Dear CCCA Friends and Colleagues,

 

Happy Halloween! We are days away from one of the most pivotal elections in many years. This year's ballot is filled with choices that we may or may not agree on, but the one constant is that we all have an equal voice when casting our ballots. While I recognize we come from diverse backgrounds and political ideologies, one of the most important things we can do as political leaders is to encourage our friends and families to exercise their right to vote.

Many of our local elections have moved to even years, competing against the noise of today's statewide races and national news. Some of the propositions we will be voting on will reshape how cities respond to regional and local needs and the deployment of services, including storm water, housing, and transportation.

Elections are just as consequential in statewide affairs. At the end of the 2017-18 Legislative Session, Governor Brown signed thousands of bills, including many that will impact local control. AB 1912 and SB 946, to name a few, will have a lasting effect on how we project future pension liability and business operations along the public right-of-way. CCCA has worked to address these threats over the years through meetings and building relationships with legislative
leaders. We can expect 2019 to bring a new class of colleagues and legislators from across the state. It will be important for our association to be ready and engage them early on.

Accordingly, CCCA is planning the next Sacramento Legislative Tour for January 7-9, 2019 at the Citizen Hotel. It is a crucial time for CCCA to introduce ourselves and meet with new and current legislative leaders to go over our legislative priorities for 2019. It will also be an opportunity to meet with the administration of a n   ew governor. Our hope is to find common ground with policymakers that strengthen local control. Please join us in Sacramento for one of our important conferences.  

I also want to recognize several members for their work on behalf of their cities. Earlier this month, the Executive Board welcomed Nanette Fish of the City of Temple City and Rick Rodriguez of the City of Downey. These new members bring a wealth of experience and knowledge of local and regional issues and will serve as the chairs of Selection Committee and Ambassadors Committee, respectively. We are also saying farewell to Mitch Englander from the City of Los Angeles. Mitch has served on the Executive Board since 2014. He has been a staunch advocate for collaborative governance and public safety issues, especially addressing homelessness in Los Angeles. Mitch will be taking on a new role and we thank him for his service.

I want to end my note today with a final thought. No matter our political views during any the election, I have no doubt that as city leaders we will continue to meet our constituents, talk about issues, and encourage people to get out the vote. I'll see you all at our next Board of Directors Meeting at Universal Studios and please vote on November 6th!