“20th Year Supporting Our Military Heroes and Families” The 20th annual Military Appreciation Dinner will be held on September 29. The Chamber’s Military Committee is busy working with all branches of the service to gather awardees’ names and biographies. The honorees are selected by their commanding officers not only for their military service, but also for their service in the local community. "There are some very impressive awardees," said Sharen Strong, Chamber staff liaison for the event. "These are not only our country's heroes, but they are community heroes and volunteers as well." This year, the event will feature keynote speaker CAPT Chris Janke, who assumed his duty as commanding officer of Naval Base Ventura County in March of 2015. Prior to arriving at Naval Base Ventura County Janke completed deployments to Iceland, Puerto Rico, Panama, and Italy and participated in Operation Sharp Guard. He was then selected for duty as Flag Lieutenant to Commander, Fleet Air Mediterranean/Task Force 67 in Naples, Italy, responsible for all installations and maritime patrol forces in the U.S. 6th Fleet. In June 1998 he continued his duties in Annapolis, MD upon the Admiral’s reassignment as Superintendent of the United States Naval Academy. Janke returned to sea duty aboard USS John F. Kennedy (CV 67) and was deployed to the Arabian Gulf supporting Operation Southern Watch in which he led the ship’s largest division (V-2) in the Air Department. Upon completion of his Department Head tour, he was assigned to the Joint Chiefs of Staff, Operations Directorate (J-3). Serving in the J-39 Reconnaissance Operations Division, he was responsible for the coordination of SecDef approval for deployment orders for DoD reconnaissance assets and charged with preparation of Sensitive Reconnaissance Operations mission packages for Presidential approval. In July 2008, Janke was selected for command of Scientific Development Squadron (VXS) 1 onboard NAS Patuxent River, MD. Most notably VXS-1 conducted Colombia survey operations, POW/MIA recovery operations in Iraq and Counter-IED technology development in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn. In May of 2012, Janke assumed duties as Chief Staff Officer for Patrol and Reconnaissance Wing 11 in Jacksonville, FL, where he directed a staff of 350 personnel conducting Man, Train and Equip tasks for eight P-3, P-8 and MQ-4C squadrons encompassing 2,700 personnel. His efforts were instrumental to the successful transition to the P-8A Poseidon and introduction of the MQ-4C Triton unmanned aircraft. His awards include the Defense Meritorious Service Medal, Navy Meritorious Service Medal, Air Medal, Navy Commendation Medal, Iraqi Campaign Medal and various operational awards. The Military Appreciation Dinner will be held at the Courtyard by Marriott Oxnard on Friday evening, September 29. Advance registrations are required and can be made via the Chamber's website or by calling the office at 805-983-6118. Sponsorships are also available. The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce values its relationship with our local military installations. "We sincerely appreciate the military's defense of our free enterprise system and recognize the positive impact the local installations have on our economy," added Chamber CEO Nancy Lindholm. Learn how to get the most out of your listing on our website. See what complimentary promotional opportunities are available to both new and veteran members. Can participation on a Chamber committee help your business? It's all available at the August 8 New Member Mingle. "Seasoned" members are also welcome. The Chamber's Director of Communications, Janet Pozos, will be on hand to demonstrate how easy it is to link your social media accounts to your Chamber web listing. Members can also offer discounts or coupons to fellow Chamber members or the general public. Meet some Chamber Board members, the Chamber staff, and your fellow newbies! The New Member Mingle is free to attend. It will be in the Chamber office (400 E. Esplanade Drive, Suite 302) on August 8 from 4:30 to 6 PM. Refreshments, wine and hors d'oeuvres will be served. Click here to let us know you are coming! 2018 Leadership opens registration Oxnard Leadership's 2018 program is accepting applications from those who desire to enhance their leadership potential, increase their knowledge of the community and are willing to commit their individual talents for future years toward the betterment of the community of Oxnard. A successful candidate should possess a passion for self-improvement with the goal of assisting others. This interactive program provides a behind-the-scenes view of the issues that impact the region’s economic prosperity and quality of life while developing and refining individual skills to better serve in leadership roles within their organization or in our community. Participants receive a comprehensive overview of the Oxnard area – its realities, opportunities and challenges. Sessions move to various locations throughout the Oxnard area and provide students with a unique opportunity to meet key business and government leaders who play integral roles in the region by way of tours, panels, and speakers. Class speakers address not only the facts, but also perspectives, challenges, and opportunities in highly interactive sessions. Oxnard Leadership extends an invitation to interested individuals who are committed to a better tomorrow and who are motivated to assume leadership roles in Oxnard today. "I highly recommend anyone who lives and or works in our community to seriously consider going through this program. You will undoubtedly learn things about our community that you did not know before, and you will make new connections that otherwise would not have been possible." Craig Classen, JaniTek Cleaning Solutions 2016 Oxnard Leadership Graduate The benefits of Oxnard Leadership are multifaceted. Your participation in the program allows you, employers, and the community as a whole to reap rewards. Whether you are new to the area, or have lived here for years, this course can open new doors of opportunity. Benefits from the program include the following just to name a few:
