If you have not done so, please also take a moment to check out our new website atwww.boma.org and make sure to register for this year's Conference & Expo here.

Every month, BOMA Silicon Valley will turn the spotlight on one of our members to highlight the women and men powering our organization and the Silicon Valley commercial real estate industry. This month, we're proud to shine the light on Arturo Perez Ochoa from PF Window Cleaning.
 

How long have you been involved in BOMA, and what do you love most about the BOMA community?
I've been involved with BOMA for 2 years, and I love the strong sense of community, networking, and industry insights it provides. It’s a great place to connect, learn, and grow with like-minded professionals.

What led you to a career in commercial real estate?
Following my Dad's footsteps in the commercial cleaning industry. 

In what city were you born and where did you grow up?
I grew up in the best city of the Bay Area, Sunnyvale!

Favorite movie:
Happy Gilmore

Favorite song/artist:
Brent Faiyaz 

What are some of your hobbies?
Boxing, Soccer, and Golf. I am great at throwing punches and kicking a ball, but Golf is a beast I have yet to defeat. 

What’s your favorite quote or motto you live by?
“What you do today determines who you will be tomorrow”

What makes you laugh the most?
Making fun of my younger brother - it's all love!

If you can have a meal with any person, living or not, who would it be and why?
My grandfather - I would love to share a sunset with him, enjoying a simple meal and smoking his favorite cigar. 

• Successfully completed the second year of our BOMA Mentorship Program, graduating a new class of mentees
• Raised $5,000 to support BOMA California’s Political Action Committee (PAC) to support state and local advocacy efforts
  
• Provided gifts for a record 177 at-need teens at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley through our annual Share Your Holiday event
  
• Hosted our popular broker panel featuring local real estate leaders to share insights on the future of our industry and Silicon Valley’s CRE market
  
• Welcomed local mayors for one of our best-attended quarterly luncheons at the Westin
  
• Reaffirmed ongoing partnerships with the Silicon Valley Business Journal and San Jose Downtown Association
  
• Established new partnerships with NAIOP Silicon Valley
  
• Honored our annual sponsors at a special appreciation event
  
• Promoted community and philanthropy through our “BOMA Cares” initiative, organizing volunteer events at Sacred Heart Community Service and the American Cancer Society’s Breast Cancer Walk 

None of this is possible without the support of all our BOMA members and volunteers, including committee members, committee chairs, the Board of Directors, and our BOMA team. If you’ve ever considered getting involved to support these efforts, I encourage you to sign up to serve on one of our many committees. It is an opportunity to build personal and professional connections in the industry, network, and make a difference in the community. 

Our 2025 event calendar is already taking form, and I hope to see many of you at our upcoming BOMA events, including the Celebration of Commercial Real Estate Awards Lunch on February 7 and the March Broker Panel Luncheon. Networking is a product of time, vulnerability, and shared experiences, and our variety of events offers everyone an opportunity to foster new relationships and create memories. 

BOMA has been an integral part of my personal and professional career, helping me connect with other property management professionals and various trade experts, and I hope you continue to find similar value in an organization that has given me so much. If you have any questions about the organization or want to learn more, please feel free to reach out to me, our BOMA board, or BOMA team with any questions that you may have.

I look forward to another successful year with you all. 

Sean Yamagiwa
President
BOMA Silicon Valley

• DRE's New Commissioner Update 
• Licensee Exam Development Process
• Summary of New Real Estate Laws
  
• and more! 

Click here to view the bulletin. 

• Commissioner's Update 
• New pre-license statutory course requirements coming in 2024
• Vacant land property scams 
• Originating nontraditional mortgage loan products 
• Succession planning 
• Ensure protection of trust funds collected by real estate brokers 
• and more! 

Click here to view the bulletin. 

BOMA Members,

I hope you had a wonderful holiday season with your loved ones, and on behalf of your BOMA Silicon Valley Board of Directors and staff, I want to wish you a Happy New Year! 

Every new year brings new opportunities, and that couldn’t be truer for BOMA–new opportunities to connect, to give back, to advocate, to learn, to engage, and to keep building on what has made BOMA the strongest community of commercial real estate professionals in Silicon Valley. 

