OCMetro Business - (Lucy Dunn, president and CEO, OC Business Council)

Lobbying 101: I say 'squirrel'

Fri, 10 Dec 2010 09:13:00 GMT

With the travesty in mismanagement at the city of Bell, Sacramento budget disasters, government regulations choking business at every level of our lives, under-funded public pensions and a sluggish economy that – shocking – can’t seem to recover, we now hear the words: “And what we need is more transparency in government!” Sheesh.

Frankly, what we need is LESS government, LESS regulation, LESS red tape, but I digress.

Recently the O.C. Grand Jury decided that O.C. needed an ordinance regulating lobbyists because “everyone else has it; why shouldn’t we.” Well, sure. We have about 15 honest-to-goodness professional O.C. “lobbyists” in the traditional definition of the word: those who promote or secure the passage of legislation by persuading public officials. In Los Angeles and San Diego – bastions of transparency and good government – they have formal lobbying ordinances requiring registration and reporting of all lobbying activities.

In Orange County, Supervisor Bill Campbell recognized that we are rather unique with our onerous TINCUP gift bans and political contribution reporting, so he proposed testing a rather limited lobbying ordinance, which OCBC supported. Professional lobbyists would register and report on who their clients were. Simple. It could always be expanded if needed but was an OK first start for a county that didn’t have a lobbying ordinance. And a small fee (surprise!) would be paid by the lobbyist registering.

It shockingly failed to win support from the rest of the O.C. supervisors for a variety of reasons, most of which were that it wasn’t all-encompassing enough! Let’s include everybody.

So, Supervisors Bates and Nelson proposed an outrageously expansive ordinance that would have taken those 15 lobbyists and added 12,000 O.C. nonprofit organizations, landowners, utilities, unions, building trades, small-business owners, residents – frankly almost everyone in Orange County would have qualified to report as a lobbyist under their proposal if you had anything to do with a “public official.” Not an “elected public official.” Any “public official.” If you wanted to remodel your kitchen and your contractor asked the county planning for your permit in three days instead of five, for example, you and your contractor would have had to register as lobbyists! Think of the expanded fee base here.

Fortunately, this didn’t pass muster with the other supervisors and the drafting of an appropriate ordinance has been sent to county counsel and the county CEO for consideration, and is set to be brought back in 60 days.

Now enter, stage left, Sen. Lou Correa with his very first bill – on the state’s failed economy? On jobs creation? On regulatory relief? No. On requiring all local government agencies to have a lobbying ordinances: SB 31. Not just Orange County, but water districts, school districts, sanitation districts, flood control districts and transportation agencies. Everyone gets the fun of drafting an ordinance, folks registering, reporting, paying and government collecting fees.

"At a time when the state is facing tough economic times, this is when you really have to look at how you're doing business and think about doing things in a better way," said Correa. "And a great way to start is transparency in government."

Really? I guess working on the stuff that would put folks back to work is just beyond comprehension. It’s so politically correct to go after lobbyists. Well, lobbyists didn’t cause the problems in Bell, or the O.C. bankruptcy or vote in so many California regulations that we are at the bottom of the list of “business-friendly” states in the union.

I say “SQUIRREL.” Californiasquirrel.com. What do you think?

Obamacare: facts vs. hype

Mon, 29 Nov 2010 14:53:00 GMT

On Nov. 9, the Register's Opinion pages published opposing views on health-care reform ("Is it time to dismantle health reform law?"), one of which mentioned Orange County Business Council research by Wallace Walrod. OCBC's report, cited in the piece by Daniel Zingale of the California Endowment, was an initial assessment compiled to understand how health-care reform, and its costs and benefits will impact California businesses, which can be viewed here.

Like the vast majority of the California business community, OCBC and its members are still assessing the true impacts. Our research found that there may be benefits, but there are still many questions, costs and concerns.

OCBC shares the concerns voiced by the author of the companion piece, Sally Pipes of the Pacific Research Institute, about how reform will be implemented. For example, a primary concern of the business community is uncertainty regarding employer insurance costs. Early estimates of impacts range from moderate to severe.

Another concern expressed by many businesses focused on so-called "Cadillac Plan" taxes that hit businesses, but not unions. Cadillac Plans refer to employer-sponsored health insurance benefits that exceed $10,200 for individuals or $27,500 for a family. California employers rely on generous medical benefits to help attract and retain top employees. Many factors, such as having an older worker population or being located in a high-cost metropolitan area, are not under an employer's control.

