Author: Nicole Hanusek
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SF Chamber Members Celebrate Pride 2018
Nearly one million spectators gathered at the San Francisco Pride Parade for its 48th annual march up Market Street.
As one of the oldest and largest LGBTQ+ parades in the world, the San Francisco Pride Parade’s mission of celebrating and commemorating LGBTQ+ culture began in 1970.
June 2018 Election Results Recap & November Election Forecast
The June election results are all finally in. We’ve broken down the outcomes and how each of the measures that passed will impact the business community.
| Measure | Chamber Position | Outcome | Effect on the Business Community |
| State Measure 68 (Beautiful Parks and Clean Water) | Support | Passed | Increased funds for parks and water system improvements using dollars raised from bond |
| RM 3 (Bay Area Traffic Relief) | Support | Passed | Increases bridge tolls to fund highway and public transit improvements to reduce traffic congestion |
| Prop A (Power Facilities Revenue Bonds) | Oppose | Passed | This measure could be used by the City to remove from the voters final authority on municipalization of San Francisco’s power facilities |
| Prop B (Appointees Running for Office) | Support | Passed | Requires that candidates seeking local or state office resign from City Commissions or Boards |
| Prop C (Tax Increase for Childcare) | Oppose | Passed | Increased commercial rent costs that may lead businesses to relocate out of San Francisco |
| Prop F (Legal Representation for Evicted Tenants) | Oppose | Passed | Decreased general funds dollars due to the program costs and increased private costs to address tenant issues |
Props D (Tax Increase for Housing and homelessness),
Partner Spotlight: Trade and Invest, British Columbia
Trade and Invest British Columbia works with international enterprises to help them build strong links to the resources, skills, and businesses that make British Columbia an attractive place to work and invest. They support international organizations who want to do business with British Columbia’s innovative and competitive manufacturers and service providers.
Partner Spotlight: Cala Restaurant
Cala Restaurant strives to exceed expectations in service and to provide guests with food and drinks prepared with the best ingredients. Cala is passionate about improving our skills and the experiences of their guests, knowing that attention to the smallest details of their restaurant and genuinely caring for their team,
CleanSafe365 Update: Safe Injection Sites, Are They an Answer?
While there are many contributing factors to the deteriorating state of San Francisco’s streets, the opioid epidemic’s role in perpetuating the cycle of homelessness, crime and filth cannot be ignored. About 8,000 needles are picked up off the streets each month by the public health department alone.
Chamber Members Named 2018 SFBT Best Places to Work
Congratulations to the 11 San Francisco Chamber of Commerce members that were honored by the San Francisco Business Times as the Bay Area Best Places to Work for 2018! This prestigious annual ranking shines the spotlight on local companies that rise to the top in terms of having a happy and engaged workforce.
Partner Spotlight: Collaboration Business Consulting
The mission of Collaboration Business Consulting is to inspire, educate and empower proactive leaders to achieve breakthrough performance. Their firm aids businesses in embedding scalable management and accountability structures while accelerating financial growth, with the average client reaching a 322% three-year growth in revenue.
2018 June Voting Guide
The June election ballot contains critical initiatives that impact San Francisco businesses. Join the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce, SF Forward, and the local business community in voting for a better San Francisco on June 5, 2018.
VOTE YES
LOCAL MEASURES
PROP B / Appointees Running for Office
A Charter amendment requiring appointees on San Francisco boards and commissions to give up their seats when running in state or local elections,
SF Chamber Wraps Up Action-Packed #CityTripDC 2018
The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s delegation of business and civic leaders spent a busy two days in our nation’s capital for the annual CityTrip D.C. advocacy trip.
Our delegates were on Capitol Hill in the middle of a controversial omnibus bill vote and were able to hear from influential policymakers and elected officials on not only the vote but also the inside scoop on other issues facing the federal government.
SF Chamber Welcomes 2018 Board Chair and Committee Assignments
The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce announced today its new Board Chair and committee chairs for 2018. Janis MacKenzie, President of MacKenzie Communications is the 2018 Chair of the Board, and John Gingrich, Managing Director at Accenture is the 2018 Vice Chair.
Partner Spotlight: BKW Partners
BKW Partners (the agency formerly known as Rassak) has been based in San Francisco for a decade, working worldwide and across sectors. Addressing communications issues in smart, creative, proactive ways can often bring big, meaningful change to an organization.
Public Safety, Homelessness and Affordability are Biggest Issues in 2018 SF Chamber Poll
SAN FRANCISCO – Homelessness, public safety and affordability rank as the top concerns among San Francisco voters, according to the 2018 Dignity Health CityBeat Poll which was unveiled February 2 at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s annual CityBeat Breakfast event attended by nearly 900 business and civic leaders.