Over the past three years, we’ve overcome one of the biggest challenges our world, our industry, and our association has ever faced. And in doing so, we showed ourselves that change is good and that it should be embraced.

We’ve taken our annual trade show outdoors, hosted our Share Your Holiday event at a beautiful, brand new venue, set new fundraising records to support our advocacy efforts, developed new programs to support early-career professionals, and so much more. 

So in that spirit of embracing change, I want to share with you our theme for 2023: BOMA, Reinvented. 

Your BOMA Board of Directors and committee leaders chose this theme because we understand times, and our industry, have changed, and together we are committed to re-evaluating our events, programs, and benefits to ensure that BOMA stays relevant in the future and that we continue delivering value to our members and enhancing their membership experience.

But we can’t do it without you! BOMA’s success is dependent on the participation and engagement from its members like you. So how can you help us reinvent BOMA? Maintain your BOMA membership, sign up to volunteer on a committee, connect with others at our networking events, learn about new industry trends at our education workshops, support your BOMA associate members by considering them for your service needs, and encourage your colleagues to do the same! 

It is an honor to serve as your 2023 BOMA Silicon Valley President, and I look forward to working with you this year to help reimagine what BOMA can do to serve our members and advance Silicon Valley’s commercial real estate industry. 

Please don’t hesitate to reach out to me personally or our BOMA staff team if you ever have any questions or need any help. 

Cheers to a happy and healthy 2023! 

Sincerely, 
Michelle Piazza, RPA 
President
BOMA Silicon Valley 

This October marks Filipino American History Month, a time to celebrate the experiences, lives, and many societal contributions of the Filipino Community.
 
BOMA Silicon Valley President Brian Chavez spoke with BOMA member Abigail George of JLL, who shared her story and what her Filipino heritage means to her personally and professionally.

How do you describe your cultural identity or ethnicity?

I’m 100% Filipino, born and raised in Manila, until my Mom and I migrated to the US when I was nine years old. And because I’ve lived in the US for so long and have grown to appreciate and love this nation as much as I do the Philippines, I consider myself a Filipino American.

What family traditions did you have growing up? 

 The traditions that immediately come to mind revolve around family gatherings with a lot of food and music. Whether it was or is a birthday, baptism, or just a general family gathering, the “tradition” has always been to spend time together preparing the bountiful spread of traditional food (or the “handa”) and always playing music, singing and dancing. We’re blessed that my two sisters always led the charge with music, and rightfully so since they’re amazing singers and dancers (Cha Cha, Swing, Disco Jive, you name it!).

What types of foods were cooked for special occasions when you were growing up? 

 This is a long list because I come from a family of excellent cooks, particularly my Mom. There are the “basics” such as the various types of Pancit (noodles), Lumpia (egg rolls), Lechon (roast pig) and grilled whole fish and grilled pork belly. In our family, we always included Kare Kare (oxtail stew), Kaldereta or Mechado (types of beef stew). Hungry yet?

Is there a traditional way that people in your culture dress for special occasions? 

 Typically, during weddings or milestone birthday celebrations, my aunts and uncles and older cousins will wear our native or national dress, Barong Tagalog (formal shirts for the men and dresses for the women). Whatever the attire, we always keep in mind comfort…mainly for all the eating and dancing!

What are the three most important things that people should know about your culture? 

 The Filipino people are extremely hard-working loyal people. Hard work comes naturally to us. Having been raised by my Mom and Grandmother (“Lola”) and seeing them work 2-3 jobs at a time to get us through our toughest times, is evidence of this. We are also a people of Faith; going to church was never an option. Last but not least, we LOVE to party; we love to cook, eat, feed people (a lot), dance, sing, and truly enjoy time with family and friends. 

From your perspective, what is the most commonly held misconception about people of your culture?

Define and describe the most important (or most celebrated) holiday/s of your culture. 
What we consider to be our “religious” holidays such as Easter and Christmas are the most celebrated. Christmas because “Jesus is Born” and Easter because “Jesus Has Risen”. For Christmas Eve, especially in the Philippines, the celebration towards Christmas Day is all day and through the night, or “Noche Buena” which means “Good Night”. This is when families gather for dinner and continue to feast all the way through midnight, attend midnight mass to ring in the birth of Jesus, and continue to feast after the Mass. 