"I highly recommend the Oxnard Leadership program, especially to younger professionals working and networking throughout Oxnard and Ventura County. Having the opportunity to sit down and speak with Representative Irwin, our Ventura County Supervisor, Ventura County CEO, Oxnard City Managers, Police & Fire Chiefs, and local business leaders was invaluable." Thomas Buenger, Buenger Commercial Real Estate, Inc. 2016 Oxnard Leadership Graduate Click here for more information and the application. Whole Foods Market donated 5 percent ($11,776) of its June 22 net sales from three of its stores to Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG). The donation will support the organization’s agricultural education efforts. SEEAG helps young students understand the origins of their food by providing classroom agricultural education and free field trips to farms including SEEAG’s Farm Lab at Petty Ranch in Saticoy. “We’re honored that Whole Foods Market chose SEEAG as its ‘Community Giving Day’ recipient,” says Mary Maranville SEEAG CEO. “We believe connecting kids to the farming ‘roots,’ so to speak, of their food is crucial. Many school children will benefit from Whole Foods Market’s generosity.” The participating Whole Foods stores are in Oxnard, Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo. For more information about SEEAG, visit www.seeag.org. One of the things keeping state legislators busy in Sacramento right now is a shortsighted attempt to impose on California small businesses a new, one-size-fits-all mandated leave program that threatens their ability to stay in business.
SB 63 would impose a new unmanageable mandate on small business. The bill would dictate another leave program over and above the existing pregnancy disability leave for new parents. No Flexibility Small business owners want to be sensitive to the needs of new parents. But with limited resources and limited flexibility in managing their workforce, the best way for employers to meet the needs of new parents beyond what is already required in statute for pregnancy disability leave is to work out a mutually agreeable solution. This proposal is unworkable because there is no flexibility. The cookie-cutter approach required under SB 63 would not adequately take into account the fact that in order to be profitable, a business must be responsive to its clients. The situation SB 63 would create could make this impossible. Very troubling is the fact that the proposal would allow employees to sue their boss if the employer could not grant leave on the employee’s terms. SB 63 would put the employer in an untenable position of choosing between the threat of litigation by trial lawyers or meeting its customers’ needs. Veto of Similar Bill Last year, Governor Edmund G. Brown Jr. vetoed a measure that was nearly identical to SB 63, saying, “I am concerned, however, about the impact of this leave particularly on small businesses and the potential liability that could result.” Yet the bill was reintroduced again this year without any sensitivity to either the governor’s or small businesses’ concerns. The threat of litigation under this proposal is significant. Any claim that the employer denied, interfered with, discouraged, retaliated or attempted to do any of these actions with regard to the employee’s 12-week leave could expose the employer to compensatory damages, injunctive relief, declaratory relief, punitive damages and attorney’s fees. A 2015 study by insurance provider Hiscox regarding the cost of comparative employee lawsuits estimated that the cost for a small employer to defend and settle a single plaintiff claim was approximately $125,000. This amount is without regard to the merit of the claim and could easily put a small employer completely out of business. Practical Realities The size of the employer to whom SB 63’s mandate would apply also contributes to the bill’s overreach. The practical reality of how the policy would need to be implemented makes the measure particularly onerous. While the bill purports to apply only to businesses with 20-50 employees within a 75-mile radius, it does not take into account the impact on individual locations. Consider a scenario where a business’s individual location employs five people and three are out on mandated protected leave programs. The inflexibility of the bill means there is no opportunity to work out a mutually agreeable arrangement for the leave to make sure both the needs of the employee and employer are met. Currently, small employers have the ability to balance the parental needs of their employees and customers, without the interference of state law. Employers can work with their employees to determine the amount of leave needed in consideration with other employees who may be out on leave as well, and how that leave can be provided while still making sure the business’s needs are addressed. After determining an appropriate leave schedule, employees also can access and obtain wage replacement while on leave through California’s Paid Family Leave program. SB 63 eliminates this flexibility as it mandates the leave instead of allowing the employer and employee to determine a mutually agreeable arrangement. Most small businesses do not have a dedicated human resource officer who can monitor and juggle all the various leave programs available to employees nor can small businesses absorb workload with numerous employees in one location out on simultaneous leaves. This proposal ignores the limited resources of a small business. Proponents often emphasize the idea that SB 63 wouldn’t “cost” employers anything because it deals with “unpaid leave.” What they forget to mention is that small businesses or companies who deal with very specialized products or services cannot simply hire a temp to do the job necessary to stay profitable. Also, under the proposal, employers are required to continue to maintain and pay for the absent employee’s health coverage during his or her leave. Additionally, the employer must either pay other employees overtime to cover the duties of the individual on leave or hire a temp, if possible, at a premium price to cover during the absence. Family-Friendly State California is already recognized by the National Conference of State Legislatures as one of the most family-friendly states given its list of programs and protected leaves of absence, including paid sick days, school activities leave, kin care, paid family leave program and pregnancy disability leave—all of which apply to small business. This list is in addition to the leaves of absence required at the federal level. Leave policies like the one proposed in SB 63 can overtake and strain small business employers who, ironically, are needed by families to provide the jobs, paychecks and benefits that will allow them to support their families in the future. Chair-Elect Michael Wynn Song, Ed Gibbs, and City Manager Greg Nyhoff take a tour of Gibbs Truck Center The Oxnard Chamber has successfully continued a Business Visits program it launched three years ago. "Getting the City Manager Greg Nyhoff into a variety of different enterprises helps him understand what makes the business community successful," remarked Chamber CEO Nancy Lindholm. "It reminds him where his tax revenue comes from."
