THE DESERT’S BUSINESS & PUBLIC AFFAIRS WEEKLY
TUESday, marcH 10, 2009
VOLUME 33 — EDITION #10
PALM SPRINGS, CALIFORNIA
$1.50 — PER SINGLE ISSUE
SErvIng all of THE dESErT cITIES and UnIncorporaTEd arEaS of rIvErSIdE coUnTy In THE coacHElla vallEy
Creating a
Assemblyman Manuel Perez
better business
environment
off to running start in first
BYDR. STEPHENIESLAHOR
months in Sacramento
California’s symbol is the grizzly bear, but
BYALEXALTMAN
Nevada has labeled it the “Tax Bear” in ads of communities all over California, and I’m “Too often in our traditional economy, the
enticing California businesses to tax-free
E
ven before his run for state assembly glad to be able to hit the ground running.” labor and environmental movements have
Nevada. Colorado has launched a in 2008, Manuel Perez’s story was Perez’s start in the legislature can perhaps been opposing forces,” says Perez. “We have
“ColoradoLovesCalifornia.com” website, to something out of an American fairy more accurately be described as a full sprint. to move away from that old way of thinking
lure away businesses from California to the tale. A local son born in Indio and raised in In addition to his leadership work on and realize that these two interests can
Rocky Mountain State. Utah is also on Coachella, Perez, the product of public economic development, he is also a member complement one another as opposed to
the same bandwagon, as is Arizona. education, earned a Masters degree at of standing committees tackling veteran conflicting with one another. We need to
Seeking to staunch the drain of business Harvard University. Later, as a result of his affairs and healthcare issues, as well respect both environmental and labor
away from California is State Senator John work on the Coachella Valley School Board, as a member of the newly formed groups, and usher in a new way of thinking
Benoit, 37th Senate District (which includes $250 million in new educational facilities Administration Accountability Committee. to reinvent their relationship.” Training a
the Coachella Valley), and jobs has come to the valley. His time “The state has to do a better job with our new generation of green collar workers will
who is introducing as a healthcare director was devoted to spending.” Perez says. “Speaker (Karen) create opportunities across the economic
legislation designed to improving health coverage for valley Bass put this committee together to go spectrum, says Perez. “Green collar jobs will
make doing business in residents. Election to the state legislature through our entire budget line item by item help resurrect the middle class, and will also
California easier and as the Assembly member representing to eliminate waste, and to cut where we provide well-paying jobs for high school or
less costly. California’s 80th Assembly District would need to. Obviously it is important to provide junior college graduates so that they can
Senator Benoit host- seem a fitting conclusion to the Perez for our community needs: things like build careers and families while taking care
ed a press conference success story. But Perez is only just getting safety, education, healthcare, jobs and of the environment.”
last Friday at the Palm started. infrastructure. But there are also items Perez identifies this green collar economy
Desert Chamber of Commerce to announce With appointments to important task that don’t make sense anymore, and those as a perfect fit with the Coachella Valley, and
specific bills he is promoting in the State forces such as the Commission on need to be removed.” a source of great promise for the valley’s
legislature. Said Benoit, “There are a few Economic Development and the Green Perez credits his close relationship with future. “Whether our use of wind farms, bio
issues that contribute to our government’s Collar Jobs Council, Perez appears off to a Bass as a key factor in his rapid immersion fuel or solar power, our community has a
fiscal problems. First, we spend more than remarkable start in this new chapter of his into legislative life, and in helping him reputation as the renewable capital of the
we take in. Our State government has grown career. Even more extraordinary is the make instant contributions in Sacramento. United States. It’s important to ensure that
exponentially in the last few years, at the leadership role Perez is taking in guiding “I have a great deal of respect for Speaker we have the workforce trained, educated,
same time ignoring ways to eliminate waste California’s economic recovery, both as Bass and her leadership,” Perez offers. and ready to go as we bring more green
and fraud. Instead, we go back, repeatedly, to chair of the Assembly Committee on Jobs, “Having both come from community technology companies to the valley.”
the taxpayer for more. The recently signed Economic Development, and the Economy, organizer backgrounds, we’ve developed a Critical to this mission is the resurrection
budget will make us the highest-taxed State and as leader of the Stimulus, Economic wonderful working relationship.” of California’s economy. Perez’s appointment
in the Union. Adding to that dubious Recovery, and Jobs (SERJ) Task Force, the This relationship has translated into a as chair of the Committee on Jobs,
distinction, we suffocate our State’s body responsible for allocation of great deal of trust placed in Perez, and, in Economic Development, and the Economy
employers and employees with unreasonable California’s share of the $787 billion federal turn, a great deal of responsibility. One of ensures that he will be on the forefront of
mandates and regulations.” stimulus package. His instant contributions those responsibilities is the Green Collar this mission. When asked how California
Calling his legislation the “Economic and leadership have transformed Perez from Jobs Council, on which Assembly member can attract companies wary of the state’s
Restoration Act,” the six laws he is junior assembly member to one of the most Perez sits. The council’s task is to study the budget and taxation challenges, Perez
proposing would help California businesses, important forces shaping the state’s future. current and future workforce needs of the cites a wide array of solutions. “We need to
and, in particular, small business. “I am a little surprised about how quickly state’s green economy, and to put a plan in do a better job with outreach to increase
“We all realize California’s economic things have happened,” says Perez. “But the place to prepare California’s workforce to awareness of enterprise zones like the one in
climate is horrible,” he said. “Statewide, months ahead are so important to the future meet those needs. the Coachella Valley. We need to make sure
Continued on page 17… Continued on page 17…
In THIS ISSUE
DEPARTMENTS FEATURES/NEWS
Money Funnies by Sid Smith . . . . . . .2
Opinion . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .2
Business News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Business Calendar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
The Wealth Advisor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4
Public Sector News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .5
Fox & Hounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .6
CV People . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14
Great Employee Performance . . . . .12
PUBLIC NOTICES . . .18 DiMora Designs One-Off Car . . . . .14
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