What does being a Filipino-American business professional mean to you?

 It means having a great deal of pride and gratitude; I’m proud to have the opportunity to bring in my Filipino values of hard work and commitment into my work and grateful for the opportunities given to me over the years by people I’ve worked with and for.

Have you ever faced challenges in your career based on gender or ethnicity, and how did you overcome them?

I’ve never faced challenges based on gender or ethnicity; I’ve been blessed to have worked with, and continue to work with, professional, inspiring and very supportive people. Particularly at JLL.

Have you found that your culture has influenced your work performance? If yes, can you provide a couple examples?

Absolutely; I approach work (generally speaking and day to day) with absolute dedication and commitment. Working hard and persevering is very much in me, much like it was with my Mom and Lola.

What was your first professional job and what did you learn from it?
I was placed by a temp agency to be a Front Office Receptionist for Spieker Properties (a REIT, owner/operator) in Concord. While in this position, I quickly learned that Commercial Real Estate, particularly Property Management, was an area I wanted to explore and can see myself learning a lot from.

How long have you been in CRE and how did you get into it?

I started in CRE, with Spieker Properties, in 1998. Then in September 2001, I joined JLL as an Assistant General Manager in Walnut Creek.

What does Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mean to you and has your company implemented it?
To me, it means everyone within the company is welcomed, supported and empowered. JLL is absolutely focused on DEI and DEI initiatives; JLL fosters a workplace that promotes diversity and encourages everyone to thrive. It creates a supportive environment that drives innovation, creativity and results.

How long have you been with JLL?

I’ve been with JLL for 21 years now, how time flies!

Has your role changed since you’ve been here? If yes, how?

My long-term career path in CRE essentially started with JLL in 2001; I was hired as an Assistant General Manager, was promoted to be a General Manager after a couple of years. And from there, became a Group Manager for the East Bay/Silicon Valley, and ultimately assumed my current role as Executive VP, Market Lead for the greater Bay Area.

What’s your favorite part about working here?

 Hands down, it is our people, our culture. Leadership within JLL truly embodies the word, “Leader”; they lead with integrity and passion. Everyone here is here to collaborate, build a better business for tomorrow, to challenge yet support one another and to celebrate each other’s successes. I can’t imagine a more supportive and thoughtful company to work for and I’m honored to be in this family.

Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

This September 15 - October 15 marks National Hispanic Heritage Month, celebrated annually to recognize the the contributions and influences of Hispanic Americans to the history, culture and achievements of the United States.

BOMA Silicon Valley President Brian Chavez spoke with BOMA member Olga Ornelas, Director of Operations at Swift Real Estate Partners, who shared her story and what Hispanic Heritage Month means to her personally and professionally.

How do you describe your cultural identity or ethnicity?
I identify as a Mexican American. My parents migrated to California in the late 60’s.  I was born and raised in San Jose, but I spent most of my summers in my parents’ hometown of Jalostotitlan, Jalisco.

What family traditions did you have growing up? 

The Mexican culture has many traditions; a couple that were celebrated in our home growing up were “Dia de los Reyes” and Quinceaneras.  

Dia de los Reyes is celebrated on January 6th.  You could say this is the Mexican Christmas day.  Children leave their shoes out the night before and parents would leave 3 gifts for them representing the day the 3 kings arrived with gifts to see baby Jesus.  This is the main reason I have a synthetic tree during the Christmas holiday, as I need it to last until after January 6th.

Quinceaneras are also a big tradition in the latino community.  This tradition started years ago as a way for parents to announce to their community that their daughter was available for courtship and marriage.  Now the marriage part is no longer the reason, however most latino parents won’t let their daughters date until after they turn 15.  As a mother of 3 daughters, this tradition was fun to celebrate with all three of my daughters.  

What types of foods were cooked for special occasions when you were growing up? 

Pozole is a staple in our home around the winter holidays.  If you have never and pozole, is it a soup with hominy and pork and it is my favorite Mexican dish.

Is there a traditional way that people in your culture dress for special occasions?

For a quinceanara celebration, the tradition is that the birthday girl where a huge colorful ballgown.

What are the three most important things that people should know about your culture? 

• Family is #1 – People are always surprised when I say I have over 90 first cousins and that I know them all.  Growing up, we spend every weekend around uncles, aunts, and cousins.
  
