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Thursday, November 4, 2021 | View as Webpage
FIND OUT WHO'S TURNING RED TAPE INTO RED CARPET TODAY, HOUSING ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY, MEET JESSE, CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE AND MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
TODAY! OCBC’S 11TH ANNUAL TURNING RED TAPE INTO RED CARPET AWARDS:
  • Tune in to OCBC’s groundbreaking Turning Red Tape into Red Carpet Awards at 4 p.m. today! The Awards recognize local agencies that are cutting red tape and supporting a resilient OC. This year, 44 nominations were submitted by more than 25 cities, county departments, educational institutions and special districts across six diverse categories. Who will win OCBC’s coveted awards? Register here to find out live during the virtual award ceremony! Special thank you to title sponsor, Amazon, and silver sponsors, Charter Communications, Orange County Department of Education, SDG&E and Verizon.

TODAY! BIA WEBINAR: LEARN MORE ABOUT THE “PERFECT STORM” THREATENING HOUSING:
  • A “perfect storm” of regulations threatening the housing industry is swirling—and you can help overcome it. Building Industry Association of Southern California (BIA) is hosting part one of its four-part Perfect Storm Education Series today from 12:00 to 1:00 p.m. Learn from experts about how SB 12, vehicle miles traveled regulations, the SoCal Greenprint and stormwater permits could all devastate the housing industry. Register here.

REGISTER NOW FOR OCCOG GENERAL ASSEMBLY:
  • Tomorrow is the last day to get your ticket for OCCOG’s General Assembly on Nov. 17 at Disney’s Grand Californian. Join OCBC Board Chair, Jena Jensen, for the morning keynote and a fireside chat with Orange County’s transportation leaders. Sign up here. 

NEXT WEEK! OCBC'S CHAIRMAN'S LEADERSHIP BREAKFAST FEATURING KEN POTROCK:
  • Join OCBC on Nov. 9 at 8 a.m. for an IN PERSON Chairman’s Leadership Breakfast featuring Ken Potrock, President, Disneyland Resort. Hear about Ken's mission, how the Disneyland Resort has evolved over the past year and a half, what's new at the resort, what's coming soon, and so much more! OCBC Board Member, Steve Churm, FivePoint, will lead what is sure to be a fascinating discussion. Seats are filling up quickly and registration closes soon. Purchase your ticket today!
ADVOCACY
STATE BEEFS UP LOCAL HOUSING ENFORCEMENT AUTHORITY:
  • Every eight years, cities and counties are required to demonstrate how they plan to accommodate new housing units in response to projected population and employment growth through a process called Regional Housing Needs Assessment (RHNA). And now the CA Government is flexing its authority over enforcing these housing targets via a newly expanded department. As State Housing Director Gustavo Velasquez describes in this article, Gov. Newsom announced a new Housing Accountability Unit and tripled its policy and legal staff to ensure every jurisdiction complies.

NEW COALITION SEEKS TO BREAK STALEMATE AT SONGS: 
  • Since launching in March 2021, Action for Spent Fuel Solutions Now has made major advancements to encourage the federal government to remove spent nuclear fuel from the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS). The coalition, now over 150 members strong, has indications U.S. officials may soon restart work on a solution. Amplify OCBC’s efforts to call on Congress to solve the spent nuclear fuel problem impacting Orange County’s community and economy by joining here.

