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December 2019
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
President
Andrew Thomas
Westwood Village Improvement Association

1st Vice President
Steve Snider
Downtown Oakland and Lake Merritt-Uptown District Associations
 
2nd 1st Vice President
Emilie Cameron 
Downtown Sacramento Partnership

Secretary
Kathy Hemmenway
Walnut Creek Downtown
 
Treasurer
Austin Metoyer
Downtown Long Beach Alliance
 
At-Large Directors
Marshall Anderson
Downtown San Diego Partnership

John Caner
Downtown Berkeley

Karin Flood
Union Square Business Improvement District

Suzanne Holley
Downtown Center Business Improvement District (LA)

Rena Leddy
LA Fashion District
 
Steve Mulheim
Old Pasadena Management District

Chloe Verrey
San Jose Downtown Association
 
Immediate Past President
Steven Welliver
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.
CDA MEMBERS
Arlington Business Partnership
Arts District Los Angeles BID
Bixby Knolls Business Improvement Association
Carmichael Improvement District, Inc.
City of Beverly Hills
City of Monterey Park
City of Ontario
City of San Diego - Economic Development Dept.
City of San Jose - Office of Econ Dev
Civitas
County of Santa Cruz - Office of Economic Development
Downtown Association of Santa Cruz
Downtown Berkeley Association
Downtown Business Association-Bakersfield
Downtown Center BID
Downtown Long Beach Alliance
Downtown Modesto Partnership
Downtown Oakland Association/ Lake Merritt Uptown District Association
Downtown Pomona Owners Association
Downtown Roseville Partnership
Downtown Sacramento Partnership
Downtown Santa Barbara, Inc.
Downtown Santa Monica, Inc.
Downtown SLO
Downtown Vacaville BID
Downtown Ventura Partners
Downtown Visalians, Inc.
East Hollywood BID
Figueroa Corridor Partnership
Gateway to LA Airport Business District
Gilroy Economic Development
Greater Broadway District
Hollywood Property Owners Alliance
Kono CBD
LA Downtown Industrial District BID
LA Fashion District BID
La Jolla Village Merchants Association
LeerCorp
North Tahoe Business Association
Old Monterey Business Association
Old Pasadena Management District 
ParkSmart, Inc.
Paso Robles Main Street Association
Playhouse District Association
Progressive Urban Management Associates, Inc.
R Street Sacramento Partnership
Riverside Downtown Partnership
San Jose Downtown Association
South Park BID
Sunnyvale Downtown
Telegraph BID
Temescal Telegraph BID
The River District
Times Square Alliance
Tracy City Center Association
Tulare Downtown Association
Union Square BID
Walnut Creek Downtown Business Association
Westwood Village Improvement Association 


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MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT
Andrew Thomas VP
As 2019 nears its end, I am grateful for the incredible relationships I’ve made through CDA. I have always felt that because of our unique shared experiences, our community is especially close and supportive. I was particularly touched by an email I received from Chip, formerly of the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz, and now with the Downtown Boulder Partnership.

How CDA Benefited My District and My Career 

When I was hired to lead the Downtown Association of Santa Cruz in 2008, I had no idea how little I knew about running a business improvement district. I had no mentoring and very little training. My first several years, I felt isolated but did my best to figure out my responsibilities while on the job. 

I finally decided to spend what seemed like quite a bit of money out of our small budget on a membership to the California Downtown Association. That might have been the best investment I made for Downtown Santa Cruz and for myself. At my first CDA West Coast Urban District Forum (WCUDF), I was introduced to literally hundreds of professionals who vividly knew the challenges I struggled with every day. Doors were opened, and I learned about resources, vendors, ideas, and existing support, plus I met a community of people who were all passionate about making their city centers work as effectively as possible. 

Each year, after the WCUDF conference, I would return to Santa Cruz with a renewed energy, a contagious inspiration, and a network of new friends and advisors who were just a phone call or email away. The investment in CDA paid off in so many ways.

At the WCUDF in Los Angeles earlier this year, I learned that the CEO of the Downtown Boulder Partnership was stepping down. For me, the opportunity was a big step up with an increased budget, a larger staff, and in a bigger city. I felt confident in pursuing the position in large part because of the skills, education, and most importantly, the relationships I had gained through my participation with the CDA. 

I began as the CEO of Downtown Boulder in August 2019 and it really is my dream job. I am deeply grateful for the CDA community and I strongly encourage anyone serious about the work of downtown management to be involved with CDA. It is an investment in your Downtown, and also in yourself. Downtown Boulder is a member of CDA, so I will be attending the 2020 WCUDF in San Jose, and I’m grateful to be continuing my relationship with CDA.

Chip

Enjoy a joyous holiday season!

Andrew Thomas, CDA President
Executive Director
Westwood Village Improvement Association
REGISTRATION NOW OPEN
Join the San Jose Downtown Association, California Downtown Association and IDA for the 2020 West Coast Urban District Forum March 11-13, 2020. Master Talks and breakout sessions will explore how managing downtowns and public spaces has become much more than flower baskets and events. Experts will share best practices on economic development strategies, multi-generational leadership, and cross-sector collaboration and how it plays an important role in the work that we do.
Book your hote room today! The Fairmont San Jose, located at 170 South Market Street, is offering a rate of $249 USD/night for a standard room for WCUDF20 attendees. The deadline to book your room is Thursday, January 9, 2020. Reserve your room.

Please consider passing along the 2020 WCUDF sponsorship opportunities to companies that would benefit from working with other downtown organizations.
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Union Square Retailers Fight to Bar Cannabis Dispensary from ‘Luxury Zone’
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Changing the Climate from the Streets of Oakland
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How a broad-based community coalition influenced the creation of a just, equitable energy and climate plan for the city.
Spread the Word
Do you have your ear to the ground when it comes to the latest downtown news in your region? To submit news to be considered for inclusion in the newsletter, please contact Allison Shashok at allison@downtown.org .
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