California Coalition For Safe Re-Opening Presents Solutions For Secure And Expeditious Reopening Of Business

Colin Diaz, IOM

President/CEO

Culver City Chamber of Commerce

LOS ANGELES (July 7, 2020) – Following Governor Newsom’s order to temporarily close indoor dining and operations for restaurants in 19 counties less than a month after allowing them to reopen, the Culver City Chamber joined the California Coalition for Safe Re-Opening, a coalition of Chambers of Commerce and business associations throughout the state. The coalition came together to formulate proposals for reopening California businesses in a logical and methodical manner that maintains the safety and health of customers, workers and the public. Building on previous efforts, the coalition proposed a Three Point Economic and Public Health Recovery Plan – immediate measures that should be considered prior to any more business shutdowns.

Those measures include:

1.) Require the State to use emergency funds to supplement funding for county health departments and enforcement divisions that oversee adherence to reopening regulations. That would include authorizing counties to grant immediate reopening for all restaurants and bars that demonstrate compliance with that county’s reopening regulations, in accordance with state regulations.

2.) The creation of a California COVID-19 Emergency Business Interruption Fund to provide grants to businesses to cover expenses related to safe reopening in June 2020, as well as all losses including displaced revenue related to the July 1st closure order and future unanticipated closures.

3.) Creation of a Safe Re-Opening Task Force which would work directly with state and local officials in the implementation of Mandatory Testing and creation of Recovery Centers as the dual alternative to shutting down segments of the economy.

The Coalition emerged over the last few months through unprecedented dialogue among local businesses, organizations and chambers throughout California, and their members, who, while understanding the necessity of closure orders in March, are frustrated with the lack of coordination of re-openings and the haphazard recent closure orders. The Coalition urges local and county governments to support the effort to promote safe, organized, methodical and long-term reopening schedules.

The Coalition believes that safe re-openings and customer confidence are undermined by the most-recent closure orders issued by Governor Newsom. Businesses require stability and predictability, and the public needs confidence and certainty. Simply put, the economy cannot survive in an environment of “open one month, close it down the next month”, which is a dangerous precedence that threatens to impact all businesses under the guise of the “New Normal”.

Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber CEO and founder of the Save Small Business Coalition Nancy Hoffman Vanyek states, “Our businesses have vigilantly kept up with state, county and local orders, investing time and

finances into rehiring employees and readying their businesses for re-opening. To be then shut down again will further deplete their resources while damaging the workforce. Many restaurants invested heavily, hoping for a lucrative holiday weekend, but instead were met with food and financial waste as the allowed models highly restrict sales and production. Businesses should be able to make plans to move forward without fearing the rug being pulled out from under them…again. How can we expect our businesses to weather that?”

Colin Diaz, President and CEO of the Culver City Chamber of Commerce, Chair of the Westside Council of Chambers of Commerce (WC3) and co-founder of the Coalition drives this point home, “We understand that there are bad actors in the business, as there are with some individuals. These businesses should be held responsible for their actions and neglect. But, this sweeping policy that punishes the responsible business owners, many of whom have spent small fortunes bringing their businesses up to an extremely safe environment, further creates hardship and will continue to have drastic consequences beyond what we have already seen. We will lose a great deal of our small businesses with every round of closures that our government imposes on the business community.”

In the proposed plan, business returns with COVID-19-related protection practices in place, including enhanced cleaning procedures, distancing, and safe service protocols. Government must invest in resources necessary to ensure that County Health measures are being adhered to. There must be adequate access to regular COVID-19 testing and the state must pass Legislation to fund the California COVID-19 Emergency Business Interruption Fund to cover losses related to all government and health department orders including forced closures, social distancing requirements, and gathering limits.

“Elected officials at every level in our state need to understand that the health and safety of employees and customers is paramount to any responsible business owner,” said Genevieve Morrill, President and CEO for the West Hollywood Chamber. “They also need to know how tenuous the existence of almost every business in the state of California is right now.”

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ABOUT THE COALITION

The California Coalition for Safe Reopening consists of local chambers of commerce and business and trade associations. Responding to the current COVID-19 emergency, the Coalition advocates for safe, reasonable, and predictable reopening plans in California that ensure the health of every resident, worker, and customer.

List of the organizations

BizFed LA - Los Angeles County Business Federation NAIOP SoCal

Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce Norwalk Chamber of Commerce

BOMA Greater Los Angeles Pasadena Chamber of Commerce and Civic Association

California Restaurant Association Pomona Chamber of Commerce

Century City Chamber of Commerce Redding Chamber of Commerce Cerritos Regional Chamber of Commerce San Pedro Chamber of Commerce

Culver City Chamber of Commerce Santa Clarita Valley Economic Partnership Downtown Center Business Improvement District Santa Fe Springs Chamber of Commerce El Monte South El Monte Chamber of Commerce Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce Glendale Chamber of Commerce Torrance Chamber of Commerce

Greater San Fernando Valley Chamber of Commerce Tulare Chamber of Commerce Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Venice Chamber of Commerce

JMC2 Engineering Valley Industry Commerce Association La Cañada Flintridge Chamber of Commerce Yorba Linda Chamber of Commerce

LAX Coastal Chamber of Commerce Westside Council of Chambers of Commerce Malibu Chamber of Commerce West Hollywood Chamber of Commerce

Monrovia Chamber of Commerce West Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce Murrieta Wildomar Chamber of Chamber Whittier Area Chamber of Commerce