain state-law protections afforded employees—including minimum wage, overtime, unemployment insurance, and workers’ compensation. Instead, companies with independent-contractor drivers will be required to provide specified alternative benefits, including minimum compensation and healthcare subsidies based on engaged driving time, vehicle insurance, safety training, and sexual harassment policies. Restricts local regulation of app-based drivers; criminalizes impersonation of such drivers; requires background checks.

PROPOSITION 24: STRONGER CONSUMER PRIVACY LAWS – OPPOSE

Amends consumer privacy laws. Permits consumers to: (1) prevent businesses from sharing personal information; (2) correct inaccurate personal information; and (3) limit businesses’ use of “sensitive personal information”—such as precise geolocation; race; ethnicity; religion; genetic data; union membership; private communications; and certain sexual orientation, health, and biometric information. Changes criteria for which businesses must comply with these laws. Prohibits businesses’ retention of personal information for longer than reasonably necessary. Triples maximum penalties for violations concerning consumers under age 16. Establishes California Privacy Protection Agency to enforce and implement consumer privacy laws and impose administrative fines. Requires adoption of substantive regulations.

SCV Chamber Offers Growthclub, Your 2021 Q-1 Planning Workshop

With One True North

In partnership with One True North, we are pleased to offer the business community a highly impactful, virtual business workshop, that focuses on goal formation and development for the first quarter of 2021.

This workshop will center on how best to position your business to succeed through and post-pandemic, laser focus on those goals you must realize in the first quarter and provide you with the business tools necessary to achieve them.

Additionally, after the workshop, we will provide six dynamic, interactive, one-hour follow up group

coaching sessions where you refine and validate your first-quarter goals, assess their completion and

impact on your annual business plan.

Check out what past GrowthCLUB attendees are saying by visiting here.

Thank You To Our New & Returning Members

Please join us in welcoming our newest members. Our membership is the lifeblood of the community.

View their profiles at www.SCVChamber.com

ArmatureCFO LLC

We appreciate and thank our returning members for their continued support!

• Pleasantview Industries
• Property Management Professionals
• Providence Holy Cross Medical Center
• Southern California Orthopedic Institute
• State Farm Insurance – Ernie Bolanos
• The Master’s University
• Thrivent Financial – Meyer Klein Group
• Valley Oaks Village
• Wells Fargo Bank

Upcoming Programming

View all our upcoming programming and register at www.SCVChamber.com

• November 3 12:00 PM -Empowered Women Network | Jennifer Abbott
• November 9 11:00 AM  – COVID Resource Webinar: Working for You – Your Chamber of Commerce
• November 13 7:00 AM –  Small Business Roundtable
• November 11 5:30 PM – Virtual Salute to Patriots
• November 18 5:00 PM  -Business After Hours Virtual Mixer | LBW Insurance

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