Past visits have included agriculture, manufacturing, research, media, healthcare, nonprofit, and hospitality entities. Visits normally take between 60 and 90 minutes, depending on the size of the facility and the history or background of the business. The visits are normally attended by the City Manager, the Chair or Chair-Elect of the Chamber, and the Chamber President/CEO. "We recently visited Cloudburst Misting Systems in south Oxnard," said Lindholm. "They are doing a huge job in Dubai. Who would have guessed?" If you would like to host a business visit, please contact Nancy Lindholm. Mary Maranville, founder of Students for Eco-Education and Agriculture (SEEAG) has been named its chief executive officer. Formally, Maranville was SEEAG’s executive director. The SEEAG board voted on the new title at its June board meeting. Maranville founded SEEAG in 2008 to help students, families and the public learn and appreciate the origins of their food. SEEAG bridges the gap between agriculture and consumption through its agricultural education programming and its annual Ventura County Farm Day. Since SEEAG began, it has helped over 20,000 elementary school students from throughout Southern California increase their understanding of the food journey. “Mary started SEEAG with an incredible vision and has been the one pushing SEEAG to become what it is today. It’s only fitting that she be its CEO,” says Monica Houweling, a SEEAG board member. “Every time I see Mary, she is always sharing a story on how children are learning something new about the food that feeds them. Mary and SEEAG are doing amazing things to help future generations understand the importance of agriculture.” This year, the annual Ventura County Farm Day will be held November 4. On Farm Day, over 25 local farms open their doors and invite the public to experience a day of agricultural learning firsthand. This free, popular event connects the community with its farming neighbors. More than 6,000 people visited farms last year on Farm Day. Maranville also co-founded Veteran Farmers of America (VFA), which places veterans in paid, two-week internship programs with local farms. VFA has placed over 30 veterans in agricultural internships. Many veterans who take part in the internships are offered fulltime positions in agriculture. For more information about SEEAG programs and events, visit www.seeag.org. After 15 years in Los Angeles, Bluestar Funding has moved to Oxnard. Now known as “The Mortgage Guy”, founder and CEO Chris is proud to be doing mortgage loans in Oxnard, Ventura and Camarillo, including purchase, refinance and reverse mortgages. Chris and his wife Kim had a goal to move to Oxnard once their two boys were in college. With the boys now attending Pepperdine and living in Malibu, the couple took the leap and moved to the marina where they watch the boats go by and it reminds them every day, that they love this life. Chris is in the mortgage lending business, and likes numbers, problem solving and meeting new people. Anyone in the real estate business knows that sometimes a home loan is at the mercy of an underwriter. With his broker experience, previous banking, and Wall Street work he can prevent loan conditions before underwriting and help underwriters with the rules. This makes for a better experience for the client and the real estate agents. The business question he is asked the most is, “what is your best interest rate”? A loan is much more than a rate. On a purchase transaction there are multiple parties in a home loan transaction, different costs and many deadlines. Everything has to come together and on time. They work smart and hard on a purchase or refinance loans and they make mortgages easy. If you are cruising the main channel, wave to them. They are the boat with the big blue letters on the back that says BLUESTAR! For more information call 805.979.9036 or visit the website at www.callthemortgageguy.com. Gaea Verneris is an Edward Jones financial advisor in Oxnard. Her branch office is located at 2901 N. Ventura Road, Suite 280. “I entered the financial services industry because I like helping people work toward achieving their long-term financial goals,” Gaea says. “Building relationships with my clients and in my community is key.” Edward Jones financial advisors meet face-to-face with clients to build strong relationships. “And we do so by offering excellent client service through our convenient branch locations in the communities where our clients live and work” says Gaea. Edward Jones, a Fortune 500 company, provides financial services for individual investors in the United Stated and, through its affiliate, in Canada. Every aspect of the firm’s business, from the types of investment options offered to the location of branch offices, is designed to cater to individual investors in the communities in which they live and work. The firm’s 15,000 plus financial advisors work directly with more than 7 million clients. Edward Jones, which ranked No. 5 on Fortune magazine’s 100 Best Companies to Work For in 2017, is headquartered in St. Louis. The Edward Jones website is located at www.edwardjones.com, and for information call 805.278.6711 The St. John’s Healthcare Foundation, the philanthropic department of St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital (SJPVH) in Camarillo and St. John’s Regional Medical Center (SJRMC) in Oxnard, is pleased to announce it raised more than $400,000 at its seventh “Adventure” fundraising gala held May 6th, at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library in Simi Valley. All proceeds will fund expansion and modernization projects at SJPVH and SJRMC. More than 600 community members attended the event which featured live and silent auctions, farm-to-table cuisine from renowned two-time James Beard award winning chef Bradley Ogden, and the honoring celebration of longtime