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The voices of San Leandro’s business community have been heard!
The Chamber of Commerce took a firm stand against rushing this complex tax overhaul onto the ballot. Submitting an unfinished tax structure to voters—without fully defining rules around "gross receipts" or accurately assessing the cumulative impact on local supply chains—was a risk our local economy could not afford.
The City Council faced a defining choice: push the proposal directly to the upcoming ballot, or postpone the measure to 2028 to thoroughly evaluate its real-world economic impact and refine the language. Thanks to your coordinated opposition, the council chose to hit the pause button.
With five City Council members in attendance, the motion to postpone passed with a clear majority:
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Voted YES to Postpone (The Winning Majority): Mayor Juan González, Councilmember Xouhoa Bowen, Councilmember Fred Simon, and Councilmember James Aguilar.
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Voted NO: Councilmember Dylan Boldt.
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Absent: Vice Mayor Sbeydeh Viveros-Walton and Councilmember Victor Aguilar, Jr.
We want to extend our sincere appreciation to Mayor González and Councilmembers Bowen, Simon, and J. Aguilar for listening to the business community's grave concerns and prioritizing fiscal responsibility.
While this postponement gives our business ecosystem a massive sigh of relief, our work is just beginning. Over the next two years, the Chamber will remain actively engaged with city staff and elected officials. We will continue to advocate for smart, balanced, and growth-oriented policies that protect the independent businesses that make San Leandro a vibrant place to live and work.
We continue to stand firmly behind a core truth: A business-friendly city is a resident-friendly city. When local commerce thrives, our entire community wins.
| | Stand With the Organization That Stands Up For You | | |
A business-friendly city requires constant vigilance, and our advocacy relies on the strength of our network.
By joining the San Leandro Chamber of Commerce, you add your voice to a powerful organization dedicated to protecting your interests and keeping our local economy thriving.
Join Today—because when we stand together, we win together.
| | Happy 250th Anniversary, America! | | Cheers to 250 years of grit, growth, and the enterprise that moves us forward! | | |
As we cross the historic threshold of America’s 250th anniversary, we look back at the relentless engine of American business. Here at the Chamber, we know the history of America happened right on our streets, inside our storefronts, and on our factory floors. For decades, we have had a front-row seat to this journey, watching global shifts filter through the lens of our own backyard.
Over the last two and a half centuries, it was business that built the physical and digital infrastructure of the nation:
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The Industrial Age laid thousands of miles of rail, connecting coast to coast, and turning raw resources into a modern economy.
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The Age of Scale revolutionized manufacturing through assembly lines, making goods affordable, and lifting millions into a thriving middle class.
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The Digital Revolution democratized information, pioneering microchips, and creating a borderless marketplace that defines global commerce today.
But the true significance of business in America’s 250-year story is measured in adaptability. Through panics, pandemics, depressions, world wars, and technological disruptions, the American business community has consistently reinvented itself.
We see this resilience intimately every single day. We watch small shops grow into foundational industries and garage startups become global leaders. We see our members’ businesses pivot overnight to keep our neighbors employed. Whenever the macro-economy shifts, it is our local businesses that figure out how to adapt.
Every era of progress has had entrepreneurs who looked at a problem and saw an opportunity, and a workforce that turned that vision into reality.
As we look forward to the next chapter of the American story, your Chamber of Commerce stands ready, as we always have, to serve as the advocate, the convener, and the champion for the enterprise that builds our community. Thank you for letting us be a part of your story, and for being the driving force behind ours.
| | Civic Duty and Business: Shaping the Local Decisions That Impact You | | |
As we celebrate America’s 250-year history this month, let’s remember true American self-governance has always been a bottom-up story. Today’s local officials are tomorrow’s national leaders. The person running for a school board or a city council seat today is building the track record to run for county supervisor, state legislature, or Congress down the road.
The reality of running a business is that local decisions dictate your daily operations. Zoning laws, property taxes, business taxes, permitting timelines, and infrastructure investments are decided by the people sitting on our local councils.
That is why we need to pay close attention to who is in office. As business owners the most patriotic actions we can take happen right here in our city halls, school boards, and county commissions. Ideally, we need more leaders from the business community to run for office. Entrepreneurs and managers bring invaluable skills to public office—you understand how to balance a budget, manage risk, negotiate and deal with the reality of a payroll.
But even if putting your own name on the ballot isn't right for you, your business experience is still desperately needed. Civic duty also means supporting the right people with the right initiatives.
As a business leader, you have the unique ability to look at a local ballot measure or a candidate’s platform and see its real-world economic impact. By lending your voice, your network, and your business perspective to support common-sense, pro-growth leaders and initiatives, you help shape a community where enterprise can thrive.
Civic engagement isn't just about voting every four years. Whether it means pulling papers to run yourself, backing candidates who understand the local economy, or staying active through Chamber Membership, your involvement matters. Let's honor the legacy of America by actively shaping its future, right here at home.

Have you ever thought about running for elected office? Our community needs your business perspective at the table. If you've ever considered stepping up to run for local office—or just want to learn more about what it takes—reach out to us at the Chamber. We are here to help connect you with resources, insights, and the network you need to get started. Contact us today to start the conversation.
| | San Leandro Restaurant Week | | |
Shake up your dining routine! San Leandro Restaurant Week is officially here from July 19th through July 25th, and it’s the perfect excuse to head out and explore the incredible flavors thriving right in your own neighborhood. Local kitchens are stepping up with exclusive specials, unique dishes, and plenty of reasons to grab a table:
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Incredible Ethnic Eats & Treats: Experience a rich world of flavor right down the street. We’re talking authentic Asian noodle houses, standout Mexican cuisine, and an organic, Indian-flavored ice cream parlor.
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Breweries, Pizza & Bites: Hit up our heavy-hitting craft breweries. They’re serving up locally made pours paired perfectly with fresh artisanal pizzas, delicious pub fare, and savory appetizers.
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Comforting Bay Staples: Enjoy timeless dining down by the water or head to sleek downtown hubs. Our local gastropubs are serving up generous portions of crowd favorites like Brussels sprouts, shrimp tacos, duck poutine, and brisket platters.
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After-Work Bars & Pubs: Looking for the ultimate spot to meet up after a day at work? Several of our local restaurants boast excellent bar areas with great libations. Discover friendly neighborhood pubs and lively bars serving up everything from custom drinks to great Mexican food.
Bring your appetite, round up your friends, and come see what San Leandro is bringing to the table this week!
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SAN LEANDRO CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | www.sanleandrochamber.com
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