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July 2, 2009
TAKE
ACTION: Submit Your Letter In Support of Redondo
Beach's Marina
Click here to submit your letter of
support!
 The
City of Redondo Beach is home to some of the most beautiful
marine life and ecosystem in Southern California. Redondo Beach
is also home to some of the most productive coastal businesses
that range from day long fishing trips to its surrounding ports
and harbors.
The Redondo Beach Chamber of
Commerce & Visitors Bureau understands the need to protect vital
marine life and the delicate ecosystem that make our area so
pleasant.
The Chamber is urging elected officials to take into
consideration the cross section of businesses that stand to be
impacted by the implementation of a Marine Protection Area (MPA).
The marine life and its ecosystem are natural wonders to our
area and should be treated as such. By designating an MPA close
to King Harbor and surrounding ports, vital jobs and businesses
will be at jeopardy. We believe this would restrict both
commercial and recreational fishing and have direct impact on
the business community and tourism.
The Chamber will be diligent and is willing to work with the
Agency in order to find a equitable balance between preserving
the ecosystem and the Redondo Beach economic system. At a time
when the unemployment rate continues to rise and with so many
Redondo Beach citizens struggling to make ends meet, the Redondo
Beach community cannot afford such intrusions to the livelihood
of so many.
Click here to submit your letter of
support! |
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May 1, 2009
Redondo Beach Chamber Continues to Fight
Against Workers’ Comp Rate Increases
By
Marna Smeltzer
President and CEO
The Chamber will continue its fight against repealing any of the
reforms from 2004 which have allowed the workers compensation
system to remain equitable and less costly to do business in
California. The Workers’ Compensation Insurance Rating Bureau (WCIRB)
is recommending a 24% increase in the benchmark rate for
workers’ compensation insurance policies.
Click here for more
information. |
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May 1, 2009
Card Check
Impacts Business At All Levels
By
John Parsons
Chair of the
Board
Late last month, two Federal proposals, H.R. 1409 and S. 560,
were introduced in Congress. The two proposed laws would
undermine long standing principles of workplace democracy and
fairness and result in employees having less ability to
determine if they wish to be represented by a union. The Chamber
has been ardently opposed to the two pieces of legislation since
its first inception last year.
Click here for more
information. |
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April 20, 2009
Redondo Beach Chamber Takes
Action on May 19th Statewide Special Election
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau released
its positions on the May 19, 2009 Special Election ballot
measures. The Propositions are part of the 2009-2010 state
budget agreement between the Governor and Legislature designed
to help balance the state budget through various increase in
length of time of taxes, shifting of former voter-approved
propositions and borrowing of funds from future state lottery
revenues.
Click here for more
information. |
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March 15, 2009
“Card
Check” Is Bad For Our Economy
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
earlier this year opposed a federal proposal that would
eliminate the secret ballot process and strip a Redondo
Beach employee’s right to privacy in union organized
elections. The proposal, known as the Employee Free
Choice Act (EFCA) or “Card Check”, will be a top
priority of this new Congress and President.
Click here for more
information. |
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March 10, 2009
Transparency Needed in State Government
By John Parsons
Chair of the Board
The Redondo Beach Chamber is supporting a proposal to bring
more transparency to how business in done in Sacramento. The
proposal, ACA 8, introduced by Assembly Member Kevin
Jeffries, would end back-room deals and make the legislative
process more accessible to the average Californian.
Click here for more
information. |
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February 25,
2009
Redondo
Beach Chamber Sets 2009 Legislative Priorities
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is
taking every major effort to combat the current downturn in
the state’s economy by developing and enhancing its pro-jobs
legislative priorities. The priorities serve as guiding
principles when tracking local and statewide legislation and
issues that might impact the Redondo Beach business
community. We need to make sure businesses and jobs stay in
Redondo Beach.
