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Friday, August 28, 2020 | View as Webpage
GOV’S NEW REOPEN RULES AT NOON, AGAIN LEGISLATURE FAILS ON HOUSING, SAVE LOCAL JOURNALISM STILL ALIVE, AND MORE!
HOT OFF THE PRESS
DON'T MISS THIS - TODAY IS THE FINAL DAY OF OCBC'S WASHINGTON, D.C. VIRTUAL SUMMIT:*
  • Join Congresswoman Katie Porter and Congressman Harley Rouda at 11:00 a.m. Register here!

OC REGISTER CALIFORNIA BALLOT PROPOSITIONS 101:*
  • With 12 ballot propositions on the November election, voters will vote on changes to prop 13, affirmative action, and more. View ballot propositions. OCBC strongly opposes Prop 15—changing Prop 13’s tax protections; and supports Prop 22—exempting ride-share drivers from new employee vs independent contractor rules. Stay tuned for more.

GOVERNOR TO ANNOUNCE NEW REOPENING GUIDELINES AT NOON TODAY.* 
  • What we’re hearing: A new tier system? Loss of local control vs. state control on re-openings? We hope it’s not true. Stay tuned for more.

DISNEY, UNIVERSAL AND SEAWORLD SAY CALIFORNIA PARKS ARE PREPARED TO REOPEN:*
  • During a roundtable conversation in Orlando, Florida, California theme park executives state they are “ready to roll” and work with the Orange County Health Care Agency while awaiting the release of state guidelines.

HELP CHILDREN LOCALLY - HERE ARE THE TOP 5 NEEDS AT CHOC CHILDREN'S:*
  • Below are the top five items CHOC has identified as the highest priority and shortage needs this week. Contact Rachel Rolnicki for more information.
  1. Surgical Cap (24 inch Primary Blue Large Print)
  2. N95 Regular Masks
  3. N95 Small Masks
  4. Isolation Gown (Universal)
  5. Disinfecting Wipes (Purple Top)

OC EMERGENCY CHILDCARE TASK FORCE DELIVERS ESSENTIAL SUPPLIES TO CHILDCARE PROVIDERS:*
  • Childcare facilities that care for essential workers’ children received over 400 donation kits that contain essential cleaning and hygiene supplies.

COX PROVIDES ADDITIONAL SUPPORT FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES LEARNING FROM HOME:*
  • Through June 30, 2021 Cox is suspending late fees and extending payment relief offerings for customers in the company’s low-cost internet program Connect2Compete who express an inability to pay due to pandemic hardships. Continue reading.

MUSIC IN BLOOM: PACIFIC SYMPHONY OPENING NIGHT SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 26TH:*
  • Save the date for a virtual Opening Night Celebration Honoring the 2020-21 Hal and Jeanette Segerstrom Family Foundation Classical Series. Learn More.

SUPPORT LOCAL RESTAURANTS! SHARE THE SafeDineOC PROGRAM TODAY!:
  • Qualifying restaurants will receive a $1,000 grant after completing a five minute application. Learn more.
ADVOCACY UPDATES
ACT TODAY! BILL PROTECTING LOCAL JOURNALISM IS ON SENATE FLOOR:
  • AB 323, the Save Local Journalism Act, will give ethnic, mid-size and daily newspapers two additional years to comply with AB 5. During the pandemic, local newspapers like the Orange County Register have become even more crucial resources for the community. However, the economic downturn has caused advertising revenues to plummet. Costs associated with AB 5 compliance existentially threaten newspapers. AB 323 is on the Senate floor and could be heard as early as today — learn more about how to call and voice your support HERE. 

OCBC DISAPPOINTED AS LEGISLATURE KILLS MOST SIGNIFICANT HOUSING BILLS:*
  • This has been an unprecedented session as COVID-19 shifted focus and forced two prolonged shutdowns at the Capitol. However, the most impactful housing bills—the number one priority before the pandemic—are dead for now due to disagreements between the Assembly and Senate and opposition from environmental and labor groups. Bills like AB 3279, which would have made reasonable fixes to CEQA, and SB 902, which would have allowed cities to streamline zoning allowing more homes near transit and jobs, stalled in Committees. Despite State leadership commitment to meaningfully address the housing crisis, proposals that would a real difference continue to be squashed. Some bills are moving forward. SB 1299, a bill to incentivize more development on commercial areas (an approach OCBC has researched extensively), is on the Assembly floor, though it was recently amended to include prevailing wage requirements that hinder the very developments it seeks to encourage. OCBC will continue to urge legislators to pass serious and impactful laws to spur new workforce housing.

