In This Issue:

• SPLIT ROLL TAX WILL HURT STATE BUSINESSES!

• DAVE COGDILL ELECTED SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER

• ATTACK OF THE KILLER BUDGET DEFICIT; $16B AND GROWING

• BILL INTRODUCTION DEADLINE TODAY

• ACTIVISTS DECLARE WAR ON “CAP-AND-TRADE”

• GREENHOUSE GAS CLASS

• PARTY OF ONE; WEINTRAUB ON SCHWARZENEGGER

• ICSC STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP SUMMIT MARCH 4-5

• GREEN CALIFORNIA SUMMIT AND EXPOSITION APRIL 7-9

• GREENTALK; RETAIL REAL ESTATE SUSTAINABILITY Q&A

• 2008 CBPA CALENDAR

SPLIT ROLL TAX WILL HURT STATE BUSINESSES!

Assemblymember Cameron Smyth (R – Santa Clarita) has penned an op/ed strongly opposing split roll property tax and other “revenue enhancements” proposed in the state budget.  Below is an excerpt and you can read the full article by clicking here.

Small businesses and retailers who lease their space will likely see their rents increase as landlords raise the rents to cover the increased taxes. Many companies will simply be unable to afford this massive tax increase, and will be forced to leave the state or close their doors altogether, threatening jobs for thousands of Californians.

DAVE COGDILL ELECTED SENATE REPUBLICAN LEADER

State Senate Republicans elected Dave Cogdill (R - Modesto) as their next leader.  Senator Cogdill is as pro-business as they come.  Senator Cogdill has outlined his priorities in an article that can be read by clicking here. 

We let you know last week that Senator Steinberg (D-Sacramento) was named as the new Senate pro Tem.

Congratulations to both Senators Steinberg and Cogdill.  We look forward to working with them in these new capacities.

ATTACK OF THE KILLER BUDGET DEFICIT; $16B AND GROWING

Although state policymakers have agreed to some “mid-year adjustments” and the Governor has announced a state hiring freeze, California's budget shortfall has swollen from $14.5 billion to $16 billion, according to the Legislature's chief fiscal analyst.

BILL INTRODUCTION DEADLINE TODAY

Even as the budget deficit continues to grow it is “business as usual” for the Legislature and the “great ideas” keep coming… Today is bill introduction deadline for the second half of the 2007-2008 Legislative year, and by the end of the day, a couple thousand new bills will be in the breach and aimed your way. CBPA staff is in the process of reading every single bill to identify those that will have an impact on our industry. We have already identified bills that if passed will make it harder for you to build in this state, increase your taxes and fees, force you to become a mini-utility, and mandate that you use permeable pavement. We will keep you posted!

ACTIVISTS DECLARE WAR ON “CAP-AND-TRADE”

“Environmental Justice” advocates in five California cities launched a statewide campaign Tuesday to "fight at every turn" any global-warming regulation that allows industries to trade carbon emissions. The 21-Point "Environmental Justice Movement Declaration " defiantly claims that the groups will “fight at every turn all efforts to establish a system of carbon trading and offset use in California.” Such a system is key in implementing California’s landmark AB 32 law which mandates that the state reduce its emissions of carbon to 1990 levels. The declaration claims that a cap-and-trade system will harm low income neighborhoods and that “Asian, Black, Latino, and Native American communities in the United States, as well as indigenous and poor people around the world, disproportionately bear the negative economic, environmental, and health impacts of the fossil fuel economy.”

GREENHOUSE GAS CLASS

Former Governor and current State Attorney General Jerry Brown has announced he is convening “regional schools” for local government officials to “educate” them on how to enact tough local ordinances on such issues as energy efficiency mandates and transportation impact fees.  Brown stated in a letter released to the media that "these workshops launch the first statewide movement to reduce the negative impact of local planning decisions on global climate."  Translated from bureaucratese into plain English, these classes are meant to show local planning agencies how to kill business and further suppress the economy. Click here to read the full story.

PARTY OF ONE; WEINTRAUB ON SCHWARZENEGGER

Although we do not usually review or recommend books, we thought a new tome that just came out about Governor Schwarzenegger’s time in office might be of particular interest.  Written by highly respected Sacramento Bee political journalist Dan Weintraub this book analyzes a fascinating time in our state’s political history. Weintraub gave attendees at our Strategic Issues Conference last Fall a sneak-peek-speech which left many in the room anxious to hear the full analysis. You can order the book online by clicking here.

ICSC STRATEGIC LEADERSHIP SUMMIT MARCH 4-5

The 2008 International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) Strategic Leadership Summit in Washington, DC is the shopping center industry’s “Day on Capitol Hill.” This meeting is an excellent opportunity for ICSC members to convey to Congress retail real estate’s legislative agenda and educate lawmakers about the economic contributions of their businesses to communities nationwide. If you are interested in attending as part of the California Delegation please contact Rex Hime. Click here for more information.

GREEN CALIFORNIA SUMMIT AND EXPOSITION APRIL 7-9

Builders, property managers, developers, facilities managers and others involved in real estate should not miss the Green California Summit (April 7-9, Sacramento Convention Center). The event, guided by an Advisory Board that includes senior state officials and leaders from the real estate community, combines an exposition featuring hundreds of green products and services with seminars and training. Discover green tools that can save you money, preserve the environment and give you a competitive edge - and find out about regulations and policy that are changing the industry. For more information, click here. CBPA members get a special 20% discount – simply enter “CBPA” as a Coupon Code towards the end of the registration.

GREENTALK; RETAIL REAL ESTATE SUSTAINABILITY Q&A

ICSC's Research Scholar, Jerry Yudelson, will answer your questions on green development and operations—drawing upon his expertise as a professional engineer and one of the leading authorities on green development and marketing green buildings.  Find out more about the call by clicking here.

2008 CBPA CALENDAR

June 10-11: California Commercial Real Estate Summit &
CBPA Annual Meeting
Sacramento, CA

October 23: CBPA Board Meeting and CBPA Awards Dinner
The Island (formerly the Four Seasons), Newport Beach