Click here for more
information. |
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January 15, 2009
Redondo Beach Chamber
Supports the Protection of Vital Community Services
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
supports the placement of a measure on the ballot for the
voters to consider updating the City’s utilities users tax (UUT).
Redondo Beach is continuing a trend that many other cities,
Pasadena, Torrance, Hermosa Beach, Lawndale and Los Angeles
among others, have started, which allows for updating
outdated language in order to protect the UUT as an existing
revenue source.
Click here for more
information. |
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January 15, 2009
Who’s
Looking Out for Employee Rights?
By Marna Smeltzer
President and CEO
One could argue that one of our most fundamental rights in this
country is the right to vote by secret ballot. Knowing that your
vote is confidential allows you make choices without the fear of
repercussions. Currently, there are certain organizations and
individuals elected to office to protect our rights who may be
doing just the opposite.
Click here for more
information. |
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January 2, 2009
Another Year of Fighting for You
The Redondo
Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau continued to
serve as the voice for the business community and continued
to oppose legislative proposals and issues that negatively
impact the local businesses and the regional economy.
The Chamber, through
its Government Relations Council (GRC), continued to play an
active role at the local, state and federal levels when
representing the interests of businesses with government. By
taking a position on a proposed new law or business related
issue, it allowed for the business community to have a seat at
the table with area legislators that they may not otherwise
have.
Click here for more
information. |
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December 20, 2008
The 2008 Vote Record: Redondo
Beach Chamber Increases Legislator’s Business Votes
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
releases its vote record on the top twenty most important
legislative proposals impacting our business community. The
Chamber discussed and took a position of support or
opposition on each proposal and communicated those positions
with our local legislators, Senator Jenny Oropeza and
Assemblymember Ted Lieu.
“The Chamber is issuing its fifth vote record since 2004,”
stated Marna Smeltzer, President and CEO of the Chamber. “We
are pleased that Senator Oropeza and Assemblymember Lieu
increased their overall support for pro-jobs legislation by
30% and 24% respectively since our last vote record in
2007,” continued Smeltzer.
Click here for more
information. |
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December 15,
2008
Warning: New
Laws in 2009 May Impact Your Business
By Marna Smeltzer
President and CEO
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
represents the interests of its business community with all
levels of government. Each year, the state legislature, for
example, approves many proposed laws that impact every
Redondo Beach business owner. The Chamber makes it a
priority to update and inform the business community of
important new laws.
Click here for more information. |
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December 10, 2008
Proposition 11: A Victory for the Chamber
By John Parsons
Chairman of the Board
We did it!
Together we have taken action to fundamentally reform our broken
political system and to bring real change to our state
government.
Political
reform in California was one of the Redondo Beach Chamber’s top
policy priorities in 2008. Every 10 years, after the federal
government conducts a nationwide census, new boundary lines
called districts are drawn for each member of the California
State Senate, Assembly and Board of Equalization. The Chamber
wanted to change how this process was done.
Click here for more information. |
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November
26, 2008
Take Action
Now
on Important Employee Reforms!
 The
Redondo Beach Chamber urges you to contact Governor
Arnold Schwarzenegger and ask him to support flexible work
schedules and clarification to the state’s meal period
requirements.
Flexible work schedules are important because it allows
employees to deal with family matters and save on commute
costs; it allows for employees to accommodate their personal
needs outside of work; it reduces traffic and greenhouse gas
emissions that are harmful the environment due to less
workers traveling to and from work; and, it allows employers
to be competitive when retaining jobs.
Also, the Chamber is committed to keeping jobs in Redondo
Beach by helping to clarify meal period laws. This
clarification will save local businesses on litigation
costs. We need a solution to fix the complex, misinterpreted
meal and rest period requirements.
Click here to submit your
letter of support! |
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October 22, 2008
Another Year Of Fighting For You
By
Marna Smeltzer
President and CEO
 In
2008, our Chamber helped stop many proposed laws that would have
added unreasonable costs to business. I would like to take this
time to thank the many individuals, businesses and community
members that supported the Chamber’s legislative efforts. Many
pro-business pieces of legislation were also signed into law by
the Governor that the Chamber worked very hard to pass.
