www.sdchamber.org

Public Policy Update

By Scott Alevy, Vice President of Public Policy & Communications

When Jessie Knight brought me to the Chamber over two years ago, I was already somewhat seasoned in the ways of the organization, having spent a dozen years as a member of the Public Policy committee and a couple of years as an elected official.  I looked forward to getting immersed in the myriad of issues that the organization is asked to take on.

I wasn’t disappointed.

Early on, Jessie and then-board chair Nikki Clay supported and encouraged the thinking that we could stretch ourselves a bit, particularly my hopes to enhance our publications and make our public policy efforts more inclusive.  I was following in the large footsteps of the likes of Mitch Mitchell and Richard Ledford, who had set the bar very high for someone in my position.

It was clear from the beginning that one of the biggest issues we would face was the impending airport issue on the November 2006 ballot.  We worked to ensure that our process was honest and fair, with literally hundreds of members of our public policy committees and our board of directors receiving presentations from all sides of the debate, and taking tours of both Marine Air Station Miramar and Lindbergh Field. 

In the end, a narrow vote on the Chamber’s position signified the real closeness of the issue...and a highly fair and reputable advocative process of which we are still proud. It was a process that was allowed to take place because of Jessie Knight’s leadership and ethical balance.  I will always be grateful for his personal and institutional leadership, intelligence and guidance.

When Jessie Knight left, Dick Vortman, who brought the same strong “leadership by example” style to the Chamber he had used to make NASSCO the iconic shipbuilding company it became under his guidance, superbly guided us for a half-year. Dick remains a friend and mentor, and his contributions in his short time here should not be underestimated.

When Ruben Barrales took over the reins at the Chamber early in 2007 and brought his background as an elected official and high-level White House Advisor to the Chamber, our public policy programs took another step forward.  He brought with him ideas that were based on “best practices” from his work around the country, and they have been the hallmark of our time working together.

We conducted a tremendously successful advocacy trip to Washington DC (last October) and have another planned for this September.  We are in Sacramento for high-level meetings today (May 6) to discuss water, transportation and other key issues.  As he and past board chair Robert Horsman have clearly stated, we have succeeded in taking our advocacy “out of town.”

We developed and have presented nearly twenty San Diego Good Government series meetings, including presentations and intimate Q&As with Senator Barbara Boxer, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger, Presidential candidates Mitt Romney and Tommy Thompson and many others.  It has been a highly successful way for Chamber members to enjoy close contact with key decision makers from Washington DC, Sacramento and other capitals of government and industry.  Ruben has made that happen, and has enriched the Chamber in doing so.  And Board Chair Phil Blair has supported all of these efforts.

We have achieved great success in helping to secure enhanced funding for regional transportation infrastructure funding, testifying at hearings from Sacramento to Irvine and here in San Diego. We have stood up for issues we believe in, testifying to the California Coastal Commission on alternative water sources, the California Public Utilities Commission on Sunrise PowerLink and sustainable energy sourcing, and before the San Diego and Chula Vista city councils and the County Board of Supervisors on at least two dozen separate important issues that would have impact on the business environment. 

One of our finest moments came during one of the region’s darkest hours.  We seized the need to coalesce business organizations from around the county in support of the businesses victimized by the firestorms of last October, and with it became an example for other chambers around the country to follow. We made a difference, and I am proud of that.

I am also exceptionally pleased with the progress we made in our internal and external communications.  As we set out, our quarterly Business Action magazine is bigger, with more features and member spotlights, and is both full color and profitable.  Our monthly online magazine, Business Online has been redesigned and much improved.  Our other Chamber publications have been consolidated and are more readable and much improved. 

Finally, I want to thank the team that has worked closely with me for my time here at the Chamber...Angelika Villagrana, Carmen Sandoval and Mike Nagy work long hours and ensure that our public policy committees are informed and active.  Our Communications Manager, Lisa Gesner, has made a world of difference here and will continue to inform and reach out to our members and the media.  And my assistant, Brooke Palmer, has kept it (and us) all together.

It truly has been real... and fun at the same time.