• Dia de los Muertos is a huge celebration across Mexico 
  
• Cinco de Mayo is not Mexican Independence Day, this day is not celebrated in Mexico.  Mexican Independence is on September 16 and is celebrated con el grito de la noche.

From your perspective, what is the most commonly held misconception about people of your culture?

The color of our skin.  Because I have a white complexion and my name is Olga, I’m often mistaken as being of Russian decent.  The fact is that most people in the region of Los Altos de Jalisco where my family is from are of light skin and colored eyes.

What does being a Latino-American business professional mean to you? 

It is important for me to show other young Latinas that they too can be successful.  Having the opportunity to be a role model for not just latinos but young woman in our industry is an honor. 

Have you ever faced challenges in your career based on gender or ethnicity, and how did you overcome them?

Yes, I feel at some point in anyone’s career we will face a challenge.  My experience was early on in my career and the expectation of what a woman had to wear. 

Have you found that your culture has influenced your work performance? If so, can you provide examples?

100%, I started working at a very young age.  My first paying job was at 14 years old.  My parents always stressed the importance of working hard and being loyal to those who treat you with respect.  It is one of the reasons I have only worked for 6 companies within my 26 years in the business.

What was your first professional job and what did you learn from it? 

My first professional job was a receptionist at an Executive Suites in downtown San Jose.  Another person and I answered a 100-line switch board for the tenants.

How long have you been in CRE and how did you get into it?

I have been in the industry for 27 years.  I started as a temp covering for a person who went out on maternity leave.  The person decided not to return to work, and I was hired permanently.

What does Diversity, Equity and Inclusion mean to you and has your company implemented it?

As a minority in gender and ethnicity, there were many times I felt like I did not belong.  Having companies recognize the need of DEI is so important.  Swift recently formed their DEI Ambassador group, which I am a member of.  

How long have you been with Swift Realty Partners?

7 Years

Has your role changed since you’ve been here? If yes, how?

Yes, I started as a General Manager in the South Bay.  A few years later I stepped into my current role.

What’s your favorite part about working here?

The people.

Celebrating Filipino American History Month

Thank you to Rebecca Agbuya for sharing her story and experiences! If you would like to help BOMA Silicon Valley commemorate other special heritage months or days, or would like to participate in the work of the Diversity Equity, and Inclusion Task Force, please reply to this email.

Celebrating LGTBQ+ Pride Month & Its History
By BOMA President LaToya Ross

For the LGBTQ+ community, June is a month of celebration, remembrance and acknowledgement of the quest to secure basic human rights. Many people in the LGBTQ+ community view this month as a way to recognize the importance of acceptance and love for everyone.

Pride month originated in New York in 1969 after the Stonewall Riots. On June 28th of that year, police raided the Stonewall Inn located in the Greenwich Village neighborhood for serving gay patrons. At the time, homosexual acts remained illegal in every state except Illinois, and bars and restaurants could get shut down for having gay employees or serving gay patrons. Stonewall Inn guests, Greenwich Village residents, and patrons from nearby lesbian and gay bars, fought back as the police became violent and set the Inn on fire. Thousands of people protested for days following the incident. The riots are widely considered as one of the most important events leading to the gay liberation movement and the twentieth century fight for LGBT rights in the United States.

One of the key figures who stood up to the police during the Stonewall Riots was Marsha P. Johnson. Marsha was an advocate for the LGBTQ+ community and often provided shelter to homeless LGBTQ+ youth. She also partnered with her friend and fellow advocate, Sylvia Rivera, to advocate for AIDs patients as well as Black trans people and trans people with disabilities.

There are many resources available that can assist you in supporting the LGBTQ+ community during Pride month and throughout the year. As LGBTQ+ advocate, Barbara Gittings, said “Equality means more than passing laws. The struggle is really won in the hearts and minds of the community, where it really counts.”