community leaders and dedicated philanthropists Tom and Barbara Laubacher and Dr. Henry and Emma Montes who were recognized as recipients of the Catherine McAuley Lifetime Achievement Award. The Catherine McAuley Lifetime Achievement Award pays tribute to members of the community for their contributions and volunteerism, commitment to society, and support of the charisma and values exemplified by Catherine McAuley. Mother Catherine McAuley founded the Sisters of Mercy in Dublin, Ireland, in 1831. She tirelessly gave of her time, talents, and sizable inheritance to those suffering from poverty, illness, and a lack of education. Tom and Barbara Laubacher and Dr. Henry and Emma Montes have made lasting contributions to our community through “works of mercy,” sharing their time, talents, and resources and inspiring others to follow in their example. The St. John’s Healthcare Foundation was established in 1985 to provide philanthropic support for building projects, equipment, and patient care services at St. John’s Pleasant Valley Hospital in Camarillo and St. John’s Regional Medical Center in Oxnard. For more information about supporting SJRMC or SJPVH please call (805) 988-2868. With strong support from the California Chamber of Commerce and the business community, the Legislature yesterday approved AB 398 (E. Garcia; D-Coachella), which will extend the cap-and-trade program, which provides the least costly path to achieving the state’s ambitious climate goals.
“The Legislature achieved a bipartisan solution that will reduce the cost of compliance with the state’s ambitious greenhouse gas reductions,” said Allan Zaremberg, president and CEO of CalChamber. The Senate approved AB 398, 28-12, followed by Assembly approval by a 55-21 margin. The bill required a two-thirds supermajority because the cap-and-trade auction is a tax. “Republicans and Democrats set aside their differences, came together and took courageous action,” Governor Brown said following the passage of the cap-and-trade legislation. “That’s what good government looks like.” Last year California passed SB 32 (Pavley; D-Agoura Hills; Chapter 249), which adopted the most ambitious greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction goal in this or any other country. CalChamber and the business community supported AB 398 because it will make cap-and-trade the primary tool to meet the state’s goal of reducing carbon emissions by 40% below 1990 levels by 2030. AB 398 also includes cost containment measures that will help mitigate some of the impacts on consumers and the economy, including a price ceiling, audited offsets that reduce costs and spur innovation, industry assistance to mitigate loss of jobs and emissions to other states, and reduced direct command-and-control measures by state and local regulators. CalChamber Announces Support for Accountability Measure, ACA 1 Yesterday, CalChamber also announced support for ACA 1 (Mayes; R-Yucca Valley), an important element of the overall cap-and-trade package to ensure accountability over the spending of revenues from the cap-and-trade auction. The measure also passed the Legislature with bipartisan support on July 17. The recently passed cap-and-trade extension measure, AB 398, will authorize the collection of billions of dollars in new revenues for the state’s climate change and other programs. ACA 1, a constitutional amendment, will establish a legislative “check-up” in 2024, providing an opportunity to review (1) expenditures from the fund since 2020; (2) the commitment to regulatory and tax reforms enacted in AB 398; and (3) the effectiveness of the overall state program in reducing GHGs and minimizing the effect on the California economy. The Legislature will enforce this check-up by requiring that any appropriations in 2024 be approved by a two-thirds supermajority of the Legislature. Recent legislation to mandate economy-wide GHG reductions will have profound effects on the California economy and on individual businesses. ACA 1 will provide the Legislature with a mid-term opportunity to gauge the overall effectiveness of this ambitious program. ACA 1 passed the Senate by a 27-13 margin, followed by Assembly approval by a 59-11 margin. This measure also required a two-thirds legislative supermajority because it proposes a constitutional amendment, which will be voted on by the people in June of 2018. The Chamber's Nominating Committee is seeking volunteers interested in serving on the Board of Directors. "We have a number of openings for 2018 since quite a few of our current Board members are termed out," said Nancy Lindholm, Chamber President and CEO. The term for Directors is three years. Directors can serve two consecutive terms before they must leave the Board for at least one year. The commitment is to attend ten Board meetings each year, participate in an annual planning session, represent the Chamber as appropriate, and contribute to the betterment of the organization. Any member in good standing interested in serving on the Board should contact Nancy Lindholm. The Chamber and its members are happy to see the Dallas Cowboys Training Camp come to town again this year. Their fans have quite an impact on local businesses. The Chamber is always touting the positive impact the Cowboys have when they come to Oxnard. To substantiate those claims, we thought we would share some data with our readers from the 2012 Training Camp. The UCSB Economic Forecast Project conducted an economic impact study for Oxnard and Ventura County. Here is what they found:
Unless you bought a house in 2006, last decade's housing collapse seems like a long time ago. The market has recovered nicely and houses are selling at a brisk rate. Unfortunately that means there are a lot of Californians who cannot afford to live where they work. One person in Silicon Valley has made it his mission to do something about it. With financial backing from Silicon Valley tech executives, Brian Hanlon is starting a new political and housing advocacy venture in Sacramento called California YIMBY – or “Yes in My Back Yard,” a riff on the “not-in-my-backyard” phrase that characterizes neighborhood opposition to development projects. Too many cities and counties, he says, aren’t complying with state housing law that says it’s illegal to deny or scale back affordable housing projects that meet local zoning designations and other land-use rules. It’s an emerging political movement demanding more housing construction across California, affordable or not. Pro-growth advocacy groups have formed groups from Santa Monica to San Francisco to Sacramento. “We want more housing, and all types of housing. So we advocate for everything from transitional homeless shelters ... to tall, luxury condos and everything in between,” Hanlon said in a Sacramento Bee article. “We are in a dire housing shortage and we’re not going to get ourselves out of that shortage if we nit-pick every project to death.” As the state has added more than 2 million jobs since 2011, it has fallen far short of building the housing it needs to keep pace with the booming economy and rising population. On average, the state has seen an influx of 80,000 new homes per year over the past decade, when 180,000 are needed annually, according to state officials. To keep up with growing population, California needs an estimated 1.8 million new housing units by 2025, according to state projections. Housing opponents are generally much louder than advocates are. They grab the attention of officials who are concerned about being re-elected. Many of them are retired (who have, themselves, recently moved in to a community) and have time to attending public hearing to voice their opposition. The planned revitalization of Fisherman's Wharf in Channel Islands Harbor is a perfect example. There is a large contingency of beach and harbor dwellers who oppose the residential component of the project. The proposal has been slashed over the years from somewhere around 800 apartments to less than 400 luxury units. The opposition is still very vocal. As a society, we need to figure out how to accommodate all of our residents, not just the ones who can afford to live at the beach. We need to locate people close to their places of employment to reduce gridlock on our freeways and surface streets. Tony's Body Shop has been officially Certified by Assured Performance, a non-profit consumer advocacy organization for maintaining the right tools, equipment, training, and facility necessary to repair the participating Automaker brand vehicles according to the manufacturer's specifications. In achieving their Certification, Tony's Body Shop is now an integral part of the most advanced repair capable and efficient auto body repair network in the world. Adding to their credentials, Tony's Body Shop is officially recognized by Assured Performance, FCA, GM, Nissan, Hyundai, Infiniti, and Ford. To become Certified and officially recognized by the various Automakers, Tony's Body Shop passed the rigorous Certification process essential to help ensure a proper and safe repair of the new generation of advanced vehicles. Less than 5 percent of body shops across the nation are able to meet the stringent requirements to become officially Certified and recognized. The Certified network is made up exclusively of best-in-class collision repair businesses that have met or exceeded the stringent requirements of the Certification program. According to Tony's Body Shop Owner, Jay Flores, "When an accident happens, it can be hard to know who to trust with your vehicle. Certification through Assured Performance is important to help give the people of our community peace of mind." The Certification criteria is based upon auto manufacturer requirements. These are critical to ensure the vehicle fit, finish, durability, value and safety following an accident. As new model vehicles are being introduced that use light weight high strength materials and advanced technology, a proper repair according to manufacturer specification is even more important than ever to ensure the passenger safety and proper performance of the vehicle. Auto manufacturers want to ensure that consumers have the option of Certified Collision Repair wherever they live, work, or travel. "Consumers need the confidence and peace of mind to know their vehicle is repaired by a shop that has what it takes to ensure the vehicle safety. Tony's Body Shop is officially a Collision Care Provider™," said Scott Biggs, CEO of Assured Performance Collision Care™. "They represent the standard by which all other body shops are measured." About Assured Performance Collision Care™: Assured Performance Collision Care™ is a non-profit consumer advocacy organization specializing in the automotive collision repair market segment. Assured Performance works with the top automakers to identify, audit and promote collision repair providers that meet best-in-class business standards and the manufacturer's requirements. Consumers can go to: www.assuredperformance.net or www.autobodylocator.com to find a list of Collision Repair Providers. Tony's Body Shop Jay Flores, Owner (805) 485-5514 tbs@tonysbodyshop.com http://www.tonysbodyshop.com If you have 25 or more employees, you now must provide new employees with a written notice about the rights of victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking to take protected time off for medical treatment or legal proceedings. The notice also contains information on victims’ rights to accommodation and protections against discrimination. This new notice requirement went into effect July 1 as a result of legislation passed last year (AB 2337). The Labor Commissioner developed this notice/form, which is available in both English and Spanish. Employers must provide this information to:
California Protections Under California law, all employers must provide victims of domestic violence, sexual assault and stalking with the right to take time off from work to appear in legal proceedings, such as obtaining a restraining order or other court order. All employers must provide reasonable accommodations for victims of domestic violence, sexual assault or stalking who request an accommodation for their safety while working. Companies with 25 or more workers also must provide these victims with the right to take time off to seek medical treatment for injuries, services from domestic violence shelters, programs or crisis centers, psychological counseling or safety planning. Furthermore, California’s mandatory paid sick leave law allows employees to use their accrued paid sick leave when they need time off to appear in legal proceedings or for medical treatment. Learn more about how paid sick leave can be used in The Who, What, When and How of Mandatory Paid Sick Leave in California white paper (California Chamber of Commerce members can access the white paper here). Last month, the Los Angeles County Economic Development Corporation (LAEDC) released its most recent study that revealed the economic impact the oil and gas industry has on the state. The LAEDC conducted this analysis using 2015 data from the oil and gas industry as a whole. The bottom line is that the oil and gas industry makes a significant contribution to California’s economy. Even more interesting are the characteristics of the workforce that the oil and gas industry employs which is in some aspect reflective of the demographics of our state. Some of the highlighted trends include:
The LAEDC’s study also brought to light the industry’s impact on regional economies throughout California, including valuable tax revenues by county. In Ventura County, the analysis calculated a total of $306.6 million in state and local taxes and a sum of $216.7 million in federal tax revenues. This is revenue that can be used by local government to provide critical services to residents of the county. Total jobs for our area in the oil and gas industry were nearly 6,000 which included direct, indirect, and induced employment. Examples of some of these jobs the industry provides include engineers, information technology specialists, electronics technicians, and geologists. Allan Zaremberg, California Chamber of Commerce president and CEO stated, “California’s oil and gas industry has been an engine of California’s growth for more than 100 years. The industry sustains tens of thousands of well-paid middle class jobs, provides hundreds of millions of tax dollars for the support of state and local government, and provides the energy and much of the innovation that powers our economy.” To read the entire study or download it, go to http://laedc.org/2017/06/08/oil-gas/. The Address is taking a fresh approach to selling real estate, moving away from virtual and bringing back the brick and mortar model, so agents and home buyers can connect one-on-one. Launched by Troy Palmquist, who has more than a decade of residential real estate experience, The Address is putting humanized customer service back into the home buying process. The Address’ mission is to help people find their perfect fit when it comes to a home. They know that buying a house is much more to a person or family than owning property – it’s where memories, dreams and precious moments of life are created. By breaking away from the online process, The Address is creating long-lasting relationships, where conversation and engagement rule. Based in California, Troy Palmquist created The Address with the true Californian state of mind – laid back, friendly and all about a community atmosphere. He wants his clients to feel at home when discussing the process of home buying, as well as create a hub for anyone to gather. His office offers a relaxed feel that gives clientele the feeling of familiarity and trust. The office is equipped with a nitro coffee and Kombucha bar inside, and is open to anyone in the neighborhood. The Address wants to be a reflection of a community hub. The space is open to the community, not just clientele. Get in touch with The Address by visiting their website at www.addressrealestate.com or stop by for a handcrafted coffee or Kombucha at their new location at 3600 S. Harbor Boulevard, Suite 114. Hollywood Beach Cafe has become a favorite amongst locals and visitors alike. They are celebrating their first anniversary in the Oxnard Hollywood Beach neighborhood. The restaurant is located just steps away from the beautiful white sandy beaches and stunning Channel Islands Harbor. This is a must go to destination! Hollywood Beach Café has an extensive menu of everyone’s favorite breakfast and lunch selections. Some of their great choices include chicken and waffles, 9 different types of burgers on ½ lb patties, homemade chicken fried steak, a variety of healthy salads and avocado and toast to name a few. The restaurant has a full bar and a pet friendly patio. It is nice to have an establishment that supports the community, and they are a proud supporter of the local schools. Great tastefully completely remodeled interior and exterior, excellent food and staff complete this fantastic addition to our community! The restaurant is open every day from 7 AM. to 3 PM, and they are located at 117 Los Altos Street. Visit their website at http://www.hollywoodbeachcafe.com or call them at 805.590.2233. The Oxnard Chamber Board of Directors voted to OPPOSE the effort to recall the mayor and three councilmembers. Following a recommendation from the Chamber’s Business Advocacy Committee, the Board cited the cost of a potential election as well as the proximity of a special election to the June Primary and November Gubernatorial elections set for 2018.