Click
here for more information.
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October 22, 2008
Chamber Urges Action On November Statewide Ballot
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau
urges you to vote November 4, 2008. The Chamber wants you to
understand that the statewide propositions will have an
impact on our local business community.
“The Chamber took positions on the November Propositions so
our businesses understand their impact to business,” stated
Marna Smeltzer, President and CEO of the Redondo Beach
Chamber. “Our positions align with our policy platform for
the year which allows us take positions on issues that
impact our business community,” Smeltzer continued.
Click
here for more information.
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September 30, 2008
TAKE ACTION! Chamber Urges Community to Support
Transit Line Extension
The
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(Metro) is considering the expansion of a transit line known
as the Harbor Subdivision. The Harbor Subdivision is a
freight rail corridor, approximately 26 miles in length,
that goes from downtown Los Angeles towards the coast and
down through the South Bay to Long Beach. Metro owns the
right of way.
Click here to submit your letter of support!
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September 25, 2008
Proposition 7:
The Wrong Way to Go Green
By John Parsons,
Chairman of the Board
The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau urges
you to oppose Proposition 7 on the November ballot. This
Proposition wrongly claims to be a renewable energy solution.
Let me be clear: the Redondo Beach Chamber believes renewable
energy is needed and is an important part of the future of how
utilities can provide energy to their consumers. Unfortunately,
Proposition 7 is the wrong approach and puts both public and
investor-owned utilities and their consumers at risk of higher
costs.
Click
here for more information.
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September 25, 2008
Vote NO on Measure
DD this November and Save Redondo
By Marna Smeltzer,
President/CEO
As a valued community member, you and your commitment to Redondo
Beach and its economic vitality are very important. That is why
we are asking you to join the Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce
in fighting Measure DD on the November 4, 2008 ballot.
Click
here for more information.
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September 11, 2008
The Chamber Urges You To Help Stop
The Redondo Beach Citywide Ballot Measure DD on November 4th
As a valued community
member, your commitment to Redondo Beach and its economic
vitality is very important. That's why we're asking you to join
the Redondo Beach Chamber in fighting the Redondo Beach Citywide
Ballot Measure DD on the November
4, 2008 ballot.
The Redondo Beach Chamber urges you to join us in stopping
Measure DD and save our city from the negative impact of this
poorly written initiative. The website,
www.SaveRedondo.com
aims to show voters the true impact of Measure DD, gain your
support and raise critically needed funds.
Click
here for more information.
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August 28, 2008
Redondo Beach
Chamber Stops Mandatory Sick Leave Job-Killer
The Redondo Beach
Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau stopped a proposed law
that would have unreasonably expanded employer’s costs and
liability by mandating a specific paid sick leave policy. The
Chamber testified in opposition to the proposed law and mandate
in a California State Senate Committee in Sacramento last month.
The Chamber also hand-delivered over 50 letters of opposition to
the mandate from Redondo Beach businesses.
Click
here for more information.
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August 15, 2008
Chamber Urges Community to Support Local Transportation
Solutions
The current
state of our transportation systems is flawed and we are
doing something to change it. Recently, the Los Angeles
County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro)
proposed a measure to make substantial improvements to our
local transportation infrastructure. Specifically, Metro
proposed a half-cent sales tax measure for Los Angeles
County that will appear on the November ballot.
Click here for more information.
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July 28, 2008
Redondo Beach Chamber Seeks Your Comments On A
Proposed New Law
By the year 2012, a proposed new law would prohibit a food
providers, such as restaurants, from distributing disposable
food service packaging to a consumer unless that disposable food
service packaging is compostable or recyclable.
The food provider would be held liable for not adhering to these
requirements and be fined a $100 daily penalty for not doing so.