Following are links to a few organizations that have made it their mission to celebrate and support the LGBTQ+ community:

Marsha P. Johnson Institute- This institute strives to protect the lives of BLACK trans lives which is especially important with the ongoing BLM movement.
https://marshap.org/

The Trevor Project- A national organization that provides crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to LGBTQ+ and questioning youth
https://www.thetrevorproject.org/

Transgender Law Center: Disability project- A organization that focuses on the rights of transgender people of color and has also worked on the rights of people with disabilities through the Disability Project.
https://transgenderlawcenter.org/programs/disability-project 

Indian Leadership for Indian Health: Two Spirits and LGBTQ+ - This organization has dedicated resources and information for Two spirits and LGBTQ+ and allies.
https://www.npaihb.org/2slgbtq/

Empowering Asian & Pacific Islander communities to achieve LGBTQ, racial, and social justice.
https://www.apiequalityla.org/

Spring is officially here, and with it has come a renewed energy for what is possible for BOMA in the weeks and months ahead. Earlier this year, in my first President’s message, I shared my hope that 2021 would see a return to in-person BOMA events, and thanks to the continued fast-paced rollout of the COVID vaccine, and the work of our BOMA committees, Board of Directors, and staff, that hope is becoming a reality!

June 7th will be our first in-person event in over a year, with the return of our annual Sherie Dunn Golf Event. Our Golf Committee has been hard at work planning the event, and as of today, I’m happy to report that all sponsorships are sold out, and we have just a few foursomes remaining. So, if you haven’t signed up yet, please visit the event page here to register and don’t miss the opportunity to see your old BOMA friends and meet new ones! 

With golf still a couple months out, I want to also encourage you to support our upcoming virtual education and networking events. 

On April 8th, our TOBY Awards Committee is hosting a free informational workshop to discuss how property managers can submit their building for the prestigious TOBY Awards. Registration is open online here.

Happening April 22nd, our Associates Committee is hosting a virtual Pub Night Trivia, which is free for property managers to attend and comes with a complimentary beer or wine goodie bag. Sign up here before space runs out.

On April 30th, our Emerging Leaders Committee is hosting a Demystifying CAM Estimates and Reconciliations Workshop, which is a great introductory course geared towards new and early-career professionals. I hope all of our seasoned property manager members will help support this event by signing up new members of their team. Registration is open online here.

Lastly on May 6th, BOMA will host its second quarterly virtual lunch, with special guest speakers Sarahann Shapiro, chair of BOMA’s Government Affairs Committee, and Matthew Hargrove, BOMA California’s legislative advocate. They’ll provide a legislative update on new and proposed legislation that will impact the commercial real estate industry. This event is free for BOMA members, and each attendee will receive a $15 lunch gift card. We hope to see you there! 

On behalf of BOMA’s Board of Directors, I want to express my gratitude to our volunteer leaders for continuing to work to provide valuable networking and education programs for our members. I want to also thank you for continuing to support BOMA as we are almost through one of the most challenging periods for us all. 

Together, let’s keep springing forward and look ahead to even more exciting in-person events like Associates Night, TOBY Awards Lunch, Share Your Holiday, and more in the second half of 2021! 

Sincerely, 
LaToya Ross 
President 
BOMA Silicon Valley

In 2020, the BOMA Silicon Valley Board of Directors established a Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to evaluate existing diversity initiatives within commercial real estate, identify areas of opportunity for education and training, and work with industry leaders to help shape a more diverse and inclusive workforce. 

At its inaugural meeting, the task force developed the following mission statement to guide its work, which was then adopted by the BOMA Silicon Valley Board of Directors as a policy statement of the organization: 

BOMA Silicon Valley recognizes the impact of diversity, equity, and inclusion in the commercial real estate industry. The organization will cultivate inclusivity, diversity, and racial representation, by raising self-awareness through education, crucial conversations, and community collaboration. Three branches of the same tree which if properly nurtured can flourish and provide a better environment for all. BOMA Silicon Valley’s goal is to develop strategies that ensure that the workplace is as true to the identities of its members as they are to themselves.

BOMA Silicon Valley joins individuals and organizations in celebrating Black History Month this February and is committed to advancing the cause of racial justice, diversity, equity, and inclusion today, tomorrow, and always.

“Excellent webinar! Kudos to the Assessor’s Office for being proactive with the February 1 opening period for informal reviews, and then putting this webinar together to inform the public of the info. That you need to process the requests. Very transparent … great job!”'

“Great call – Good team – Answered all questions. Relieved that this process will be quick and fair.”

