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May 2020
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Andrew Thomas
Westwood Village Improvement Association

1st Vice President
Steve Snider
Downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt-Uptown District Associations
 
2nd Vice President
Emilie Cameron 
Downtown Sacramento Partnership

Secretary
Kathy Hemmenway
Walnut Creek Downtown
 
Treasurer
Austin Metoyer
Downtown Long Beach Alliance
 
At-Large Directors
Marshall Anderson
Downtown San Diego Partnership

John Caner
Downtown Berkeley

Karin Flood
Union Square Business Improvement District

Suzanne Holley
Downtown Center Business Improvement District (LA)

Rena Leddy
LA Fashion District
 
Steve Mulheim
Old Pasadena Management District

Chloe Shipp
San Jose Downtown Association
 
Immediate Past President
Steven Welliver
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.
CDA MEMBERS
Arlington Business Partnership
Arts District Los Angeles BID
Bixby Knolls Business
Improvement Association
BLVD Association
Carmichael Improvement District, Inc.
City of Beverly Hills
City of Monterey Park
City of Ontario
City of San Diego - Economic Development Dept.
Civitas
Downtown Alameda Business Association
Downtown Association of Santa Cruz
Downtown Berkeley Association
Downtown Business Association-Bakersfield
Downtown Center BID
Downtown Long Beach Alliance
Downtown Modesto Partnership
Downtown Oakland Association/ Lake Merritt Uptown District Association
Downtown Pomona Owners Association
Downtown Roseville Partnership
Downtown Sacramento Partnership
Downtown Santa Barbara, Inc.
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.
Downtown SLO
Downtown Vacaville BID
Downtown Ventura Partners
Downtown Visalians, Inc.
East Hollywood BID
Figueroa Corridor Partnership
Gateway to LA Airport Business District
Gilroy Economic Development
Greater Broadway District
Hollywood Property Owners Alliance
Kono CBD
LA Downtown Industrial District BID
LA Fashion District BID
La Jolla Village Merchants Association
LeerCorp
Old Monterey Business Association
Old Pasadena Management District 
ParkSmart, Inc.
Paso Robles Main Street Association
Playhouse District Association
Progressive Urban Management Associates, Inc.
R Street Sacramento Partnership
Riverside Downtown Partnership
San Jose Downtown Association
South Park BID
Sunnyvale Downtown
Telegraph BID
Temescal Telegraph BID
The River District
The Unity Council
Times Square Alliance
Tracy City Center Association
Tulare Downtown Association
Union Square BID
Walnut Creek Downtown Business Association
Westwood Village Improvement Association 


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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Andrew Thomas VP
It is the mission of the California Downtown Association to take positions on legislation that impacts public space, housing, economic development, and the operations of business improvement districts. Our advocacy efforts have grown in recent years, and I believe they have never been more important or as urgent as they are now with our downtowns facing with so much uncertainty.

To date in 2020, CDA has taken positions on bills related to housing, evictions, foreclosures, mental health, and on bills related to how BIDs operate. Regarding housing, our state must add to its inventory and simplify the process for doing so. CDA supports AB 2580, legislation seeking to streamline the process to convert non-residential hotels and motels into affordable multi-family housing. Regarding evictions, we support our commercial property owners and oppose SB 939, legislation which would make it illegal to terminate a tenancy until a full year after the State’s COVID-19 Emergency Order expires. These are just some examples of positions CDA has taken in the past months.

CDA advocates at both State and Federal Executive levels. In response to legislation protecting commercial tenants, we asked Governor Newsom to assist commercial mortgage holders struggling to pay their lenders as tenants delay rent payments. We have also successfully asked Treasury Secretary Mnuchin to include in the CARES ACT nonprofit 501(c)4 and 501(c)6 organizations who require emergency funds. Many of our membership organizations fall into these categories.

CDA stands with our partner organizations, including CalTravel, and CDA has expressed its support for the investment of $45 million into Visit California, a marketing effort encouraging tourism in the State. This funding will jump-start tourism, hospitality, and labor, all key components of the economy that benefit our downtown districts.

While we as individual downtown practitioners are focused on our unique urban districts, CDA is focused on statewide issues that impact all of our BIDs. We understand how critical it is for our urban places to be represented, especially as our state begins to reopen.

If you ever have questions regarding legislation in which CDA has taken a position, or if you have a question regarding pending legislation that CDA should review, please do not hesitate to contact me. I am happy to discuss these items with you.

Andrew Thomas, CDA President
Executive Director
Westwood Village Improvement Association
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE
Governor Green-Lights Counties to Open Most Retail Business, Restaurants & Places of Worship

This week, Governor Newsom announced additional modifications to the state’s “shelter in place” order that allows counties to open retail businesses for in-store shopping, and permits in-person religious services to reconvene with attendance limitations. Under the latest order, restaurants can once again open their doors to the public with physical distancing measures in place designed to protect patrons.

Along with most retail businesses, the Governor also announced that barbershops and hair salons can again reopen, which marks the transition into “phase 3” of the state’s 4-part plan that gradually reopens all businesses, hospitality and entertainment venues.

Although the Governor’s action is subject to approval by county public health departments in all 58 counties, this latest announcement has given the go-ahead for a significant number of retail-based businesses to reopen. As of the publishing of this article, 47 counties that have submitted their “attestation” documents certifying the county has met the readiness criteria designed to mitigate against the spread of COVID-19. However, major population centers like San Francisco, Los Angeles, Alameda County, Santa Clara County, Contra Costa County and others have not met the state’s criteria and thus only essential services and other curbside business can open in those counties.

While retail business can open for in-store service in most counties, personal services like nail salons, massage/spa services and other services requiring the touching of the face will have to wait until the state finalizes industry guidelines to protect workers and customers. Gyms and fitness studios will remain closed as will sporting events, concerts and entertainment venues. The final phase – stage 4 – marks the end of the state’s “stay-at-home” order and the lifting of all restrictions. However, the Governor has stated many of those large gatherings would not be permitted until a vaccine can be made widely available.

Jason Bryant 
Bryant Government Affairs
May 2020 Legislative Update 
IN THE NEWS
California Sees Uptick in New Coronavirus Cases As Reopening Moves Forward
The Hill
California is cautiously moving forward with reopening as the state reports more new coronavirus cases each day.

In Los Angeles, Relief And Caution As Locals Return To Venice Beach
NPR/KQED
Can Americans return to fun in the sand and in the water while keeping themselves safe from the coronavirus?

California Cities Top Air Pollution List — Again
SmartCities Dive
This year's report also found that "far more" people experienced unhealthy ozone pollution in 2016-2018 due to increased...

The Rush to Open: California is No Exception
Planetizen
California was the first state to require all residents to submit to a stay-at-home order, and it appears that Gov. Gavin Newsom ...

San Diego Council President Georgette Gómez on 'Pandemic Through the Lens of Equity and Inclusion'
The Planning Report
This pandemic has most definitely become the big focus of our entire lives; it’s literally the center of what we do every...

Planners Should Not Let Density Debate Infect Their Work
California Planning & Development Report
Pretty much everyone has become an urban planner since the outbreak began. You think of public space and contact with your neighbors differently when you think your neighbors might kill you, I suppose.

Berkeley Will Fully Close Its Streets to Create Giant Outdoor Dining Rooms
SF Eater
Owners of the Bay Area’s restaurants agree on one thing: It’ll be damn near impossible to stay in business if their dining...
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