Other areas of concern include: coverage of adult children of employees until the age of 26 (a practice 6 percent of companies now offer); auto-enrollment of new hires (12 percent of companies do this); coverage of part-time workers, which may actually cause businesses to stop hiring; and the effect on state and federal budgets (costs are primarily front-loaded, and projected benefits come over time).

Finally, as mentioned by Pipes, the effect of the IRS Form 1099 requirement for every vendor with more than $600 in annual business expenses is especially burdensome for small California businesses.

The full OCBC report is posted at ocbc.org/research.cfm. We will conduct further research to expand and refine these findings.

There are many outstanding questions yet to be addressed before any health-care reform can be implemented successfully in California. Our initial research was just the beginning, educating both pro-reform advocates as well as opponents. In a time of unprecedented economic uncertainty and record high unemployment, dialogue based upon facts is key.

Budget stalemate: When will it end?

Wed, 06 Oct 2010 11:10:00 GMT

Why is it that we Californians will watch a freeway chase of a car going nowhere fast? Fascinated with the police chase? Waiting for action, even a potential crash? Hoping for the ultimate real-time capture?

Oh for the same attention to Sacramento elected leaders in their “chase” of an illusive, timely, balanced state budget! But officials' glacial pace at solving legitimate problems of crisis proportion and budgetary inaction has become the “new normal” – and the equivalent of watching paint dry.

California's economy is the largest of any state in the U.S. and is the eighth largest economy in the world. Is it not absolutely outrageous that elected leaders can’t seem to put a budget together in a timely fashion? Frankly, at this point almost any budget – including a “kick-the-can-down-the-street-until-the-next-governor” – budget would be better than none. Beyond the partisan snipes and ideological warfare, this state’s millions of residents suffer while our legislators blithely attend to fundraising and upcoming election activity. Where is the constituent outrage?

Well, we’re mad as hell and we’re not going to take it anymore!

Leaders who profess to be “for jobs” are systematically putting tens of thousands of people out of work, in both the public and private sectors. Without a budget, the state cannot operate. And let’s be perfectly clear: This is not an issue of not having enough money. The debate may rage about how much we need and what to spend it on, but the basic fact remains that there is money available to pay salaries, suppliers and bills. But because there’s no budget, bills can’t be paid.

For example, as of Sept. 20, Caltrans no longer has access to money to pay its vendors on critical transportation infrastructure projects – $9 billion worth of state projects already under way. These projects will stop. About $2.1 billion worth of new projects are ready to go, but the contracts can’t be let without a budget. Plus, another $1 billion of bond money that has been authorized by voters for infrastructure, but the general-fund chaos affects the ability of the state to sell those bonds. This $3 billion does not even account for the waste of money caused by stopping projects and then restarting later, the inability to secure low-cost bids now when the economy has driven down costs or the utter devastation to small business vendors that are barely holding on as it is, let alone having to “subsidize” the state of California’s failure to pay its bills.

Lest you think your own life isn’t affected, how about this little consequence: The state’s budget makes it problematic to pay for CHP to perform safety duty during nighttime freeway improvements. Solution? Night projects are stopped; more workers furloughed. Further, this is the time of year that Caltrans buys cinders, salt and bulk fuel for winter road maintenance and snow removal. No budget, no supplies. No supplies, no snowplows during tourist season. No tourists, ski resorts suffer, and the multiplier effects continue. And trucks transporting goods over the I-5 Grapevine in winter? Not a chance.

And education payment deferrals for local schools, city and county government funding raids, housing, safety net, DMV offices closed ... the list goes on and on.

To rephrase Howard Beale from the movie “Network,” I don't want you to protest. I don't want you to riot. Recognize that California has value, even if our elected leaders seem indifferent to its people’s suffering. Get mad! Demand action of your legislator and the governor to get it done NOW.

And be sure to vote Nov. 2.

Click here for more from Lucy Dunn.

Disneyland lawsuit centers on 'costume'

Fri, 03 Sep 2010 13:13:00 GMT

Recently, Orange County's biggest private employer has been in the spotlight over a suit filed with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission by Imane Boudlal, a restaurant hostess working at Disneyland citing religious discrimination. Boudlal, who has worked at Disneyland for the past two years, recently obtained her U.S. citizenship and began wearing a hijab last week to work. She was asked to remove the headscarf or work in another job at Disneyland. She refused and went home.