Aaron Starr, an unsuccessful candidate for city council in 2014 and 2016, is spearheading the recall effort based on how the council members voted on adjustments to wastewater rates. Mayor Flynn, Mayor Pro Tem Ramirez, Councilmember Perello, and Councilmember Madrigal all voted in favor of rate increases. Councilman MacDonald voted no, so he is not a target of the recall. The Chamber Board received information that a special election would cost more than $200,000, as estimated by the County Clerk’s office. That number does not include the cost of verifying petition signatures, nor does it include the cost of the Oxnard City Attorney’s office and the Oxnard City Clerk’s office. If the recall proponent is successful in gathering sufficient valid signatures (roughly 12,000) to trigger a special election, the city may be forced to hold one in the spring of 2018 – just a few months before the June Primary. If there is a special election, the ballot will contain a question whether the sitting council member should be recalled. That would be followed by a list of candidates running to potentially replace the city council person and convolute the ballot further. If there is a successful recall, the person elected to replace the ousted council member would likely have to run for a full term in the November 2018 election. Mayor Flynn, Mayor Pro Tem Ramirez and Councilmember Perello all have terms expiring in December 2018. Councilmember Madrigal’s term is not up until 2020. The Chamber believes this to too much disruption of local government when Oxnard voters could simply express their support or opposition of current council members in the November 2018 election. In addition to the timeline for a potential special election, the Chamber has great concern over the premise that elected officials could be recalled based on his or her vote on a single issue. It is the Chamber’s position that the recall stipulation in the elections code was included to address malfeasance and gross negligence. The Chamber encourages Oxnard voters NOT to sign the recall petitions being circulated and support the city while it continues to move forward in a positive direction. Proving that economic vitality and environmental stewardship are not mutually exclusive, the Port of Hueneme earned its Green Marine Certification this month. As Hueneme is ranked in the top 11% of all U.S. Ports for general cargo flow, it has taken the lead as California’s first port to complete the certification. Through this certification, Hueneme continues a tradition of setting an example of how to become a cleaner and environmentally sustainable port of the future. Jason Hodge, President of the Board of Commissioners stated, “We are committed to leading the way in California for green port certification and continue to invest in our local community by taking action to improve our environment.” Green Marine’s environmental program assists ports, terminal operators and shipping lines in reducing their environmental footprint through a comprehensive program that addresses key environmental issues and criteria using 11 performance indicators including air emissions, prevention of spills and leakages, community impacts, and environmental leadership. The Port received the highest possible scores in the spill prevention, environmental leadership, and community impact categories. Being that Green Marine is completely voluntary, it affirms even further Port of Hueneme’s commitment to staying on the leading edge of environmental stewardship. The Port made history in 2015 as well by unveiling their innovative shore side power program--the largest single emissions reduction program in Ventura County history. Over the next 30 years, this program will reduce PM by 92%, NOx by 98% and CO2 by 55% through the electrification of the Port's wharves. The Port's robust environmental framework sets strategic action plans in the core areas of air, climate change, energy, marine resources, soils and sediments, sustainability and community, qualifying the Port for Green Marine certification. "We look forward to continuing to provide jobs and economic growth for Ventura County while implementing the high bar of our environmental framework,” said the Port’s CEO and Executive Director Kristin Decas. Membership in Green Marine requires that members demonstrate year-over-year meaningful improvements in measurable ways to maintain their Green Marine certification. Green Marine’s metrics and their results are independently verified and released to the public. “We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Hueneme as the first port from California to join the Green Marine program,” said David Bolduc, Green Marine’s executive director. “We have no doubt that the administration of this deepwater port will enhance our membership by sharing its environmental initiatives and best practices.” The Green Marine Performance Report can be found here: https://www.greenmarine.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/05/2016_Performance_Report.pdf Established in 2007, Green Marine is a North American environmental certification program for the maritime transportation industry. The program stems from the maritime industry’s voluntary initiative to surpass regulatory requirements. The Green Marine program’s unique character derives from the support being earned from more than 50 environmental groups and government agencies. These supporters contribute to shaping and revising the program. Read more at www.green-marine.org. The Port of Hueneme is one of the most productive and efficient commercial trade gateways for niche cargo on the West Coast. The Port is governed by five locally elected Port Commissioners. The Port moves $9 billion in goods each year and consistently ranks among the top ten U.S. ports for automobiles and fresh produce. Port operations support the community by bringing $1.5 billion in economic activity and creating 13,633 trade-related jobs. Trade through the Port of Hueneme generates more than $93 million in direct and related state and local taxes, which fund vital community services. www.portofhueneme.org Soluble Power