“Very helpful and informative. Appreciate the proactive approach.”

On January 18, the United States will commemorate Martin Luther King, Jr. Day in honor of his legacy leading America's civil rights movement, which resulted in the end of legalizes segregation, the passing of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, and the Voting Rights Act of 1965. Yet despite these  monumental achievements, events over the past year have served as a painful reminder that the fight for racial justice and equality in America continues--that his words, "...the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice" remain true today.

Below are reflections from members of BOMA Silicon Valley's Task Force on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion on what Martin Luther King Jr.'s legacy means to them. 

The Martin Luther king Jr. holiday reminds me of change and possibilities even when it seems like there is no hope. In these trying times this message is even more important. It proves that silence isn’t the answer and that we each have a voice that we need to be brave enough to use it. Martin Luther King Jr. said “Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.” As we’ve seen in this last year, we’ve put some of Martin Luther King Jr.’s teachings into action to continue his legacy and strive to reach the dream he held so dear.

-LaToya Ross

I am thankful to Martin Luther King Jr. for having the courage to dream about equality in a time and place where such notions were not popular. August 1963 seems so far away… and yet conditions are shockingly similar today.

My inspirations from Martin Luther King Jr.

I have a dream that one day all people will be valued for what they do and not by how they look or are perceived.

I have a dream that one day police will finally uphold their creed to serve first and then protect. A system cannot fail those it was never designed to protect.

I have a dream that one day our industry will have the tolerance, support and understanding to accept all people and to embrace the differences of opinion and perspective to make the community a true representation of the Silicon Valley.

Finally, I have a dream that one day I won’t have to dream anymore because this will be our reality.

-Brian Chavez

When Dr. Martin Luther King delivered his famous iconic speech I was not born yet. I was still being formed in my mother’s womb and would make my entry into this world 6 months later. I asked my mother when she heard that speech, what dreams she had for her first born child. What did she hope that her child could experience that she was never given the opportunity to experience growing up in the Jim Crow South? I was born in a southern town that had a railroad line that separated the blacks from the whites, in a hospital for blacks with a birth certificate that says, “negro girl”. The second I entered the world, I did not have the right to vote in these United States of America until 18 months later. So what was my mother’s dream?

She had a dream and a prayer that her unborn child would be respected as a human being and not be hated as she had been growing up in a separated and segregated society simply because of the color of her skin. She also dreamed that her child to be given the opportunity to have the best education which would afford me the opportunities and ability to make more money than she ever dreamed possible. I am her dream fulfilled.

In many ways, I reflect the dreams of most black people on this faithful day in August 1963, to have a life they could only dream of. Most of my dreams were not stifled or stamped out because of the color of my skin. My dreams were for the most part were encouraged and supported by people of all races and ethnicities on all levels, simply because people wanted to see me succeed in life but my story is not everyone’s story.

I have dream that my story becomes the norm not an anomaly. My current dream for my bi-racial granddaughter is that she does not have to choose to identify with her black side or the white side of her DNA in a society that will deny half of her heritage in doing so trying to diminish her self-worth. I have a dream she will be allowed to live in a judgment free society where she can just be who she is, a vibrant, smart, and fearless girl following her own dreams without words and looks trying to make her feel less than other people.

I have the same dream that Dr. King speaks about when he said, “I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up and live out the true meaning of its creed: We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal.” I believe I will live to see the day when this will ring true in my lifetime and I am excited to see this day.

I have a dream that one day there will be no need to have this dream because it will be a reality.

-Chequita McCullough

Update: Vaccine Priority for Commercial Service Workers
Via Matthew Hargrove, Lobbyist, BOMA California

The following is an update from our BOMA California lobbyist on vaccine priority for commercial workers. Posted 1/12/21.

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) has just recently indicated that those working in “Industrial, commercial, residential, and sheltering facilities and services” have been prioritized in group 1b to receive the vaccine. We think this description covers the demographics for our industry. It should be noted, that prioritization for us is currently about as high up the list as a worker can be that isn’t in the healthcare or teaching/childcare fields, and our folks are ahead of many other essential sectors.