Every business has the right to create guidelines, policies and regulations to better serve its customers, in addition to better protecting themselves. Companies like Disney work hard to ensure their products and services continuously meet certain standards, their mission and the brand that generations have grown to love over the last 55 years.

On key issues, opinion will present a variety of timely opinions in a pro-con format to give readers a quick cross-section of viewpoints.

The bottom line is simple: Not only were legitimate dress rules in place when she applied for her job, but she agreed to them and signed on the dotted line to abide by them as a condition of her employment. Disneyland is known internationally for its culture. Park patrons are "guests." Disneyland is "the show." Employees are "cast members" who wear "costumes," not uniforms. They are "on stage" when working with the public. "The Disney Look" – a branded, clean-cut image, synonymous with Mickey Mouse himself – is given to prospective cast members in a pamphlet that is agreed to by the employees as work begins. So why, after two years of working without a hijab, and without a previous request for accommodation, does Boudlal decide unilaterally that she did not want to keep her agreement with her employer?

Disneyland, to its credit, tried to accommodate her with appropriate headwear consistent with her new religious practices. She was insulted. Disney offered her several "backstage" job opportunities where she could wear the hijab, jobs comparable to her "onstage" job. She refused via her union representative.

Clearly, this is not discrimination against Boudlal in particular or the Muslim community in general – it is one company's decision to set forth guidelines that deter ANY religious clothing or symbols worn in plain sight of a guest that may alter his experience of its brand and services that make up "the show."

So what are the real issues here? Another union dispute masquerading as religious freedom? A publicity stunt? A play for settlement money through litigation?

"The Constitution tells me I can be Muslim, and I can wear the headscarf," Boudlal said. "Who is Disney to tell me I cannot?"

I recall another old-timer saying: "In America, you can do anything you want, you just can't do everything." You can work at Disney "on stage" in a specific costume, or you can work at Disney wearing your headscarf, but you can't do both.

With 12.3 percent unemployment in California – really more like 20 percent if the underemployed and those who have just given up are included – Hijab-gate is just another example of a dysfunctional culture that caters to litigation and protection of "my rights" but no duty to "my responsibilities."

There are hundreds of thousands of Californians out of a job, any one of which might like the opportunity new-citizen Boudlal has enjoyed.

Click here for more from Lucy Dunn.

OCTA teaches jobs creation 101

Thu, 17 Jun 2010 10:40:00 GMT

You know the facts: Nationally, about 370,000 government jobs were just “created” versus only 41,000 private-sector jobs. With a real state unemployment rate nearing 20 percent (counting those underemployed and those folks who just “gave up looking”), California needs 2 million jobs right now.

Even Orange County – damning by faint praise with “only” a 9.5 percent unemployment rate – has lost almost 175,000 jobs, with the transportation sector down more than 40 percent.

But good news for new jobs is here to share. Under the leadership of city of Orange Mayor Carolyn Cavecche, who also serves on Orange County Transportation Authority’s board of directors, a new policy has been unanimously adopted. OCTA now has established as its target that 100 percent of all professional services allowed will be contracted to the private sector!

We’re talking local projects, highway projects and freeway projects, all projects, which in the past, have been divided between Caltrans using its in-house staff and OCTA using private firms to perform the work.

That doesn’t mean Caltrans doesn’t get any work; rather the OCTA “target” is to favor the private sector, with each project looked at for its own unique needs and expertise, with appropriate staff recommendations to the board – the right workers for the right project.

What is shocking is that more local transportation authorities haven’t established this policy to help their own local economies. Clearly, they have the authority to do so under Proposition 35, passed by California voters in November 2000, where local and state agencies have the “choice and authority” to use private-sector services. Furthermore, that choice and authority exists regardless of funding sources, regardless of what agency programs the project and regardless of whether the plan is part of a state-owned or operated facility, like a freeway.

In addition, opponents of Proposition 35 – mostly government unions – have used every conceivable lawsuit and legal argument to set it aside in court, but in the end, every court at every level, including the California Supreme Court twice unanimously, has rejected all of those legal challenges and upheld the provisions of the measure.

