Greetings Exchanges!
COVID UPDATE
California’s 58 counties have descended into chaos as they scramble to adapt to new state guidelines instructing them to prioritize residents 65 and older for the COVID-19 vaccine — raising concerns about the state’s strategy at a critical moment, with some hospitals operating at 320% capacity. Some of the key complications slowing the vaccine rollout in California, which as of Wednesday had administered 33% of its doses include: supply shortage; complications with accessing the state website CalVax, allowing them to register for appointments; insufficient data of how many doses are in possession; and not enough vaccinators.
TREATED WOOD WASTE UPDATE
I want to provide a quick update on treated wood disposal. The DTSC has reassigned staff to prioritize a temporary process for the management of treated wood in California. They indicated they hope to have the variance process operational by February 15th and anticipate a two week turnaround. They are working thru CEQA-related issues related to the variance process. They have not offered the cost of the variances yet, but they continue to reiterate that they want to keep the cost down as this is a temporary process and they don’t want to trigger illegal dumping. Also, they are currently thinking they will authorize each variance for transfer stations and handlers to cover up to 10 sites per entity, however disposal facilities will be issued on a site-specific basis and each location will need its own variance. They anticipate transporter variances are likely to be issued on a statewide basis.
On the legislative front we have draft language in counsel, and Assemblyman Quirk, Chair of the Assembly Environmental Safety and Toxic Materials Committee, will carry the bill for us with an urgency clause. We are pleased with this development, and he is considering this as a committee bill. I will keep you updated but hope to start that process in the near future. We will be calling on all of your organizations to support these efforts.
COMMERCIAL EVICTION MORITORIUM
Assemblymember Al Muratsuchi has introduced a commercial eviction spot bill (no language yet), AB 255. We will be engaging the author and revisiting our coalition from last year’s defeated SB 939 to work on this and any other bill that comes along on this topic. We will continue to assist stakeholders to continue to help with coalition activities as a central hub to coordinate activities and share information. We hope to avoid some of the pitfalls from SB 939 before actual language is dropped in. As you may recall, there were several suggestions for ways to help property owners and tenants through the COVID economic stay-at-home orders last year that were rejected. This bill may be an opportunity to re-visit some of those ideas.
CALIFORNIA FORWARD RELEASES 2021 ROADMAP TO SHARED PROSPERITY
Every year, California Forward hosts regional business and community stakeholders from around the state at the California Economic Summit to develop this roadmap as a guide to solve California’s most pressing issues. This year’s Roadmap provides solutions to the issues of climate resilience, cradle to career education, broadband action plan, expanding home ownership, regional and inclusive economic development, and investing in small businesses owned by people of color. The full roadmap can be found here.
Best,
Damon R. Conklin
Director of Government Affairs
Sacramento Regional Builders Exchange
5370 Elvas Avenue ǀ Sacramento, CA 95819
Telephone: 916.442.8991 ǀ Cell: 916.290.3400
Email: dconklin@srbx.org ǀ www.srbx.org