Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D-Discovery Bay) is co-sponsoring two free learning opportunities this month for businesses in Assembly District 11.

On Thursday, Oct. 13, business owners and operators can gain expert advice about worker’s compensation and paid sick leave laws during a Link and Learn session co-sponsored by the Pittsburg Chamber of Commerce. Representatives from the California Department of Industrial Relations will lead the workshop, which will be held from 10 a.m. to noon at the Chamber office, 985 Railroad Avenue in Pittsburg. Register online at http://bit.ly/LinkLearn.

On Wednesday, Oct. 19, a Small Business Seminar & Resource Expo will be presented by the California State Board of Equalization from 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. (check-in begins at 8:30 a.m.) at the Brentwood Community Center, 35 Oak Street in Brentwood.

With a theme of “Strategies for Success in Today’s Economy,” the seminar will cover such topics as sales and use taxes; loan programs; forms of ownership; record-keeping; how to distinguish an employee from an independent contractor; and resources for marketing.

Invited presenters include the California State Board of Equalization; the U.S. Small Business Administration; California’s Employment Development Department and Franchise Tax Board; the Internal Revenue Service; the Small Business Development Center; and the Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz).

In addition to Frazier, the Small Business Seminar is co-sponsored by State Board of Equalization Members Fiona Ma and George Runner; Brentwood Mayor Robert Taylor, and the City of Brentwood. Register online at www.boe.ca.gov/seminars or by calling 1-888-847-9652.

For more information about either event, call Assemblymember Frazier’s office at 925-513-0411.

To contact Assemblymember Jim Frazier please visit his website at www.asmdc.org/frazier or call his District Office at 925-513-0411. Follow him on Facebook and “Like” him for updates on events and happenings in the 11th AD.

By Nick Goodrich

At their meeting on Tuesday, September 27th, the Antioch City Council voted 5-0 to approve a sales tax sharing agreement with OneSource Supply Solutions, a company that has provided PG&E with equipment for the past few years.

OneSource, a supply chain solution company based in Oceanside, has been working with the city to move one of its main locations from San Leandro to Antioch. OneSource’s Senior VP of Operations, John Mayberry, told the council that the proposed Antioch location will offer much more in the way of efficiency and business opportunity for the company.

For Antioch’s part, the move would represent a $2 million increase in sales tax revenue per year for the city, due to OneSource’s $200 million per year equipment deal with PG&E. The agreement calls for the City to retain the first $500,000 of sales tax, which would not be shared with OneSource. After that, all sales tax for the duration of the five-year agreement would include a 50% rebate to the company, with the City retaining the other half, resulting in a projected $1.25 million per year.

“This agreement does not include Measure C funds,” City Manager Steve Duran was quick to point out. “That would remain separate, and distinct.”

This should be good news to the group of citizens, headed by former Measure C Citizens Oversight Committee member Sal Sbrante, who have complained in recent months about a misuse of Measure C funds.

The agreement was the result of a couple months of work with OneSource by the City’s Economic Development Analyst Lizeht Zepeda, Finance Director Dawn Merchant and Duran.

Historically, Antioch has had successful sales tax agreements with businesses, notably with Costco and the Auto Center. The agreements are typically drawn up with major companies which have the potential to bring in large sales tax increases. OneSource represented such an opportunity.

One concern that several council members shared, including Mayor Wade Harper, was the absence of a local hire contract. The Council has pushed hard for such agreements, especially with major developers as they prepare for the construction of new subdivisions in the city. The Laurel Ranch subdivision project is the most recent to employ a local hire agreement, which will bring in labor from Antioch and the surrounding area, rather than workers commuting in.

Mayberry was reluctant to commit outright to a local hire contract, but did not rule out hiring from within the city.

“Frankly, we’re looking to hire the best people we can get, and if they’re here in Antioch, that’d be wonderful,” he told the Council.

Mayberry also noted that the extra $2 million in sales tax revenue would grow as OneSource continued to operate in Antioch and bring in more business, presenting an opportunity for the deal to benefit the city even more in the long run.

Ultimately, Ogorchock asked OneSource to consider a 50% local hire commitment, but told Mayberry, “I’m excited about the program you’re bringing to our community. I think it’s a win-win.”

The Contra Costa Hispanic Chamber of Commerce is conducting interviews of candidates in the November election throughout the county. The completed videos can be viewed on the group’s Facebook page or heard on SoundCloud.

Below is a list of the candidates who are participating in the video interviews and the release status of their videos.

“We’re aiming to get all the videos released before the ballots hit the mailboxes and Early Voting/Absentee Voting By Mail begins on October 10^th,” said Evodio “Vo” Walle, President-elect and Chair, Government Affairs Committee of the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce of Contra Costa County,

Candidates who would like to be included in the interviews, please contact Walle at (415) 572-3568 or vo@h5c.org, or email GAC@h5c.org.