Partner Spotlight: Honeybee
HoneyBee is a social impact company and a Certified B Corporation®. We’re creators and providers of the world’s first PTO Loan℠, empowering millions of working Americans to use their accrued PTO and vacation days to source loans at zero interest,
Partner Spotlight: Jamba Juice
Jamba Juice was founded in 1990 in San Luis Obispo, California, with the vision to Inspire and Simplify Healthy Living. Jamba Juice® is a leading restaurant retailer of “better-for-you” specialty beverage and food offerings which include flavorful, whole fruit and vegetable smoothies,
SF Chamber Remembers Mayor Ed Lee
Statement from Tallia Hart, President & CEO of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce:
The Board of Directors, staff and members of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce are deeply saddened to learn of the unexpected passing of Mayor Edwin Lee.
Partner Spotlight: Implants Pro Center
Overlooking San Francisco’s Union Square, Implants Pro Center provides dental services that are unparalleled in quality and aesthetics. With a team that is not only tremendously talented, but also holding the best credentials, patients can expect nothing but the best in terms of technology and results when visiting our dental office.
2017 Excellence in Business Awards Winners Announced
SAN FRANCISCO – Business and community leaders convened at the SHN Orpheum theater last night to celebrate the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s 26th annual Excellence in Business (Ebbies) Awards and to enjoy a private showcase of Disney’s hit Broadway musical Aladdin.
Partner Spotlight: Keller Williams San Francisco
The San Francisco branch of Keller Williams launched in May of 2016 and has quickly become one of the fastest-growing real estate brokerages in the area, nearly doubling its number of producing agents over the last year. Their mission is to employ the highest quality real estate agents to provide clients with the best real estate experience while creating a work environment that fosters collaboration,
UniteSF: Highlights from October 2017
The SF Chamber’s UniteSF program is dedicated to convening leaders in the business and education communities to collaborate to help students prepare for college and today’s global economy and workforce.
UniteSF is a foundation program of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce,
Partner Spotlight: Adam Jacobs of Disney’s Aladdin
Adam Jacobs is a Broadway actor currently starring in the title role of Disney’s Aladdin, the hit Broadway musical which opens at SHN’s Orpheum Theatre today, Nov. 1, 2017, and runs through Jan. 7, 2018. Read more about Adam’s background as a Bay Area native who is now the lead in the timeless story of Aladdin,
Chamber Members Give Back to Northern California Fire Evacuees
As the Bay Area continues to reel from the effects of fires spreading across Northern California, we have been humbled by many of our members who have reached out in an effort to help.
Below, you will find various resources on how you and your organizations can support those affected by the fires,
Partner Spotlight: Wallbeds “N” More
Wallbeds “N” More offers semi customizable, made-to-order Murphy beds and wallbeds that provide space-saving solutions that fit any lifestyle. A national company, Wallbeds “N” More just opened their first San Francisco location owned and operated by San Francisco native Eric Partridge.
Minority-Owned Small Business Partner Spotlight powered by First Republic Bank: YCAT-C
Yolanda’s Construction Administration and Traffic Control (YCAT-C) is an African-American woman-owned business that offers a range of administrative and traffic control services to support public and private sector clients on engineering and construction projects. Based in Bayview-Hunters Point,
Statement Regarding Signage of Housing-First Policies by Governor Brown
Media Contact: Juliana Bunim, jbunim@sfchamber.com
The San Francisco Chamber of Commerce applauds Governor Brown and the city’s state representatives for their leadership charting a new course for addressing the state’s critical housing shortage.
2017 Mid-Year San Francisco Legislative Scorecard
In line with our agenda for prosperity released earlier this year, the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce works to encourage City Hall to prioritize legislation and policies that support San Francisco employers. View our scorecard from the first half of 2017 below.
Partner Spotlight: Catholic Charities
Founded in 1907 and rooted in our faith traditions of charity and justice, Catholic Charities supports families, aging adults and adults with disabilities, and youth through social services and opportunities for healthy growth and development. Read more in our Partner Spotlight below.
SF Chamber Statement on Announcement Regarding DACA
Immigrants are job creators who have made – and continue to make – incredible contributions to the economic well-being of our city, and whose talents are critical to keeping San Francisco at the forefront of American innovation. The Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals program (DACA) has protected nearly 800,000 young adult unauthorized immigrants from deportation,
Partner Spotlight: SHN
SHN is the preeminent theatrical entertainment company in the Bay Area, bringing live entertainment experiences to San Francisco’s premier venues. SHN presents current hits fresh from Broadway, original Broadway cast productions, pre-Broadway premieres and one-of-a-kind events that are at the forefront of the national theater scene.
Important Information Regarding Business Impacts on Aug. 26, 2017
The Golden Gate National Recreation Area has approved a permit for the Patriot Prayer group for a rally at Crissy Field on Saturday, August 26, 2017 at 2 p.m.
The City has no jurisdiction over Crissy Field. Crissy Field is owned and operated by the Federal Government and the Golden Gate National Recreation Area (GGNRA) is responsible for permitting all events.
Partner Spotlight: Hebrew Free Loan
Hebrew Free Loan is a nonprofit that promotes self-sufficiency and financial responsibility in the Northern California Jewish community. The organization provides interest-free loans to Jewish individuals and families throughout Northern California. Loans help people overcome challenging financial situations or realize lifelong dreams.