The proposed new law, AB 904, according to its author, is
designed to decrease the amount of plastic and unrecyclable
materials in the environment. Plastic waste, such as disposable
food packing for takeout, has created significant amounts of
trash to landfills and poses a risk to the marine environment
throughout the state.
Please take a couple of minutes to answer four simple questions.
The Chamber will use your answers to determine a position on
this proposal.
Click here to start the survey.
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July
21, 2008
Take Action Now! Oppose A
Multi-Billion Dollar Paid Sick Leave Mandate
AB
2716 is a proposed new law that would unreasonably expand
employer's and local government agencies’ costs and liability by
mandating paid sick leave for all employees, including, interns,
seasonal, part-time, temporary, and full-time employees.
All employers in California would be mandated to provide paid
sick leave to an employee after only seven days of work in a
calendar year. The proposed new law impacts all employers, large
and small, regardless of the current level of sick leave already
provided.
This proposal, estimated to cost employers billions of dollars
in increased costs, places a massive burden on our local
businesses at a time when our economy is underperforming and job
cuts are continual.
Click here
to take
action! |
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June 30, 2008
Chamber
Fights To Improve Local Economy and Help Businesses
As your incoming Chair of the Board, I want to let you
know how excited and optimistic I am about this year. I
look forward to working with the Board of Directors and
all the members of the Chamber so that we can strengthen
the Chamber as an influential organization in the South
Bay and strengthen our local economy to help all our
businesses. It’s going to be an exciting year!
As the voice of business in our city, the Redondo Beach
Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau continues to
oppose legislative proposals that negatively impact our
local businesses and the regional economy. The Chamber
continues to play an active role at the local, state and
federal levels when representing the interests of
businesses with government. By taking a position on a
proposed new law, we are giving the business community a
chance to have a seat at the table with area legislators
that they may not otherwise have.
We are also keeping the ball rolling with our recent
success in helping defeat SB 1057, which would have
prevented a rental car company from charging a tourism
commission fee. The fee is used to fund and promote
California and our area as a tourist destination. This
would have been a crushing blow to our local businesses,
especially those near the Harbor/Pier area. The Chamber
has also supported worthy pieces of legislation that aim
to help business and the consumers they serve. For
example, SB 691 creates more stringent standards for
selling scrap-metal to a junk dealer. This helps law
enforcement in stopping the theft of scrap metal
throughout our city.
We want to encourage the business community to play an
active role in the Redondo Beach Chamber’s efforts.
More |
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June 30, 2008
Get Out The Vote: Pass
Along Tools For Voting In November Election
According to the Public Policy Institute of California,
a private nonprofit organization dedicated to informing
and improving public policy in California, 16.1 million
Californians (70 percent of eligible voters) were
registered to vote, a new record high, for the Primary
Election on June 3. Despite these high registration
numbers, voter turnout was at an all-time low of 22.4
percent, a dramatic decline from the February 5
Presidential Primary turnout of 57.7 percent.
More |
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June 21, 2008
Redondo Beach Chamber Urges Community to Support Local
Transportation Solutions
The Redondo
Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau is working to
raise awareness about and improve transportation throughout
the South Bay region. As part of its efforts, the Chamber is
reviewing the Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP), a
30-year funding guide for transportation construction and
service in Los Angeles County, of the Los Angeles County
Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) Board of
Directors. More |
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June 12, 2008
Take Action! Support
Efforts To Improve Transportation
The
Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority
(Metro) Board of Directors needs to know of your support for
transportation in the South Bay Region.
The Long Range Transportation
Plan (LRTP) is the 30-year funding guide for transportation
construction and service in Los Angeles County. The LRTP is
periodically updated and the Metro Board will consider the
updated plan on June 26. The update lists priorities for
highway and transit based upon sound and objective criteria
but there are currently no revenues for any new projects in
the Plan. More |
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May 30, 2008
Chamber Opposes Proposal to Eliminate State Tourism Funding
The
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau opposes
a proposed law that would prevent rental car companies from
charging consumers a tourism fee used to fund and promote
California. SB 1057 would negatively impact our state’s
efforts to promote California throughout the world as a
tourist destination.