Also included in the completed videos is Gilbert “Gil” Murillo.

For more information about the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce visit www.hc5.org.

Diane Gibson-Gray

By Allen Payton

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce, announced, today that the Board of Directors has voted to formally endorse Antioch School Board Trustee Diane Gibson-Gray for re-election in November.

“Diane has the experience and the leadership to move the Antioch Unified School District toward overall improvement and success as the primary educational resource for our City of Antioch,” said Richard Pagano, Chamber Board Chairman, President & COO. “Diane Gibson-Gray has provided critical leadership and direction as a Board of Trustee for the Antioch Unified School District for two terms and we endorse her re-election to that Board.”

In a press release from the Chamber, it offered additional reasons for their endorsement.

“Gibson-Gray has served as a board member for the Antioch Chamber of Commerce for the past six years. During that time she has been a part of reestablishing the Antioch Chamber of Commerce in both mission and effectiveness. The board has witnessed Diane’s dedication to the Chamber’s Gala, the summer concert series for the Arts & Cultural Foundation and her ability to understand and help oversee important financial decisions,” the press release stated.

Gibson-Gray is running for her third term on the school board.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce is made up of about 350 Antioch area member businesses and organizations and is the largest Chamber in East County.

9/23/16 UPDATE: Asked if the board held interviews of any or all of the other candidates for school board, or if the Chamber will make any additional endorsements for the other two seats up for election, this year, Terry Ramus, chairman of the Chamber’s Government Affairs/Economic Development Committee responded.

“While the Chamber may make additional endorsements, it wasn’t our intent to interview all of the candidates,” he said.

The election is November 8.

Sacramento, CA – On Wednesday, September 14, Governor Brown signed into law AB 326 by Assemblymember Jim Frazier (D – Oakley), which sets a 30-day deadline that the Department of Industrial Relations (DIR) must reimburse a collateral deposit by an employer in a Division of Labor Standards Enforcement prevailing wage dispute.

“I applaud the Governor for signing AB 326 to bring fairness to the prevailing wage dispute process,” said Frazier. “As a former general contractor, I know first-hand that tying up cash can place innocent employers in jeopardy of losing their business or creating financial hardship.”

Current law requires that in cases where a contractor has been accused of prevailing wage violations, the contractor must post a cash deposit with the DIR equivalent to the full amount of the assessment plus penalties. AB 326 would ensure that the contractor is reimbursed in a timely manner.

“We cannot thank Assemblymember Frazier enough for stepping up on this issue,” said Tom Holsman, CEO of the Associated General Contractors of California. “There have been instances when contractors have not received their cash deposits back for months, even though a settlement had been arrived at, or the contractor had been fully exonerated.”

AB 326 had the support of the Associated General Contractors of California and San Diego, Associated Builders & Contractors of California, Construction Employers’ Association, Southern California Contractors Association, and California Association of Specialty Contractors. This bill passed through the Legislature with widespread bipartisan support and will become effective on January 1, 2017.

Assemblymember Frazier represents the 11^th Assembly District, which includes the communities of Antioch, Bethel Island, Birds Landing, Brentwood, Byron, Collinsville, Discovery Bay, Fairfield, Isleton, Knightsen, Locke, Oakley, Pittsburg (partial), Rio Vista, Suisun City, Travis AFB, Vacaville and Walnut Grove.

Dr. Sean Wright

By Allen Payton

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce announced on Wednesday, that by a vote of the Board of the Directors, it “formally endorses Dr. Sean Wright for Mayor of Antioch” and that “this is the first candidate the Chamber has endorsed in six years.”

“Dr. Sean Wright has been the CEO of the Antioch Chamber for the past six years.  He has been a champion for business, education, the City of Antioch and the East Contra Costa region,” said Chamber Board Chairman Richard Pagano. “Sean has utilized his skills, knowledge and work ethic to bring the Chamber back from financial distress and he is what the City of Antioch needs right now.  We know who he is, what he stands for, and share his vision for the future of Antioch.”

The announcement further stated “The Antioch Chamber of Commerce believes Sean Wright has proven his commitment to supporting and growing the Antioch business community in the past, and will continue this into the future as Mayor.  More than any other candidate, he has the capacity to lead the City of Antioch toward a greater level of success, and the Antioch Chamber of Commerce fully endorses Sean Wright for the office of Mayor of Antioch.”

Wright, who is also a chiropractor in Antioch, is not a member of the Board of Directors. Attempts to reach him for comment for this report were unsuccessful before publication time.

The Antioch Chamber of Commerce is made up of about 350 Antioch area member businesses and organizations and is the largest Chamber in East County. The Chamber is a 501c6 non-profit business league, and according to IRS rules, the organization can participate directly or indirectly, or intervene, in political campaigns on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public office, so long as that is not its primary activity.