Below is the prioritization schedule as currently set by the State of California. These tiers will be administered by the local/county health infrastructure, though we don’t know the exact mechanics yet. As noted, specific plans are written at the County level, so we will be paying close attention. The statewide plan was uploaded January 11 and can be found here: https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/ 

Please also note that this may be a moving target as federal funding and state funding scenarios emerge. We hope it will only accelerate the distribution of vaccinations and will continue to pay attention and remain vigilant.

California’s COVID-19 Vaccine Plan (01/11/2021)

After healthcare workers and long-term care residents, the next to be vaccinated will be individuals who:
• Have higher risk for severe disease or death (due to age or other factors)
• Are unable to work at home
• Live or work in geographic areas that have been highly impacted
• Are most likely to spread disease to other workers or to the public

These individuals will be prioritized as follows:

MATTHEW HARGROVE
SR. VP FOR GOVERNMENT RELATIONS
CALIFORNIA BUSINESS PROPERTIES ASSOCIATION
www.cbpa.com
mhargrove@cbpa.com
916-248-9533

Founded in 1983, San Jose-based BOMA Silicon Valley is the Building Owners and Managers Association for Santa Clara, Santa Cruz, San Benito, Monterey and San Luis Obispo Counties. Its headquarters, located at 75 East Santa Clara Street in Downtown San Jose, is open Monday - Friday from 8:30 am - 5:00 pm. BOMA Silicon Valley represents the commercial real estate industry through leadership, advocacy, education, professional development and networking.

The TOBY Award is BOMA Silicon Valley's opportunity to recognize excellence in commercial building management in the real estate industry. Building owners and managers can enter their building in one of several categories and, if awarded, are eligible to enter the regional competition through BOMA International. Buildings are judged on several factors, including community impact, tenant and employee relations programs, energy management systems, accessibility, emergency evacuation procedures, building personnel training programs and overall exceptional service.”

Techmart, BOMA Silicon Valley TOBY Award Winner, Renovated Category

Hanover Page Mill, BOMA Silicon Valley TOBY Winner, Under 100,000 Square Feet Category

560 S. Winchester, BOMA Silicon Valley TOBY Winner, 100,000 – 249,999 Square Feet Category

The Almaden, BOMA Silicon Valley TOBY Winner, 250,000 – 499,999 Square Feet Category

It’s been 42 years since California voters sharply altered the state’s political dynamics by overwhelmingly passing Proposition 13 to slash property taxes, ignoring virtually unanimous opposition from leaders of both political parties.

It’s also been 42 years since Proposition 13’s opponents — public employee unions and others with stakes in government spending — first began plotting how to overturn it.

They assumed, or hoped, that the state Supreme Court would invalidate it. But a generally liberal court refused to do so. They hoped that voters would quickly change their minds once the reduction of revenues affected local government services and schools. That didn’t happen either.

In fact, in polling year after year, Proposition 13 proved to be enduringly popular with voters, despite criticism that it unfairly favored some homeowners over their neighbors and was a windfall to owners of commercial properties, such as office buildings, warehouses and hotels.

Even when California began its historic political evolution from a somewhat conservative state to one of the nation’s bluest bastions, Proposition 13 seemingly remained untouchable, as demonstrated by Jerry Brown’s attitude towards it.

He was a governor seeking his second term when it appeared on the June 1978 ballot and, like other political figures of the time, opposed it, calling it “a ripoff.” But as soon as it passed by a nearly 2-to-1 margin, Brown declared himself to be a “born-again tax cutter” and sponsored a state income tax reduction to align himself with what the media called “a tax revolt.”

Thirty-two years later, when Brown returned to the governorship and faced a severe state budget crisis, he was frequently asked whether it was time to repeal Proposition 13 but consistently ducked it. He did, however, sponsor a state income tax increase that, in spirit, undid the tax cut he and the Legislature had quickly enacted in 1978.

Meanwhile, the union-led anti-Proposition 13 coalition continued to seek ways to attack it, finally settling on what’s called a “split roll” to partially remove some of the tax limits on commercial property while maintaining those for residential real estate. After many false starts, the coalition decided that the 2020 presidential election, with anti-Donald Trump sentiment likely to spark a big turnout of Democratic voters, would be the moment.

That’s how Proposition 15 came to appear on November’s ballot. If passed, it would raise taxable values on commercial property to current market levels, raising as much as $12 billion a year for local governments and schools.