More |
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May 25, 2008
Chamber
Supports Idea of a State Budget Savings Account
It is clear to
us that the State of California does not have a revenue
problem. Instead, we have a spending problem. We need to
start considering proposals that end the eventual budget
deficits that plague our state. In January, the Governor
proposed the Budget Stabilization Act. His proposal
transfers budget surpluses into a savings account to be used
to balance the budget in years when a budget deficit is
projected.
More |
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May 20, 2008
Chamber
Supports Proposed Employee Break Law
The
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau supports
a proposed law that will provide a comprehensive solution
when complying and enforcing of the current meal period laws
for employees. SB 1539 will provide clarity and flexibility
to employers and employees across all industries regardless
of the employer size or current union status.
More |
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May 10, 2008
Get Out The Vote: Pass Along
Tools For Voting In June 3 Statewide Election
With the 2008 election year in full swing, the Redondo
Beach Chamber is
joining chambers of commerce and employers statewide in
partnering with California Secretary of State Debra
Bowen in the MyVote Democracy At Work Project.
Our
mission: to provide you with the tools you need to participate in the electoral process, starting
with the June 3 Statewide Primary Election.
More |
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May 8, 2008
Redondo
Beach Chamber Supports Governor's "Rainy Day Fund"
Concept
The Governor’s
budget proposal in January 2008 included a 10 percent
reduction to nearly all General Fund departments and
programs, boards, commissions and elected offices, except in
cases where such a reduction is unconstitutional. A clearer
impact on state revenue will release in the Governor’s May
Revised Budget to be released May 15, 2008.
The Governor
proposed a Revenue Stabilization Fund (RSF), which is a
savings account for excess revenues taken in by the state
each year requiring that the state deposit excess revenues
into the RSF.
More |
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April 22, 2008
TONIGHT! City Council To Consider Zoning Changes Impacting The Harbor
Area
The
Redondo Beach Chamber is urging the City Council to take
additional steps before rendering a final decision on
zoning changes that impact the harbor area.
It is
critical to avoid making poor planning decisions based
on negative public perceptions that were created by such
past developments as the Village, Seascape and Pier
Plaza projects.
The Harbor Enterprise operating costs continue to
increase while revenues have been stagnant or are in
decline, yet the solutions are complex and involve both
economic and political issues.
More |
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April 15,
2008
Redondo
Beach Chamber Positions on June 2008 Statewide Propositions
Proposition 98
Regulation
of Private Property
Redondo Beach
Chamber Position: OPPOSE
Proposition 98 aims to protect private property, including
businesses and farms, from government profiting by seizing
property from one private property owner and giving it to
another private entity.
Private property may not be taken by eminent domain for
private use under any circumstances (e.g. to build a
shopping center, auto mall or industrial park).
Proposition 99
Acquisition
of Owner-Occupied Residence
Redondo Beach Chamber Position: No Position
Proposition 99 Aims to prohibit the government from using
eminent domain to take a home to transfer to another private
party.
Will not change state or local rent control laws or
ordinances as Proposition 98 would abolish rent control.
More |
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April 11, 2008
My Voice. My Choice. My Vote!
With the 2008 election year in full swing, the Redondo
Beach Chamber is
joining chambers of commerce and employers statewide in
partnering with California Secretary of State Debra
Bowen in the MyVote Democracy At Work Project. Our
mission: to provide all Californians with the tools they
need to participate in the electoral process, starting
with the June 3 Statewide Primary Election.
More |
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April 9,
2008
Redondo
Beach Chamber Supports Proposed Free Trade Agreement
The Redondo Beach Chamber supports the Colombia Free
Trade Agreement.
