OCBC 2010 PRESS RELEASES

OCBC, BIA/OC and OCTax Respond to City of Fullerton Council Member Shawn Nelson's Denial of Major Home Development
May 28, 2010
Contact: Matt Prince

IRVINE, CA – On Tuesday night the Fullerton city council took a vote on the approval on the Chevron development that would have built 760 homes on 510 acres in West Coyote Hills. The proposal also included building of nature preserves, trails, and significant funding for local schools. The council voted down the proposal in a 3-2 vote. The rejection of the proposal came
as a shock to the private sector; specifically Shawn Nelson’s vote to deny the project, since Councilman Nelson, in his race for Supervisor, claims to be a pro business / pro property rights conservative.

Kristine Thalman, BIA/OC CEO comments, “I am truly shocked Shawn Nelson voted against this important project and I question his judgment. This development would have meant 2,000 desperately needed jobs for the residents of our county.” Reed Royalty, Executive Director of OC Tax stated, “I’m very disappointed in the City Council’s decision to deny this opportunity for job creation and community development, stated Reed Royalty, President of the Orange County Taxpayers Association.” Orange County Business Council CEO, Lucy Dunn added, “Denying one of the largest economic development opportunities in North County is a devastating blow. In a time where private industry is suffering from record high unemployment and the worst economic conditions since the Great Depression, denying this project was a bad decision and we are extremely disappointed.”

OCBC, BIA/OC, and OC TAX all remain committed to promoting proactive participation in the progression of economic and community development issues in Orange County. To that end, we encourage elected officials at all levels of government support economic recovery and job creation. Standing in the way of economic development opportunities is counter productive and dangerous to the economic health of our region.

Orange County Business Council Endorses State Senator Lou Correa for Re-election
January 6, 2010
Contact: Matt Prince

IRVINE, CA —Orange County Business Council (OCBC), the leading voice of business in Orange County, has endorsed State Senator Lou Correa, representing the 34th state Senatorial District, for re-election.  Correa is a solid advocate of the Business Council’s key initiatives to enhance infrastructure investment, increase supply of workforce housing and promote solid education programs to ensure a skilled 21st century workforce.

“We are pleased to endorse Senator Lou Correa for re-election because of his strong record of support for OCBC’s business agenda,” said Lucy Dunn, President and CEO of the Orange County Business Council. 

Senator Correa understands the connection between a strong business environment, sustainable infrastructure and jobs creation. He has been supportive of expansion of the 91, a vital link in goods and people movement between the Inland Empire and Orange County, as well as expansion of the 57, and he has been the long-time advocate of the completion of the Santa Ana River project.  OCBC applauds the leadership Senator Correa has shown in supporting the comprehensive water package, a critical issue that directly impacts California’s future growth and sustainability, both economically and environmentally. 

Throughout his years of service in the Assembly and in the Senate, Correa has championed a number of legislative proposals, balancing the needs of the business community, environment and social equity, working to ensure a high quality of life for both Orange County and the state.  Senator Correa introduced legislation that proposed a simple and sensible reform to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) that doesn’t diminish its authority, but helps to facilitate the process and he also supported additional housing legislation that helps with home affordability by reducing regulatory red tape that drives up costs.  He has co-sponsored Enterprise Zone legislation, rightly seeing that the path to California’s economic recovery starts with giving business effective tools to create jobs and begin to grow again. 

State Senator Lou Correa was elected to the 34th Senate District in 2006, representing Anaheim, Buena Park, Fullerton, Garden Grove, Santa Ana, Stanton and Westminster. In 2004, Correa was elected to the Orange County Board of Supervisors, representing central Orange County.  Prior to his election to the Board of Supervisors, he served as a State Assembly Member from 1998 to 2004 representing the 69th District.

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Orange County Business Council Applauds Governor’s Solid Path to Jobs Creation
January 6, 2010
Contact: Matt Prince

IRVINE, CA —Orange County Business Council (OCBC) released the following statement today in response to Governor Schwarzenegger’s State of the State address.

“With a nod to the good intentions of every New Year’s resolution, we commend the Governor for his comprehensive plan to put California back on the road to recovery.  OCBC supports the California Jobs Initiative and, in particular, the new hire credit.  

“The first step on a long road to economic recovery is good training, to be sure.  But after all the training there must be jobs to go to, to be trained for. What California needs is an inviting business environment that encourages businesses to locate and grow here. Thriving businesses pay taxes that fill the state’s coffers. 

“OCBC encourages more of the good thinking behind the Governor’s proposals, and encourages more of the “regulatory reform” concept to include things like CEQA streamlining applied to state water projects and SB375 infrastructure exemptions for roads, water, and housing projects. 

“Most importantly, we’d like to see more job creation incentives, like Enterprise Zones, applied state wide.  To all that, we wish the Governor and the Legislature much success this year, and they shall have our strong support as they stay well-focused on the job creation path.  Business, government and labor will all win.”

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