Partner Spotlight: Safesite
Safesite is a data driven safety management platform that leverages the latest mobile, IoT and wearable technologies to facilitate safety communication, improve compliance and reduce incident rates on construction worksites. Their mission is to make every worker a safety champion.
Partner Spotlight: Cengage
Cengage is the education and tech company built for learners. The company serves the higher education, K-12, professional, library and workforce training markets worldwide by creating learning experiences that build confidence and momentum toward the future students want.
Bay Area Groups, including SF Chamber, Sign Letter Supporting Extension of California Cap-and-Trade Program
The State legislature is scheduled to vote to renew California’s greenhouse gas cap-and-trade system to 2030, a key tool to reduce emissions from greenhouse gases by offering pollution allowances and offsets.
The previous 2013 – 2017 cap-and-trade program provided significant economic benefits to the Bay Area with more than $84 million in funds allocated to San Francisco alone.
Minority-Owned Small Business Partner Spotlight powered by First Republic Bank: D’Maize
Luis and Zenaida Estrada came to San Francisco from El Salvador in search of better opportunities, including the chance to start their own business. After taking MEDA’s Core Business Training startup course with his wife Zenaida in late 2011,
Partner Spotlight: Flora Springs Winery
Flora Springs Winery & Vineyards is family owned and operated, committed to hand-crafting wines of distinct style and superior quality. Their wines, and the manner in which they operate, reflect an understanding of tradition and a tireless quest as innovators.
15 SF Chamber Members are LinkedIn’s Top U.S. Companies of 2017
Fifteen members of the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce were named to LinkedIn’s Top Companies of 2017 in the United States. The Top Companies list is based on the billions of actions taken by LinkedIn’s 500+ million members and looks at three main pillars: interest in a company’s jobs,
Chamber Members Named SFBT Bay Area Best Places to Work
Congratulations to the 12 San Francisco Chamber of Commerce members that were honored by the San Francisco Business Times as the Bay Area Best Places to Work for 2017! This prestigious annual ranking shines the spotlight on 130 local companies that rise to the top in terms of having a happy and engaged workforce.
Partner Spotlight: TOTO
For nearly 100 years, TOTO has been the recognized leader in performance innovation and design products that enhance the luxury bathroom experience. Concept 190, A WASHLET Studio located in the SoMa neighborhood of San Francisco, is TOTO’s first experiential showroom.
San Francisco Small Business Week Kicks Off May 15
Press Contact: Juliana Bunim, VP Strategic Communications, jbunim@sfchamber.com / 415.352.8839
San Francisco Small Business Week 2017 (#SFSBW2017) kicks off May 15, celebrating the more than 85,000 small businesses and entrepreneurs who call San Francisco home.
Chamber Partners Honored as Best Workplaces in the Bay Area
Congratulations to the six Chamber partners that were listed as the Best Workplaces in the Bay Area!
Published together with their partner, Fortune, the Best Workplaces in the Bay Area rankings are based on feedback from more than 227,000 employees at Great Place to Work–Certified™ organizations with locations in the San Francisco Bay Area.
Partner Spotlight: National Brain Tumor Society
National Brain Tumor Society (NBTS) is the largest nonprofit organization in the U.S. dedicated to the brain tumor community. NBTS drives a multi-faceted approach to influence and fund strategic research, as well as advocate for public policy changes to better support brain tumor patients.
Partner Spotlight: OUM & Co. LLP
OUM is one of the leading CPA firms in California, with offices in San Francisco and Carlsbad, CA. Since its formation in 1976, OUM has grown to over 85 professional staff members by providing a diverse range of client services to individuals and public and private companies across multiple industries.
Partner Spotlight: SXSW
South by Southwest is an annual conglomerate of film, interactive media, and music festivals and conferences that take place in mid-March in Austin, Texas, United States. It began in 1987, and has continued to grow in both scope and size every year.
Navigation Centers, Sanctuary City and Greater Housing Density Gain Broad Support in 2017 Poll
SF Chamber of Commerce’s annual poll reveals homelessness and affordability top the list of voter concerns in annual survey
San Francisco – Homelessness and affordability rank as the top concerns among San Francisco voters, according to the 2017 Dignity Health CityBeat Poll which will be unveiled today at the San Francisco Chamber of Commerce’s annual CityBeat Breakfast event attended by nearly 1,000 business and civic leaders.
Partner Spotlight: EvoShare
EvoShare works with companies in the Bay Area and beyond to help customers get the most out of their purchases. The company partners with local businesses and quality online vendors, helping them expand their customer base by enabling certain customers to use part of what they spend toward their retirement earnings or student loan repayment.
Partner Spotlight: Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente has been providing care for San Franciscans since 1948 when it opened a 35-bed hospital in the Potrero Hill area. Six years later, Kaiser Permanente opened the current facility on Geary Boulevard. With its new state-of-the-art medical office building in Mission Bay,