However, the measure’s backers had no way of knowing that the COVID-19 pandemic and the severe recession it spawned would visit themselves on California, changing the tenor of their battle with business groups over the issue.

While proponents argue that the new revenue is needed to keep vital public services, including schools, from being slashed, opponents argue that with businesses already suffering, this is the wrong time to saddle them with more taxes.

Gov. Gavin Newsom lent his support to the measure this month, saying “it’s a fair, phased-in and long-overdue reform to state tax policy (and) it’s consistent with California’s progressive fiscal values…”

However, a few days later, the Public Policy Institute of California released a new poll indicating that support is, to say the least, tepid with just 51% of likely voters inclined to vote for it before opponents unleash a multi-million-dollar advertising barrage against it.

Both proponents and opponents know that Proposition 15 is a proxy battle over whether Proposition 13 is still an untouchable icon. It’s showdown time after 42 years of skirmishing.

Dan Walters
dan@calmatters.org

Dan Walters has been a journalist for nearly 60 years, spending all but a few of those years working for California newspapers.

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SACRAMENTO—Representatives from California’s business community, including retailers, manufacturers and large business properties are once again calling on the governor, state regulators, the Legislature and local governments to invest in a diversified energy portfolio that will help keep the lights on during peak energy demands.

WHAT THEY ARE SAYING:

“The governor, CPUC and CEC are all pointing fingers about whose fault this is, but the fact is that they have all known for years this was going to happen. Last year the Independent System Operator warned that there would be ‘potential resource shortages starting in 2020.’ No one listened and now residents and businesses are paying the price. Retailers support environmental sustainability goals and will continue doing their part to help alleviate the predicted megawatt shortfall, but now is the time to have an honest discussion about California’s energy future.”—Rachel Michelin, President, California Retailers Association

“The business community has supported California’s climate change goals and established CARE (Californians for Affordable and Reliable Energy) to ensure that our energy transition will maintain a stable and affordable energy supply for business and all Californians. Our transition has resulted in some of the highest energy prices in the country and now we are facing reliability problems in the summer months when our economy should be at its peak. We must have a robust and diversified energy portfolio including a statewide energy plan, which we have sponsored in a previous legislative session.

“All Californians deserve to have electricity when they come home from work to cook dinner, wash clothes and cool their homes. The California Energy Commission (CEC), the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) and national and state politicians cannot continue to push a false narrative that we don’t need reliable energy options like natural gas to meet peak demand during this time. Today’s crisis underscores that we need to make immediate policy adjustments in our current renewable and climate change plans so we can ensure that they will succeed in the future, ensure that our we can grow our economy and ensure that Californians can turn their lights on when they get home from work. ” –Rob Lapsley, President, California Business Roundtable

“Hot weather and a cloudy day should not be able to shut down the fifth-largest economy in the world. In fact, we shouldn’t even be claiming that about our economy if we can’t keep the lights on. Manufacturers in California already pay electricity rates 117% higher than the rest of the nation due in large part to California’s climate change policies. While we support California’s renewable energy goals, we absolutely need system redundancy that allows us to continue to operate and manufacture products for our residents and the world.” –Lance Hastings, President, California Manufacturers & Technology Association

“For rural and inland regions of this state, reliable electricity can be a matter of life and death. We should all be embarrassed that the fifth largest economy cannot keep its lights on. The state has already asked so much of the business community this year, and now we’re being asked to bail out the state for its short-sighted environmental policies. The business community has warned about these policies for years and today we are seeing those warnings become reality.” –Rex Hime, President, California Business Properties Association

Over the past couple of weeks, BOMA Silicon Valley has participated in a coalition of area commercial real estate organizations joining together to oppose a new commercial linkage fee, which is currently being studied by the City of San Jose. BOMA Silicon Valley was one of many local organizations, including the Silicon Valley Organization, NAIOP, the Silicon Valley Leadership Group, and commercial developers who recently met with San Jose Mayor Sam Liccardo to voice their opposition, noting the devastating impacts it would have on the city’s ability to further develop the local economy, especially during an unprecedented health and economic crisis. BOMA Silicon Valley will continue to participate in the workgroup and advocate on behalf of our industry, while keeping members informed of any important updates.