Let’s call it “The Cavecche Principle” – get your own local transportation authority to pass this policy and help lead a statewide movement to put folks back to work, starting with each of our own local economies.

Our legislators can’t do it. The government unions won’t do it. So let’s just do it ourselves.

Click here for more from Lucy Dunn.

Roses, radishes, squirrels sighted

Thu, 10 Jun 2010 10:30:00 GMT

In the garden of O.C. what we need is some serious cabbage, but instead we recently discovered some roses, radishes and a few squirrels. Jobs creation is No. 1. With O.C.’s near 10 percent unemployment and the state’s near 13 percent unemployment rates, we see signs of economic recovery, but no jobs creation. How do you create jobs? Reduce fees and taxes, cut regulations and eliminate opportunities for frivolous lawsuits. Anything else is a SQUIRREL, or a distraction, to the main event.

So, what does our garden grow?

Roses: O.C. Supervisors Pat Bates and Janet Nguyen, together with Lake Forest Council Member Mark Tettemer, who refused to approve an Orange County Fire Authority budget that included a FEE INCREASE (Squirrel!) on the struggling business community to cover a pay raise for nonsworn fire personnel. In a down economy, fees need to be reduced, not increased.

Roses: Joe Kerr, Tony Bedolla and the Orange County Firefighters Association, who offered to work with OCFA to avoid that fee increase with creative, out-of-the-box thinking.

Radishes: Orange County Fire Authority staff. Hello? Is anybody home? Ten percent county unemployment and you’re giving folks raises?

Radishes: Shawn Nelson, Sharon Quirk Silva and Pam Keller, who voted to kill Fullerton’s 30-years-in-the-making West Coyote Hills Project for parks, habitat, trails and homes. Fullerton has grown by 1,000 people in just two years, but only approved 12 building permits, according to data from Experian and the Construction Industry Research Board. This project would have helped keep the middle class in town and alleviated over-crowding, as well as turn fenced private property into some much-needed public open space for North Orange County. And do I need to tell you what a jobs generator this project would have been? Thousands, not including the multiplier effect. Squirrel!

Roses: Harry Sidhu and all the members of the Anaheim City Council for the June 3 Anaheim Job Fair at Gardenwalk. And the brand-new Lake Forest Chamber of Commerce for its first-ever job fair this month. The groups get extra points for trying to match employers, jobs and candidates in a tough economy.

Radishes: More election mail in my mailbox than I’ve ever had before.

Who are your roses and radishes? I’d love to highlight those good guys and gals helping to help put folks back to work and grow our economy! And the radishes? Well, let’s just smother them in salad dressing.

To see more Squirrel legislation, or to add your ideas of Squirrel!, visit californiasquirrel.com.

Return local control of education now

Thu, 20 May 2010 11:34:00 GMT

State and federal lawmakers and bureaucrats are holding our children hostage. They are well intentioned, no doubt, but the road to hell is paved with their good intentions. And the travel is getting hotter every day.

Sacramento is broke, programs are being cut, legislators’ management skills are questionable, and California’s economic recovery is not evident. Local educators are doing their best with constrained, delayed school funding, making the tough decisions every other private-sector company is making to get by. But complicating this mess further, Orange County educators have zero flexibility on 73 percent of the public funding they do get! They are dictated by Sacramento and, frankly, Washington as well, on how to spend, when to spend, who to spend on, leaving no flexibility to meet local community needs for our children in tough times. Educators want flexibility to move funding to where it’s needed most: to district reform efforts, for career-pathways programs for students, for early-childhood education, Latino student achievement “gaps” and college readiness, as well as consolidation of duplicative, overlapping state and federal mandates such as in special education.

Our local school leaders are skilled, educated adults – talented AND accountable to the local community – more accountable than some nameless Sacramento or Washington bureaucrat. Our parents want their children skilled for a competitive 21st century economy. And despite this state’s upside-down priorities – $5 is spent per prisoner for every $1 spent per student – Orange County schools have the best “return on investment” of any business. State and federal funding received is almost dead last, but Orange County test scores are some of the best.

Despite their lousy track record, state and federal governments insist on micromanagement of the education of our children from thousands of miles away. Enough! Every mandate, every inflexible rule is a costly drag on efficient and effective education. Why do we need 6,000 regulations on education when 600 might do?