June 11- August 20, 2017 Contemporary approaches in SoCal Art using the medium of water color are showcased in Soluble Power on display at the Carnegie Art Museum from June 11- August 20, 2017. It features the art of Gary Brewer of Los Angeles, Gail Faulkner of Ventura, Joanne Julian of Oxnard, Mona Neuhaus of Oxnard, Paul Pitsker of Santa Monica and Doug Shoemaker recently of Palm Springs. Ground pigment suspended in water is one of the oldest mediums known, waning and rising in popularity with changes is technology over the centuries. California artists excelling in both oil painting and watercolor burst out from 1925-1955 with a new a popular approach for watercolor that was quintessentially Californian and was named The California Style. Gone was the pencil detailed English approach, replaced with using large sheets of paper, sweeping free brush strokes, bold color and strong, quick lines. Although currently more paintings in acrylic and oil seem to be commonly displayed, Southern California artists’ experimentation with watercolor to push it to depict contemporary visions continues unarrested. Gary Brewer captures the rich universe of complex life forms, sharing how they engage and excite the mind. A self-taught artist, his fascination with the natural world began in the Mojave Desert where he was raised and has gone on to have works in a variety of mediums exhibited in galleries and museums in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Gail Faulkner’s works amazingly convey the richness of old master oil paintings but with the reflections and fresh hues of watercolor. Following a career in the medical field, Faulkner attended the Philadelphia College of Art and the Sanski Art Center in Haddonfield, New Jersey. Among her numerous awards are first place in the 2008 California Gold Coast Watercolor Society. Decades of drawing, painting and printmaking have provided Joanne Julian a foundation for watercolor works. Presently her methodology for watercolor does not differ from her approaches to other media. Mandatory are paying attention and being in the moment. Also pacing, timing, control or lack of it, and with watercolor, liquidity and the weather play a role in the artist’s outcome. A traditional landscape painter at heart, Mona Neuhaus paints primarily in the media of soft pastel and in watercolor. The often rugged and wide open scenes of America’s, and especially California’s, country side provide her limitless inspiration. Neuhaus’ works are in the Museum of Ventura County’s "Bank of A. Levy Corporate Collection" and the Collection of Jackson Wheeler (often a lender to the Carnegie Art Museum) as well as in corporate and private collections throughout the United States, Mexico and Japan. Because the watercolor medium is transparent and its materials vulnerable when being applied, Paul Pitsker has been inspired to use it for transparent, fragile and vulnerable subjects. A key goal for Pitsker is to make paintings that do not look like traditional watercolors by incorporating uncustomary effects like an intense velvety black for backgrounds. Growing up the artist’s family lived in a wildlife sanctuary in New England. At the nearby sanctuary visitor center, Pitsker was allowed to draw by the hour and to photograph the small museum’s mounted bird specimens, laying the rudimentary ground work of his process today. Despite his early art interest, he majored in mathematics at Pomona College in Claremont. Pursuing art seriously after graduation, Pitsker took courses in drawing, watercolor painting, and completed an independent mentor program at Santa Monica College. Realist painter, Doug Shoemaker, works in his chosen medium of watercolor to explore the richness and complexity of everyday, ordinary objects in our urban and natural environment. Elements of the built and natural environment, often abandoned or decaying in sunlight and shadow inspire the artist to create meaningful images where the ordinary becomes memorable. Trained as an architect at Lawrence Technological University, Shoemaker advanced his interests in painting and drawing en plein air at the Cranbrook Academy and in intaglio printmaking at the Fort Mason Art Center in San Francisco. In 2015 he was selected as a Joshua Tree National Park Artist-in-Residence affording the opportunity to alter his focus from the urban to the rural environment. His work was a part of the Artists Council Exhibition at the Palm Springs Museum of Art in 2013 and 2014. This summer Shoemaker’s recent paintings will be exhibited at Skidmore Contemporary Art at Bergamot Station in Santa Monica. Opening Reception Saturday, June 10 4 -6 pm $10 / members free images from top left: (detail) Medusa’s Garden, watercolor on paper 18" x 30" by Gary Brewer, 2013. Collection of the Artist. (detail) The Feathered Pot, watercolor on paper, 18" x 26" by Gail Faulkner, 2016. Courtesy Tartaglia Fine Art. (detail) Black Sea, watercolor on Arches paper, 22" x30" by Joanne Julian, 2009. Collection of the Artist. (detail) Bien Nacido Vineyards, watercolor on paper, 15"x2" by Mona Neuhaus, 2008. Collection of the Artist. (detail) Desert Center View, watercolor on paper, 35" x 34", by Doug Shoemaker, 2014. Collection of the Artist. (detail) Sparky, watercolor on paper by Paul Pitsker, 2013. Collection of the Artist. Location: 424 South C Street Oxnard, CA 93030 805-385-8158 Carnegieam.org Hours: Thurs - Sat 10 am - 5 pm | Sun - 1 pm - 5 pm closed holidays and between exhibits Admission: Adults $4 Students $3 Seniors $2 Children (6 and up) $1 under 6 free
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