Last month, I was thrilled to host CRA's 2022 Annual Meeting. Thank you to all who attended! We were joined by members from throughout the country who helped strategize for 2023, talk through issues important to retail in California (and the country) and develop initiatives that will continue to elevate CRA's voice in the state. We heard from the 2024 PAGA Initiative Campaign and Energy Code Ace, went over planning for the Cal-ORCA Conference- the first one held under CRA's management!- and started planning several events for next year including Retail Policy Roundtables, Retail Advocacy Day at the Capitol, CRA's Annual Legislative Reception and Local Retail Theft Roundtables.

We also confirmed the Association's 2023 Board of Directors and Officers, recapped our successes from the 2021-2022 Legislative Session and presented CRA's first official legislative scorecard.

I hope you will take a moment and read the highlights from the meeting. If you have any questions about the Annual Meeting or what was discussed, please do not hesitate to reach out to me directly.

Rachel

Congratulations to Our Honorees!

• Nick Johnson - Outgoing Board Chair
• Cindy Laubacher - Outgoing Board Member
• Chuck Miller - Outgoing Board Member
• Francisco Uribe - Outgoing Board Member

Special congrats to Cindy on her retirement! 

2022 Reflections

As 2022 comes to an end and we learn to live with COVID, the California Retailers Association focused the past year not only working to ensure the retail industry could survive in California, but thrive. This year CRA’s advocacy resulted in a RECORD amount of funding for Organized Retail Crime. We continued to advocate in streamlining the goods movement in the state and led the business industry on trying to find compromise on Paid Sick Leave.

CRA continues to grow the brand within California and on the national stage as a voice for retail in the 5th largest economy in the world. CRA worked with Governor Newsom on homelessness and supply chain issues, among other issues. CRA represented the retail industry on the Cal OSHA advisory board, and worked with local governments such as San Francisco and Los Angeles on issues related to retail theft and predicative scheduling.

CRA led the public outreach campaigns to lessen the impact of quotas in California’s warehouses through our advocacy on AB 701 and we leaned in on the issue of retail theft and ORC though the efforts of our Californians for Safe Stores and Neighborhoods Campaign.

Through legislative, political, regulatory and public outreach campaigns, the CRA team positions CRA at the forefront of rapid response to the Governor, the State Legislature, local governments and the media surrounding opportunities and obstacles facing the retail industry in California. 

SAVE THE DATE - CRA LEGISLATIVE DAYS 2023

Save the date for a three-day education and advocacy event CRA will be hosting on Tuesday January 31- Thursday, February 2, 2023. The forum will include:

• Policy roundtable discussions on current issues affecting the retail industry
• Retail Leader and Friends of Retail reception
• Advocacy day for CRA members to meet with state legislators
• Board dinner
• Board meeting

Additional details will be provided at our next board meeting in December.