The state budget, high-speed rail, transportation infrastructure funding, affordable housing and political projections, on Friday, April 29, the SLO Chamber put three of the state’s top minds in front of 250 business leaders to clarify and dig deeper into these and other statewide topics.
State treasurer and gubernatorial candidate John Chiang was joined by Los Angeles Times’ Sacramento Bureau Chief John Myers and Transportation California Executive Director Will Kempton for the Chamber’s fifth State of the State.
“I hope all of you will think about how we can help each other by creating greater communities and allowing people to join in our lives so we can transform what is happening to each and every single one of us,” Chiang said.
The event offered a chance to hear inside information on the happenings in Sacramento and San Luis Obispo as well as the importance of an informed and educated public that works together toward a better future.
One issue that will be coming to the county later this year is the possibility of becoming a self-help county in order to help fund transportation infrastructure improvements.
“Let me encourage you on your effort with the local sales tax initiative for transportation here in the county,” Kempton said. “Either way you are going to benefit from that, whether or not there is additional state or federal money that you can leverage or whether or not you’re left to go it alone, you will have the dollars to make the appropriate investments in transportation to help your county and certainly to improve your economy and your quality of life.”
“The reason we have a large obligation of pensions and retirement benefits, and pensions in particular, is not for the clerk at the DMV, it’s for firefighters, police officers, correctional officers, and somewhere I think Californians need to have a discussion about what they value the services of those people, how they value them, what they value it to be, and what they believe to be a fair pension retirement plan for those folks.” – John Myers on public employee pension obligations. (57 sec.)
“Something I found quite interesting is the fact that the issues that California faces as a whole are also issues that we in San Luis Obispo are facing currently. Those issues being the growing wage gap, ‘haves and have nots,’ the need for affordable housing, and the call for greater efficiency in all levels of government. Within the affordable housing portion the speakers pointed out the fact that middle income is overlooked in much of the policy solutions proposed. Lastly the need to find common ground between interest groups in order to create lasting solutions.“ – Aaron Gomez, The Gold Concept Jewerly & Design Studio
John Chiang on housing. (1 min. 12 sec.)
“I think it’s going to be nasty. I think it’s going to be personal. I hope we get to some issues. I like the fighting as a reporter, but I also think we should be talking about issues.” – John Myers on his predictions for the 2016 presidential election. (1 min. 7 sec.)
“Will Kempton gave a comprehensive update on transportation funding mechanisms and the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). The overall point of needing additional funding for upcoming projects in fiscal year 2017/2018 and forward was compelling.” -Theresa A. Scott, CenCal Health
Will Kempton on transportation funding. (50 sec.)
“John Chiang’s comments on the unfunded liabilities associated with retiree medical costs for the public sector and public pension systems were surprisingly matter of fact. In Chiang’s view, both sets of liabilities will require governmental employers and employees to step up to increased contributions long term. However, for retirement benefits, the 2012 pension reforms passed in California do indeed “bend the cost curve” by lowering the normal cost associated with pensions – but the impacts are 20 years out noted Chiang.” – Carl Nelson, San Luis Obispo County Pension Trust
John Chiang on public employee healthcare liabilities. (1 min. 20 sec.)
“Will Kempton’s presentation described the tragic comedy that has played out with state transportation funding. Between him and John Chiang, I was further convinced of our need to become a self-help county so that we might restore investment in the critical resource that is transportation infrastructure and retain local control to ensure those funds aren’t loaned out or diverted to some other whim of the state’s elected. I only wish it was longer!” -Ryan Caldwell, Wacker Wealth Partners
Will Kempton on becoming a self-help county. (1 min. 14 sec.)
“Of particular interest was Mr. Chiang’s comments about the funding of essential healthcare programs that the legislature and Governor Brown have been able to pass. There is still much work to be done, but California is headed in the right direction.” -Theresa A. Scott, CenCal health