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Legislative Retail Theft Package Remains Priority
As the Legislature returns in from summer recess on August 5th, the bipartisan Retail Theft Reduction Act, a comprehensive package of bills to combat retail theft, remains a high priority for legislators and the Governor. CDA has been at the forefront of this issue from its inception and has been actively advocating with lawmakers to pass the package of bills. The legislative package contains several elements to protect businesses and communities from serial retail theft and organized retail crime. The bills are now on the floor of their respective houses awaiting final votes before going to the Governor.
The package of bills was briefly in jeopardy when legislative leadership and the Governor added amendments to pressure ballot measure proponents to withdraw their November initiative to repeal parts of Proposition 47. Ultimately, the amendments were removed from the legislation and the legislative bill package will likely move forward and ballot measure proponents will move into campaign mode in an effort to pass Proposition 36 on the November ballot.
CDA Continues Opposing Senate Bill 1103 to Protect Property Assessments
As part of a broad business and real estate coalition, CDA continues to advocate against Senate Bill 1103 by Sen. Menjivar (D-Burbank), which would place onerous transparency and proportionality requirements for fees a landlord may charge certain tenant to recover building operating costs. CDA has also been actively working with the author’s office and sponsors to try to secure amendments that specifically exempt BID assessments from the requirements of the bill. CDA will continue to push for those amendments in the final weeks of the legislative session.
Select Committee on Downtown Recovery
CDA continues to work closely with Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), the Chair of the Select Committee on Downtown Recovery, which has been holding hearings across the state. The committee recently held a hearing in Los Angels focusing on “Investing in Downtown’s Essential Workforce.” The Committee is planning its next meeting in San Diego on August 16, which will focus on investing in the entertainment economy. CDA members and staff have been working closely with the committee on the logistics and agenda for the hearing. The committee is also coordinating with CDA to host a series of downtown tours throughout California later in the year.
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