INFO ALERT: What’s Gavin Newsom Thinking?

(Governor Gavin Newsom / Lenny Mendonca, Director, Go-Biz / Anthony Williams, Governor’s Legislative Secretary)

Since the election last fall, business folks throughout the state have been wondering about our new Governor’s ideas and focus.

BizFed was at a meeting last week where we learned a lot more about our new Governor’s ideas.

Check it out!

Housing

• Governor Newsom has committed to a $1.7 billion tax credit to stimulate private sector investment to address the state’s affordability crisis and promote economic growth.

• • The Governor will focus on the missing middle and will work to increase our workforce housing supply.

• Will pursue CEQA reform so that we can reach our housing goals.
• Committed to Redevelopment 2.0 and utilize EIFD’s and Opportunity Zones.

Healthcare 

• • Governor Gavin Newsom has an ambitious plan to rein in prescription drug costs through a statewide purchasing system; ultimately,  pooling the power of California’s largest public and private buyers.

• LA County is the first jurisdiction to join the Governor’s initiative.
• A second jurisdiction will be announced later next week.

CA Wild Fires

• • Governor Newsom expressed his concerns for the multibillion-dollar wildfire liability problem that has affected our largest power companies.

• The Governor has called for legislation to be passed before lawmakers take a month-long summer recess on July 12 aiming at stabilizing our utilities.

International Trade

• The Governor expressed his excitement for Lieutenant Governor Eleni Kounalakis to lead the charge as his top International Affairs and Trade Development representative.
• Currently, they are in the process of vetting all trade MOU’s between the state, county, and local cities.

California Infrastructure Economic Development Bank (IBank)

• Big announcement coming in the May budget revise.

Education

• The Governor expressed his commitment to the Computer Science for California program (CS for CA) and will be adding additional funding in the May budget revise.

Water

• The Governor is committed to secure water reliability and is in support of 1 tunnel to guarantee water conveyance to Southern California – CA WaterFix.
• The Governor believes all Californian’s have a right to clean drinking water and believe his proposed water tax is a great idea. However, he is open to other solutions.

Homelessness

• In the Governor eye’s California has failed to address its homelessness crisis and has committed a large amount of funding to address this issue. Look out for the May budget revise.
• The Governor believes converting motels into homeless housing is a great idea.

Key Staff Introduced By Lenny Mendonca, Director of Go-Biz

Chris Dombrowski
Chief Deputy Director, GoBiz – chris.dombrowski@gobiz.ca.gov

Bud Colligan
Senior Advisor for International Affairs and Trade – bud.colligan@gobiz.ca.gov

Kaitlin Lewis
Assistant Deputy Director – Communications – kaitlin.lewis@gobiz.ca.gov

Aneesh Raman

Senior Advisor on Strategy and External Affairs – aneesh.raman@gobiz.ca.gov

Cheryl Akin
Deputy Director, California Compete Tax Credit – cheryl.akin@gobiz.ca.gov

William Koch
Deputy Director, California Community Reinvestment Grants Program – william.koch@gobiz.ca.gov

Maral Farsi
Deputy Director, Legislative Affairs – maral.farsi@gobiz.ca.gov

Isabel Guzman
Director of the Office of Small Business Advocate, Small Business Assistance and Innovation – isabel.guzman@gobiz.ca.gov

Tyson Eckerle
Deputy Director, Zero Emission Vehicle Infrastructure – tyson.eckerle@gobiz.ca.gov

Frank Ramirez
Goods Movement and Sustainable Freight Manager, Goods Movement & Sustainable Freight Program – frank.ramirez@gobiz.ca.gov