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‘Roadmap to Recovery’ Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce releases third phase of its economic plan
Study warns state officials about policies increasing price at the pump By RIA JOSEPH THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR
(The Center Square) – When studies are predicting $7 a gallon gas for California, the state’s experts are warning legislators that anything they do to counteract alleged price gouging should be designed not to make it worse. “We suggest the Legislature clearly identify the problem it is trying to address. Identifying the problem is important because it can help focus policy actions towards strategies that most directly target the problem,” said Ross Brown, Principal Fiscal & Policy Analyst at California’s Legislative Analyst’s Office, in his key considerations presented to the Senate Committee on Energy, Utilities, and Communications. The recommendation comes as Gov. Gavin Newsom embarks on formulating legislation to penalize petroleum refineries for what he deems as excessive profits. The Senate is exploring the root of price hikes in California last fall, with a mission to
recommend policy to the governor. “Americans like to hold onto the myth that politicians are allpowerful and all-knowing, but when it comes to gasoline prices, global influences on supply and demand are really the gremlin that determine prices, and politicians who really only care about your vote, would love you to think they can control everything, but really can’t do much over global fundamentals driving prices down or up,” Patrick De Haan, Head of Petroleum Analysis at GasBuddy said. Accurately identifying the problem, the LAO says, would make it more likely that “the proposed policy is effective at addressing the problem” and it “reduces the risk of unintended adverse effects.” In California cities such as Los Angeles, San Francisco and Sacramento can see fuel prices approaching the $7 mark this summer, for the highest daily average according to the latest analysis by GasBuddy on fuel prices for 2023. Please see GAS on A4
California won’t renew contract with Walgreens over abortion pill controversy By TOM JOYCE THE CENTER SQUARE CONTRIBUTOR
DAVE MASON / NEWS-PRESS
Businesses grace State Street in downtown Santa Barbara. The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce’s “Roadmap to Recovery” includes boosting local businesses.
By KATHERINE ZEHNDER NEWS-PRESS STAFF WRITER
The Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce this week released the third phase of its “Roadmap to Recovery: The Road Home.” The chamber’s collective focus has shifted to meaningful economic recovery, revitalization and long-term job growth. The “Roadmap to Recovery” includes diversification of housing, boosting and reopening businesses, and getting people to live where they work and work where they live. “We are not unaware of the risk but see a positive economy moving forward. We can address underlying fundamental barriers if we can address the vitality related to housing,” Kristen Miller, CEO and president of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, told the News-Press. “Our big effort is to provide some leadership around employer-sponsored housing. she said. “We want to look
Kristen Miller, president and CEO of the Santa Barbara South Coast Chamber of Commerce, said the chamber expects to see a more positive economy in the future.
at models that have worked well. There are models such as Westmont College, where the employer has a stock of housing for employees. We want to put together a consortium of businesses using the same model.” Ms. Miller also spoke about how the chamber plans to reopen Please see CHAMBER on A4
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Lower State Street continues to be a local hub for restaurants and stores.
(The Center Square) – California is no longer doing business with Walgreens. Gov. Gavin Newsom announced the state would not renew a multi-million contract because the company will not distribute abortion pills in 20 states. Walgreens decided it would not do so in those states after their attorneys general warned the company in a letter that it would face legal repercussions if the company were to do it. The 20 states included ones where abortion is currently legal, like Alaska, Florida and Montana, but did not include California. The attorneys general sent the letter to CVS and Walgreens last month, informing them that providing mifepristone in these states would violate the Comstock Act. The 1873 law banned sending abortifacients through the mail, among other things. “California will not stand by as corporations cave to extremists and cut off critical access to reproductive care and freedom,” Gov. Newsom said in the release. “California is on track to be the fourth largest economy in the world, and we will leverage our market power to defend the right to choose.” The contract that will not be renewed is between the California Department of General Services (DGS) and Walgreens. The deal lets the state obtain specialty pharmacy prescription drugs, used mostly
by the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation (CDCR) and its correctional health care system. The contract was set to be renewed on May 1, 2023. Under this contract, Walgreens has received about $54 million from California. Walgreens expressed disappointment with California’s decision in an email to The Center Square. “We are deeply disappointed by the decision by the state of California not to renew our longstanding contract due to false and misleading information,” a Walgreens spokesman wrote. “Walgreens is facing the same circumstances as all retail pharmacies, and no other retail pharmacies have said that they would approach this situation differently, so it’s unclear where this contract would now be moved.” Walgreens, which has stores in Goleta and Santa Maria, added that it plans to dispense abortion pills where it can do so legally. “Our position has always been that, once we are certified by the FDA, Walgreens plans to dispense Mifepristone in any jurisdiction where it is legally permissible to do so, including the state of California,” the spokesman wrote. “We will dispense this medication consistent with federal and state laws. Providing legally approved medications to patients is what pharmacies do and is rooted in our commitment to the communities in which we operate.”
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