OCBC PUSHES BACK ON SUPPLY CHAIN DISMISSALS:
  • In response to continued backlog at the ports and all levels of an already strained supply chain, OCBC and statewide business leaders called on Gov. Newsom to take action. The business community called for common sense steps that could provide immediate regulatory and financial relief to help with supply chain congestion that is affecting ability to deliver products and materials essential to daily lives and business operations. Our ask for a declaration of a state of emergency at the ports was denied. The Los Angeles Times published an editorial last week criticizing our solutions to the crisis at the ports, mischaracterizing them as "opportunistic requests." So OCBC and business partners across CA are pushing back. It is critical that the goods movement sector be granted temporary environmental and regulatory suspensions to alleviate the bottlenecks. Without action, the negative effects on small businesses, consumers, workers, natural resources, and jobs will worsen. Contact Jennifer Ward, OCBC SVP of Government Affairs and Advocacy to get involved in a call to action.
OCBC TEAM HIGHLIGHT:
GET TO KNOW OCBC'S VP OF WORKFORCE AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT, JESSE BEN-RON:
Jesse, Vice President of Workforce and Economic Development, has been shaping OCBC’s economic policy and initiatives for over two and a half years! His favorite OCBC memory is when he was able to bring his infant son to meet the entire OCBC team. From his first job as a Research Assistant at CSUF to his current position at OCBC, the best piece of professional advice Jesse has ever received is to "try to learn something new every day.” 
COMMUNITY RESOURCES:
HELP CLOSE THE DIGITAL DIVIDE WITH OC UNITED WAY:
  • Orange County United Way has partnered with Ingram Micro to receive and refurbish donated laptops, tablets and phones to support OC residents and families in need and help close the digital divide. Learn more on how to help.
TURNING RED TAPE INTO RED CARPET NOMINEE SPOTLIGHT
ORANGE COUNTY CLERK-RECORDER’S HITCHED WITH VIRTUAL WEDDING SERVICES:
  • Orange County Clerk-Recorder’s Hitched with Virtual Wedding Services is nominated for the Incorporating Innovative Technology Award! The virtual marriage services process allows high-risk individuals, medical professionals and others unable to visit their offices to get married. The project was executed in-house with minimal costs to adapt programs to a virtual setting. From June 2020 to June 2021, the virtual program issued about 2,298 marriage licenses and performed an equal number of ceremonies.*
 
CITY OF SANTA ANA AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT PARTNERS’ LA PLACITA CINCO:
  • City of Santa Ana and Community Development Partners’ (CDP) La Placita Cinco is nominated for the Building & Land Reuse and Community Revitalization Award! Santa Ana and CDP collaborated to repurpose a neglected strip mall into La Placita Cinco, a neighborhood-serving, inclusive community of 51 affordable apartment homes near the OC Streetcar for which Mercy House provides supportive services.*

*Winners announced at virtual event on Nov. 4; register here!
OCBC'S UPCOMING EVENTS AND MEETINGS
COMMITTEE MEETINGS*
November 5 | 9:30 a.m. - 11:00 a.m.
Join OCBC virtually for a discussion with Assembly Member Cottie Petrie-Norris.
OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to register.

November 16 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
OCBC's guest speaker will be Dr. Bobbie Porter, Assistant Vice President, Office of Diversity, Inclusion and Equity Programs for Cal State Fullerton. Hear how Cal State Fullerton, which employs over 4,000 people, identifies, recruits, attracts and retains a diverse workforce. OCBC members, register here.

November 16 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:00 a.m.
The meeting will feature updates from San Diego Gas & Electric and Southern California Edison.
OCBC members, contact Connor Medina, OCBC Government Affairs Manager, to register.

November 18 | 8:00 a.m. - 9:15 a.m.
OCBC's guest speakers will be Dr. Wallace Walrod, Chief Economic Advisor for OCBC, and Katie Kalvoda, President and Board Chair of AdvanceOC, which brings together leaders from the public, private and non-profit sectors to champion equity-oriented, data-driven strategies. Dr. Walrod will discuss migration data and its impact on Orange County's population, and Katie will discuss the work of her organization and their OC Equity Map. OCBC members, register here.

*OCBC Committee meetings are an exclusive benefit offered to OCBC members.
NOT AN OCBC MEMBER? JOIN TODAY!
Join OCBC and connect with the most influential companies and top executives actively engaged in creating a pro-business environment and prosperous economy. Hundreds of Orange County's leading businesses, cities and non-profit organizations represent an elite group from every industry cluster. But we need YOUR VOICE! For more info, contact Natalie Rubalcava, OCBC Chief Operating Officer.