ECONOMIC RECOVERY
YMCA PROVIDES CHILDCARE PROGRAMS FOR BUSINESSES:*
  • The YMCA of Orange County provides distance learning support, employer-subsidized child care programs for K-8th grade, and on-site company child care. Learn more.

VIRTUAL BUSINESS OUTREACH RALLY PROVIDES DATA ABOUT BUSINESS DURING COVID-19:*
  • The Greater Irvine Chamber spoke with over 120 businesses to survey what businesses have experienced with COVID-19. Reports show that 27.5% are interested in access to federal, state, county, and local business assistance and 20% want access to business resources and expertise. View data here.

BUSINESS RESOURCES:
EXIM's 2020 ANNUAL CONFERENCE:*
  • Keeping America Strong: Empowering U.S. Businesses and Workers to Compete Globally will be September 9th to 11th. Hear from featured speaker such as Larry Kudlow, Director of the National Economic Council and Wilbur Ross, Secretary of Commerce and many more. Register here!

BE COUNTED AND COMPLETE THE 2020 CENSUS:*
  • Represent your community and fill out the 2020 Census to help shape the future funding and economic growth of Orange County. Respond here.

SMALL BUSINESS RESOURCES:
COVID-19 NEWS:
OC FAIRGROUNDS HOUSES SECOND COVID-19 SUPER SITE:
  • The OC Fairgrounds testing center will open from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and conduct up to 1,000 tests daily with results in 24 to 48 hours. The drive-thru test site is available by appointment only, with web registration soon available in multiple languages. Book an appointment here.

MASSIVE COVID-19 TEST LAB TO INCREASE CAPACITY AND LOWER COSTS:
  • A new partnership between the state and diagnostics company PerkinElmer is set to run 150,000 test a day for COVID-19 and the flu by November 1. Tests will be provided at an affordable cost and show results in less than 48 hours.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES AND UPDATES
HUMAN OPTIONS VIRTUAL FALL EVENT - IGNITING SOCIAL CHANGE: THE IMPACT OF CHILDHOOD TRAUMA - A CONVERSATION WITH DR. NADINE BURKE HARRIS:*
  • Join Human Options on October 15th, 2020 at 12 p.m. for an important conversation with Dr. Nadine Burke Harris on the impact of childhood trauma. Learn more!

CALIFORNIA BALLOT TRACKING TOOL AVAILABLE STATEWIDE:*
  • All California voters may sign up for the “Where’s My Ballot?” tracking tool to receive automatic updates on when the county elections office has mailed the voter’s ballot, received the voter’s ballot, counted the voter’s ballot, and if any issues occurred. Register now!

STAY INFORMED SIGN UP FOR OC ALERT:*
  • OC Alert is operated by the County of Orange to bring residents and businesses immediate notifications about county emergencies. Sign up here!

THIS WEEKEND - IRVINE MODIFIED FARMERS MARKET:*
  • The Modified Farmers Market will be open for drive-thru on Sunday, August 29 from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. in lot 2 at the Orange County Great Park.

THIS WEEKEND - ORANGE COUNTY FAIR FOOD DRIVE-THRU:
  • Enjoy your favorite fair foods at the OC Fairgrounds in Costa Mesa on Fridays-Saturdays from noon- 8p.m. and Sundays from noon- 6 p.m.

MEMBERS IN THE NEWS: 
SNA: 5 THINGS WE LOVE ABOUT JOHN WAYNE AIRPORT:*
  1. The OC AirPASS- Pass-holders can dine, shop, watch plans, and send off loved ones from 6 a.m. - 7 p.m. 
  2. JWALive- Live terminal music performances featured by local musicians. 
  3. JWA AirPAWS Therapy Dog Program- Therapy dogs trained by the Orange County Animal Allies greet terminal guests. 
  4. JWA Art Program- Museum-quality art exhibits throughout the terminals. 
  5. JWA Helping Hands- Assist travelers with hidden disabilities navigate the airport in a relaxed and smooth environment.

NORTHBOUND CARPOOL LANES OPEN ON I-5:
  • Four months ahead of schedule, OCTA and Caltrans open a second carpool lane in both directions on the I-5 between SR-55 and SR-57. The I-5 Central County Improvements Project is to help accelerate commutes and diminish bottlenecks through Santa Ana, Orange and Tustin and will continue with additional electrical, landscaping and signage installation.

WHERE TO GET TESTING IN OC:

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RESOURCES
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If you have questions on how to get connected with OCBC online,
contact James Alley, at 714.501.9893 or jalley@ocbc.org.
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