It’s time. Return control of education to local boards of education and superintendents who can and should determine what’s best for our children. Call O.C. Superintendent of Schools Bill Habermehl at 714.966.4001, and tell him you support the Orange County Superintendents’ plan.

Before the summer budget battles give us all heat stroke.

For more, visit Lucy Dunn's blog on the Orange County Business Council's Web site.

Treasurer Street reaches a dead end

Thu, 08 Apr 2010 12:57:00 GMT

Orange County doesn't seem to have the best of luck when it comes to electing good treasurers. According to O.C. historian (and former OCBC CEO) Stan Oftelie, two of the county's earliest treasurers, William B. Wall of Tustin, and Josiah C. Joplin of Trabuco Canyon, were Southern Democrats and Confederate soldiers. Joplin, who fought at Gettysburg for the Old South, was elected seven times despite political charges that his son, John Booth Joplin, was named after John Wilkes Booth, President Lincoln's assassin. Joplin denied the charges.

In the 1950s, Treasurer Henry Gardner, a conservative Republican, was criticized by the Orange County Grand Jury for spending most of his workday at a Santa Ana cocktail lounge rather than investing county tax dollars. The Grand Jury said Gardner worked about 15 minutes a day, signed a few papers, then was busy getting soused by 10 a.m.

And who doesn’t know the story behind disgraced O.C. Treasurer-Tax Collector Bob Citron, Democrat, which ended in the notorious 1994 county bankruptcy? Citron pled guilty to six felony counts and three special enhancements. Charges also included filing a false and misleading financial summary to participants purchasing securities in the Orange County Treasury Investment Pool. His successor, Republican John Moorlach, was elected saying, “Chicken Little was right. The sky IS falling!”

Now Moorlach’s successor Republican Chriss Street has been found liable by a judge for $7 million in damages for breach of fiduciary duty and self-dealing. His investment powers – part of his job duties as an elected official – have been suspended by the O.C. Board of Supervisors.

To make matters worse, Street’s taxpayer-funded wages are now being garnished to satisfy the civil judgment against him. So it appears O.C. taxpayers are now footing the bill for Street’s bad debts. Street decided not to run for re-election. Good thinking. He should also do taxpayers a favor and resign.

From streetfortreasurer.com: “When we create laws, no matter how good our intentions, that exempt individuals from the consequences of their actions, we eliminate responsibility and promote irresponsibility.”

Toyota is under siege

Tue, 30 Mar 2010 10:15:00 GMT

Toyota – the world’s largest automaker – has its troubles now, no doubt. More than 6 million cars recalled, product liability issues, injured drivers and a reputation badly beaten. Add to that, Congressional, federal grand jury and National Highway and Traffic Safety Administration investigations and at least 89 class-action lawsuits. Clearly, this is a top employer under siege as it is recalling millions of vehicles and trying to make corrections.

It’s odd to me that one of those 89-plus lawsuits comes from Orange County District Attorney Tony Rackauckas on behalf of the county “to protect the public and consumers.” What specifically is unique about O.C. cases that requires our DA to use this public office to pursue a civil case? Is it PR? Aren’t there enough lawsuits filed by those directly affected?

Rackauckas says the lawsuit was motivated by questioning if Toyota “puts profits over people.” Interesting choice of words for a DA who seeks monetary damages from a company through a contingency-fee agreement with a private law firm. Is this to fill his own diminished department coffers in a very tough economy? Determining whether or not Toyota “used deceptive business practices” should not be the responsibility of a county, nor the DA, nor is it good public policy in the trend by government agencies to use private contingency-fee lawyers to go after business. And please share with us, Mr. DA: Exactly what is your financial arrangement with the private law firm you hired to go after Toyota? OCBC recently launched a new Web site – californiasquirrel.com – to highlight the distractions elected officials concern themselves with instead of focusing attention on jobs creation by reducing fees and taxes, eliminating regulations and avoiding opportunities for frivolous lawsuits. This lawsuit looks like it belongs in the SQUIRREL category on two counts: First, there’s already plenty of litigation facing Toyota, and this suit smells like pile-on frivolous litigation benefiting contingency-fee lawyers, not the public; and second, any “penalties” the DA seeks to just get added to the price of the retrofitted, fixed cars, punishing the consumer/purchaser, jobs creation and the local economy.