If California is going to compete with our global
competitors, we need to do it on a level playing field.
Trade agreements like the one with Colombia will do
that. America’s two-way trade with Colombia reached $18
billion in 2007, making Colombia our fifth largest
trading partner in Latin America. Trade and investment
in Colombia already sustains thousands of U.S. jobs and
the Free Trade Agreement will only open up more
opportunities.
More |
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April 7, 2008
City Council To Consider Chamber-Supported Zoning Changes
The Chamber
urges the business community to attend the upcoming City
Council meeting regarding the Planning Commission’s
recommended amendments to the General Plan, Harbor/Civic
Center Specific Plan, Coastal Plan and Zoning Ordinance. The
Chamber believes the recommended amendments represent a fair
and reasonable compromise. The Planning Staff and
Commissioners did an admirable job formulating a win-win
solution for our community.
More |
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March 18, 2008
Submit Your Letter Supporting
Flexibility in the Workplace
The
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (RBCC &
VB) supports a pro-posed law that is designed to allow for
employees and employers to have more flexibility with work
schedules. This new workplace flexibility proposal will
accommodate employees' diverse family obligations, personal
pursuits and commuting issues by allowing employers to agree
to provide scheduling options requested by an employee.
More |
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March 15, 2008
Redondo Beach Chamber
Supports Political Reform Proposal
 The
Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (RBCC &
VB) supports a pro-posed law that is designed to allow for
employees and employers to have more flexibility with work
schedules. This new workplace flexibility proposal will
accommodate employees' diverse family obligations, personal
pursuits and commuting issues by allowing employers to agree
to provide scheduling options requested by an employee.
More |
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March 15, 2008
Redondo Beach Chamber
Successful in Defeating Healthcare Tax
By Glenn Bishop
2007 Chair of the
Board
.jpg) The
Governor’s healthcare reform proposal and its mandated tax
on business component failed to pass the State Senate
earlier this year. The Redondo Beach Chamber of Commerce &
Visitors Bureau opposed the Governor’s proposal to fix
California’s broken healthcare system. The Governor called a
special session of the legislature in late 2007 and directed
the state legislature to work out a solution to California’s
healthcare crisis.
More |
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February 27, 2008
Chamber Claims
Victory Following Recent Propositions Vote
By Glenn Bishop
2007 Chair of the
Board
I
think it’s safe to say that voters kept business in mind
when they went to the polls on February 5. It was
encouraging to see that a majority of voters agreed with
almost all of the Redondo Beach Chamber & Visitors Bureau’s
positions on the statewide propositions. RBCC & VB took
positions on these propositions late last year and worked
diligently to communicate its positions to our members via
this website, and in our monthly newsletter, Beach Business.
More |
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February
20, 2008
Chamber-Supported School Bond Passes with Flying Colors
New
Hope on the Way for Aging School Facilities
Measure C, the school bond supported by the Redondo
Beach Chamber of Commerce & Visitors Bureau (RBCC & VB),
passed by an overwhelming 66% of the vote on the
February 5 city-wide ballot. Nearly six months ago, RBCC
& VB was one of the first local organizations to
sup-port the Redondo Beach Unified School District
proposed bond measure. Measure C allows for, among other
things, the update of our 100 year old high school,
which will include new athletic facilities, state of the
art turf fields, a synthetic track replacing the dirt
track and an aquatics complex available to the entire
community.
More |
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February 20,
2008
Chamber Increases Role in LA County Business Community
By Marna
Smeltzer
President/CEO
I am happy to announce that Redondo Beach Chamber of
Commerce & Visitors Bureau joined the newly formed Los
Angeles County Business Federation (BizFed), which serves as
a powerful and cooperative voice for businesses and
organizations throughout Los Angeles County. By joining
BizFed, RBCC & VB has become part of a coalition of 44
business organizations, representing more than 70, 000
businesses and 1.2 million people throughout the county.
More |
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