This is what showing up in full force looks like. Nearly 90 statewide business groups stepped up in the last 48 hours to sign a coalition letter amplifying support for Governor Gavin Newsom's $180 billion infrastructure proposal.
We want to thank the BizFed leaders who signed on to bolster our chorus of supportive business voices, as well as the diverse members who leaned in with New California Coalition partners during our urgent strategy session on Tuesday. The letter was submitted moments ago to all 120 members of the California Legislature, plus Governor Newsom and state infrastructure czar Antonio Villaraigosa.
The Newsom administration issued a press release last night with quotes from statewide civic, business, and community leaders, including yours truly and Jim Wunderman in our capacity as New California Coalition Co-Leaders. The BizFed leaders below are also quoted in the release. Click here to read and share.
We spoke up to express our unequivocal support because we're confident the package of 10 bills will address California's aging infrastructure, create an estimated 400,000 construction-related jobs, and help meet ambitious climate goals – if passed expeditiously and executed properly. The sweeping plan includes a nine-month CEQA "shot clock" that limits the duration of lawsuits targeting water, transportation, clean energy, and semiconductor projects.
Findings from a new Holland & Knight study create an even stronger case for CEQA modernization. The study, authored by BizFed leader Jennifer Hernandez, found that housing remains a top target of CEQA lawsuits. In 2020 alone, litigation filed under the outdated environmental law sought to block 48,000 housing units statewide that were already approved. That's nearly half the state's total housing production in 2020!
Onward!
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Tracy Hernandez
BizFed Founding CEO