Or maybe we'd just like to eliminate ANOTHER employer?

To see more Squirrel legislation, or to add your ideas of Squirrel!, visit californiasquirrel.com.

Let's get back to real jobs creation

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 13:18:00 GMT

Have you seen Disney’s animated movie, "UP"? It’s a great story about Carl, a 78-year-old retired salesman who ties balloons to his house and flies away with Russell, an 8-year-old stowaway, and his faithful dog, Dug. It’s a wonderful story, very touching.

The dog, however, really caught my attention. Dug has a special collar that allows him to speak! He helps Carl and Russell on his adventures throughout the film, but does have one tragic flaw: Dug gets distracted by squirrels. He may be on the most important mission of his life, but when he sees a squirrel out of the corner of his eye, his attention is completely diverted and – “SQUIRREL!” – he says. Off he runs to chase it.

Doesn’t this remind you of some of our state leaders? The mission is jobs creation – private sector jobs creation – pure and simple. It’s about getting folks employed who can pay taxes, and businesses that hire, grow and pay taxes, that will help Sacramento get its house in order. How can a state leader help create jobs? In one of three ways: reduce taxes and fees; reduce the glut of regulations business faces every day; and reduce opportunities for frivolous lawsuits.

• Instead, what we are seeing out of Sacramento are proposals to INCREASE gas taxes and lose taxpayer protections for secure transportation improvements – SQUIRREL!

• Time-consuming, wasteful “global warming solutions” that are not acceptable on the global marketplace – SQUIRREL!

• Universal health care “pseudo-solutions” that guarantee the state’s financial insolvency so no one will have health care – SQUIRREL!

• Creation of anymore Blueberry Commissions, Fertilizer Commissions, cow-tail docking or ferrets-as-pets legislation – SQUIRREL!

• And give us a break on this eco-stuff, will you? We love green jobs, but we love blue, red, yellow, pink and black jobs, too.

Let’s make a pact – anytime you hear a legislator or state official of any kind talk about anything other than reducing taxes and fees, regulations or litigation, just politely look at him and say “SQUIRREL!”

If enough of us do this together, perhaps we can eliminate the nuts and actually get to real jobs creation.

To see more Squirrel legislation, or to add your ideas of Squirrel!, visit californiasquirrel.com.

The state budget impasse drags on...

Wed, 20 Aug 2008 09:54:00 GMT

Six weeks past the constitutional deadline for a state budget, everyone has “drawn lines in the sand” in Sacramento. Republicans won’t raise taxes, Democrats won’t go for a real spending cap and the governor promises to veto any legislation that crosses his desk unrelated to the state budget until the budget is negotiated and done.

These stand-offs are affecting everyone: state workers and contractors are facing pay cuts and layoffs, and right here in Orange County an important piece of legislation is stalled by the governor’s veto pledge, even though he supports the bill. AB 3034 would increase financial oversight and make funding more flexible for the high-speed rail network proposed by November’s Proposition 1. This legislation ensures that a planned high-speed rail line has a stop in Anaheim, solid financial controls, private funding, as well as access to state bond funding. Unfortunately, the deadline to place these amendments on the November ballot has passed.

Deadlines tend to be “fluid” this time of year in Sacramento, but the threat to this project's benefits to Orange County is very real. The business community is hoping that these public pronouncements by Sacramento’s leaders are part of the ritual “kabuki budget dance” and that, as has been reported, real progress is being made behind closed doors. Too much is at stake.

Budget balancing is hard. Can you do it? Check out next10.org and tell me your priorities.

East meets West Side Story

Wed, 30 Jul 2008 16:53:00 GMT

I hope OC Metro readers will excuse my absence from blogging these past weeks, but I have now returned from a two-week cultural exchange in China. Touring with the Southern California Master Chorale just weeks before the Beijing Olympics, I can only say that this was an amazing adventure.

China is simply astounding. The construction taking place is beyond comprehension. Every city is proud of its architecture, attracting top designers from all over the world. Beijing has had years to prepare for the Olympics and they are doing their best to make their home as welcome as possible for the West. Lush landscaping frames thousands of miles of new public highways, new subways have opened, bicycles are more often replaced by cars (the new middle class status symbol) and the Chinese are being asked by their government to consider more “Western” manners: queuing up to get on the bus, no spitting in the street, no smoking sections in restaurants, staying in marked travel lanes, etc.

