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July 26, 2012
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| Consensus Reached on Business Tax – Mayor Ed Lee and the Board of Supervisors have put forth a consensus business tax reform measure for the November ballot. The new proposal would phase out the city’s 1.5 percent payroll tax over five years starting in 2014 and replace it with a variable tax on gross receipts based on industry-specific fee schedules. Businesses that earn less than $1 million annually in gross receipts would be exempt. The measure would also increase the city’s business license fees, ranging from $75 to $35,000, to raise $28.5 million in new revenue for economic development, infrastructure and affordable housing. “The consensus proposal is broad, equitable and fair,” said Chamber President & CEO Steve Falk. “The Chamber has long advocated for reforms that achieve these goals, and we appreciate the efforts of the Mayor, the Supervisors and the Controller’s Office to involve the business community in this process.” The Board of Supervisors will vote on the proposal on Tuesday, July 31. Click here to view the legislation. Click here to view a summary of changes. Click here to view rates and fee schedules. Contact Jim Lazarus at jlazarus@sfchamber.com or 415.352.8810.
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| ChinaSF Signs Economic & Trade Agreement with China – ChinaSF signed an economic and trade agreement with the People’s Republic of China Tuesday during a US-China States and Provinces Seminar on Economic and Trade Cooperation at City Hall. Signed in the presence of Mayor Ed Lee, Lieutenant Governor Gavin Newsom, California Senior Jobs Advisor Michael Rossi, and China Vice Minister of Commerce Chao Wang, the agreement aims to enhance economic relations and two-way investment between San Francisco and key provinces of China. ChinaSF is a public-private initiative of the Chamber’s Foundation partner the San Francisco Center for Economic Development (SFCED) in collaboration with the city’s Office of Economic and Workforce Development (OEWD). Read more. Contact Xintong Zhang at xzhang@sfced.org or 415.352.8837.
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| SBAC Speaks Out Against Parking Meter Expansion – The Chamber’s Small Business Advisory Council (SBAC) and the Northeast Mission Business Association (NEMBA) met with San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency SFPark Project Manager Jay Primus Tuesday to discuss the Parking Meter Expansion Project, which will install thousands of new meters in the northeast Mission, Potrero Hill, Dogpatch and Mission Bay neighborhoods. The group voiced concerns over the program including the target areas for implementation and the time limits for new meter operation. Read more. For more information or to join the SBAC, contact Lydia Hernried at lhernried@sfchamber.com or 415.352.8841.
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| Chamber Members Discuss MAP-21 –Members of the Chamber’s Public Policy Committee heard from U.S. Chamber of Commerce Executive Director of Transportation & Infrastructure & Vice President of the Americans for Transportation Mobility Coalition Janet Kavinoky Tuesday during a roundtable discussion about the surface transportation reauthorization (MAP-21). Kavinoky provided a review of the recently-passed legislation, discussed its implementation and praised the bipartisan effort and the work of Committee Chair Senator Boxer for the successful legislative outcome. For more information, contact Jim Lazarus at jlazarus@sfchamber.com or 415-352-8810.
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| San Francisco Business Barriers Survey –San Francisco is updating its Economic Strategy, as required by Chamber-supported Proposition I passed by voters in 2004. As part of this process, the city is now seeking the opinions and feedback of local businesses. Share your experiences and help inform how the city can better support local business by completing the Business Barriers Survey. Click here to take the survey. Contact the San Francisco Office of Small Business at 415-554-6134 with questions or for more information.
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| Million Dollar Mission – There’s one week left in the Million Dollar Mission started by San Francisco hoteliers to raise a million dollars for the fight against leukemia and lymphoma. The initiative is raising money for vital cancer research through a variety of initiatives including an extensive collection of experiential packages showcasing San Francisco open for bidding until July 27 at 5 pm. Learn more. Purchase a travel package. Donate today!
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MEMBER SPOTLIGHT
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| MEMBER MAKING NEWS |
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The America’s Cup Event Authority celebrated the arrival of the America’s Cup Express, a 1.5-mile long train carrying the material and boats that will be used in the first races scheduled for Aug. 21-26. AT&T and Google have joined with other companies to form the Patent Solutions Forum to advocate for a more efficient patent system. Creative branding agency Anatomy has rebranded and is now Composition4. San Francisco State Associate Professor of Mathematics Mariel Vazquez was selected to receive the Presidential Early Career Award for Scientists and Engineers (PECASE), the U.S. government's highest honor for researchers in the early stages of their careers. Webcor Builders has started the second One Rincon Hill tower. The company also started work this month on an office development at Foundry Square. Click here to submit your company's news.
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| THIS WEEK IN PUBLIC POLICY |
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| Mayor Ed Lee signed the city’s first two-year budget totaling $7.3 billion in the first fiscal year and $7.6 billion for the following year. The Board of Supervisors voted 8-2 to place a Housing Trust Fund Charter Amendment on the November ballot. The measure aims to raise $20 to $50 million a year for 30 years by diverting 0.6 percent of the current tax levied on hotel stays, tapping future property tax revenue that would have gone to the city’s redevelopment agency, and increased city revenue from business license fees as part of business tax reform. Planning Commission recommended exempting non-chain stores smaller than 5,000 square feet from the proposed increases to the city’s Transit Impact Development Fee. Metropolitan Transportation Commission voted 8-7 against a motion to offer low-income youths free Muni rides. Governor Jerry Brown announced a new water plan for the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta. The U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA) awarded the San Francisco Municipal Transportation Agency (SFMTA) more than $21 million in Livability and State of Good Repair grants to help modernize Muni’s fleet and improve transit service.
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COMING UP AT THE CHAMBER...
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August 1, 12 – 1:30 pm [Chamber Boardroom] |
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Community Leadership for Business Results |
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Join Wells Fargo Vice President and Product Manager Jonathan Alloy for an interactive discussion about community leadership and business results. Attendees will learn how to leverage their business acumen and professional engagement to create significant value by serving as community leaders with nonprofit and civic organizations in San Francisco. Read more and register.
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August 16, 5:30 – 7:30 pm [Arthur Beren Shoes] |
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Business After Hours |
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Join the Chamber for an evening of networking at Arthur Beren Shoes, the standard-bearer of classic contemporary footwear worldwide. Enjoy the beautiful Union Square retail space, food and drinks while networking and making new connections with Bay Area business professionals. Read more and register.
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Click here to view more upcoming events from the Chamber and our members. Subscribe to EventFlash and get a weekly listing of San Francisco business programs and events delivered to your inbox.
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