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2020 is a year of unprecedented challenges, not only for the essential work of business improvement districts (BIDs), but for almost all aspects of our daily lives. This year's new rules of engagement created by the COVID-19 pandemic of social distancing, shelter-in-place orders, and working from home, have devastated our economy, and our vibrant commercial districts. These new rules run counter to our core mission as BIDs. We are community-builders and it is next to impossible for us to achieve our mission if we cannot bring a critical mass of people to our commercial corridors, to our public spaces, to our businesses, and into our neighborhoods.

If there is a silver lining to this horrific year it has to be that our "new normal" has afforded us the opportunity to slow down and reflect deeply on what is most important to us as individuals, to the organizations we lead, and to the communities we serve. The tremendous challenges presented by the pandemic have been greatly exasperated by the horrific, high profile murder of George Floyd in May at the hands of a police officer. The many months of social unrest that followed in cities throughout the country brought more boarded up businesses to our commercial districts, leading all the way up to the most contentious presidential election in modern American history. But amidst all of this turmoil, awareness of America's deep history of racial discrimination and inequity rose to unprecedented levels across the country. As a result, many community leaders and organizations, including the California Downtown Association, began to look more closely at issues of diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) and began exploring how they could become community-builders and problem solvers who are working to facilitate more equitable and just communities.

In June, the CDA Board of Directors began discussions on issues of race, equity and inclusion. In July, we formalized the organization's very first DEI Task Force with a two primary goals: first, to focus on our own organizational development and DEI assessment program; and second, to gather and vet resources to help educate and guide CDA members in creating more progressive and wholistic organizations and communities.

Via our website and monthly CDA District Digest newsletters, our task force will provide ongoing updates on our work. Additionally, CDA is working with our partners at the International Downtown Association to organize and present a DEI-focused webinar in March of 2020 to follow through on our commitment to make DEI resources and educational opportunities available to you, our valued CDA members.

Executive Director,

Downtown Oakland & Lake Merritt-Uptown District Associations

California voters sent a strong message to initiative proponents and policymakers by rejecting two major ballot measures that would have had devastating effects on commercial properties, tenants and prospective homeowners looking for new housing opportunities within our downtowns. The Board of the California Downtown Association carefully considered both initiatives and took an “oppose” position on both Proposition 15 & 21.

CDA Position: OPPPOSE

The ballot measure would have made significant changes to the current Proposition 13 (enacted by voters in 1978) by allowing local governments to assess commercial property taxes based on that property’s current market value versus capping the tax assessment based on when that property was sold.

Although Proposition 15 wouldn’t have applied to residential property owners, the initiative would have imposed a $13 billion tax increase on commercial property owners who own properties valued at over $3 million. The initiative would have unfairly punished property owners who have owned their properties the longest – as long-standing owners who would see the biggest spikes in tax assessments compared to property owners who recently purchased their properties.

Small businesses would have been severely impacted because under most commercial leases, tenants often pay the property taxes through a “triple net lease” structure. Therefore, in many cases, the tax increase would have been passed along to the tenant’s existing lease. COVID-19 has had a devastating impact on the economic condition of our downtowns. Proposition 15 would have imposed a severe tax increase to our commercial properties and small businesses at a time in which we can least afford it.

CDA Position: OPPOSE

The proposition would have repealed portions of the state’s existing rental housing laws and open the door for extreme forms of “rent control” that would likely be enacted at the local level. Prop. 21 would have allowed for the establishment of permanent price caps on all forms of housing including single family homes and condominiums.

Furthermore, Prop. 21 would have undermined a new statewide rent control law just months after the law went into effect. That law was recently approved and signed by the Governor and represents some of the strongest renter protections in the country.

Prop. 21 would have depressed residential property values and would result in fewer housing options being made available to tenants exacerbating the current housing shortage. Prop. 21 was nearly identical to Prop. 10 (2018) which was rejected by voters 60% no, 40% yes. CDA opposed Prop. 10 in 2018 as well.

Bryant Government Affairs

November 2020 Legislative Update 

We Are Not Divided

When the city closed streets to traffic during Covid, it revealed a fix for designs that cater to white and moneyed interests.

Green B

California — as well as the rest of the United States and, in some cases, the rest of the world

The Source

The plan will increase frequency of buses, improve service on most routes and put more buses in areas with the greatest demand.

University of California

Of the top 100 most populous cities in the U.S. as of 2017, less than half (45) had climate action plans.

Streetsblog

The Bay Area is still a long way from having cycling rates comparable to the Netherlands.

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