For visitors, however, it is remarkable to learn, experience and celebrate the unique cultural differences that are Chinese. Bargaining in the marketplace, walking everywhere, eating lightly, and – for women – learning the Chinese way of toileting. Ahem...bring your own paper and don’t be afraid!

The Olympic Village was in frenetic bustle. The remarkable “Bird’s Nest” where the opening ceremonies are to be held is a modern wonder of the world. I looked at the apartments being readied for the athletes and thought, “No way will these be done in 30 days.” Oh. Wait a minute. Three billion people and no CEQA, no NIMBY’s, no problem.

Every airport I visited – Beijing, Xi’an and Hong Kong – was state of the art. Signs clearly marked, almost complete or brand-new construction, breathtaking architecture designed to impress, and every amenity you’d expect to find. When I arrived at LAX, I thought I had arrived home to a third world country in comparison!

With all our discussion on water quality and reliability in California, there’s no question we’ve been spoiled. Our taps turn on, water comes out, practically free for the taking. In China, even at the top hotels, the tap turns on, and the water is not potable. Even to brush your teeth, you must use bottle water. I asked one of our guides – a Beijing resident – about this, and he responded to me, “We Chinese boil everything so we don’t think about drinking from the tap. It’s not a big thing in our culture.”

The terra cotta warriors in Xi’an are a “must see.” An exhibition is currently housed at Bower’s Museum in Santa Ana. It’s a good teaser, but the grounds and presentation of this astounding modern world wonder are worth a trip to China on its own. And, what can you say about Hong Kong, except more and more it’s like Manhattan on steroids! My group took a special VIP tour of Hong Kong Disneyland to see shows and attractions not yet in our own Disney Resort in Anaheim.

But the highlight for me had to have been the music – my “secret” passion. My choir met with university students from several of the country’s top educational institutions in Beijing, Tianjin and Xi’an. In every case, the Chinese choirs performing with us were not music majors or professional musicians, but scientists, architects, engineers, international business and technology majors – who just happened to like music and were amazingly gifted!

It was an experience to remember – a concert of American jazz, blues, gospel, classical and contemporary tunes (us) with Chinese art music, folk, Tibetan music, but also some contemporary compositions (them). Their musical performances were so well done that our merry band of Californians really had to “step up” to match their hosts’ expertise! Each of our groups was fueled and inspired by the other. Music was our common language and passion, and what a wonderful opportunity we had to share it across cultures. Who knew that east meeting west could have such a musical ring.

Factors impacting Orange County's future...

Thu, 05 Jun 2008 16:58:00 GMT

Welcome to OC Metro--that's Orange County Metropolitian--defined as a culture of sophistication, accepting a wide variety of people and ideas characteristic of an urbanized area. This isn't the LA suburbs any more! Most folks don't realize that today we are the fifth largest county in America.

Orange County has more population than 21 states in the union, yet they each have two senators! By comparison, in land area, it would take about 25 Orange Counties to fill one San Bernardino County. Our economy is diverse, strong and contributes mightily to the economic future for all of California. Orange County is among the very best places in the world to live, do business and raise a family.

But what will Orange County look like in the future? We are starting to read some troubling signposts: diminished affordable housing supplies (even as the construction industry wanes), aging infrastructure and a state education system in serious need of reform.

Will the people that live, work and go to school in today’s Orange County be able to live here 10 years from now?

The Orange County Business Council – OCBC – is working to buck trends to ensure that this county remains the economic engine of the Southland. Advocating for business--among the most productive and innovative companies in the world--OCBC helps build a future with a variety of choices in housing, relief in commute times, enhanced infrastructure investments, and a well-educated, skilled workforce ready today for the jobs of tomorrow.

In regular contributions to this space, I will blog on some of the Business Council’s specific efforts in these areas and more. How does the state budget affect us all? What's the big deal about water--my tap still works! Why is gasoline so expensive? And how can we protect our open spaces with all the pressure to provide for a growing population and job base?

Join me in a dialogue on the pressing issues facing the county’s business climate and quality of life.   There are a multitude of challenges and opportunities, and OCBC is at the center of efforts to address both.

Visit www.ocbc.org for more on OCBC. In the meantime, share your thoughts.