August Word from the Chairman

Turner_Annie-Chairmans-photo-PRAdvocacy Alert: Storm Water Fee “Postponed Indefinitely” by Mayor, City Manager
Your North San Antonio Chamber has been hard at work for you as we attended stakeholder meetings for the proposed City of San Antonio Storm Water Fee changes. Over the last several weeks, we reviewed and provided comments on the proposed Storm Water Fee rate and methodology restructuring. While we recognize the need to fund critical drainage programs across the City, we did not agree with the proposed methodology and rates that were proposed to take effect in FY15 and FY16, respectively. We took the issue to the North SA Chamber board, which voted at the July board meeting to oppose the fee changes. After an advocacy campaign that included a letter to City staff and elected officials, an email alert to members, media interviews and social media posts, we were pleased to learn from Mayor Ivy R. Taylor at this month’s sold-out Mayor’s Vision for San Antonio event that she was recommending to the City Manager that the proposed Storm Water Fee changes be “postponed indefinitely.”

We couldn’t be happier with Mayor Taylor’s decision and Manager Sheryl Sculley’s willingness to revisit the Storm Water Fee methodology, while also removing it from the FY15 budget. We will continue to work in partnership with City staff and officials to identify a reasonable methodology and rate structure that will not impede business expansion, retention or recruitment, while still allowing the City to secure the funding it requires for the important drainage infrastructure maintenance and capital improvement projects our districts need.

You can read and watch coverage from Mayor’s Vision for San Antonio here:

Rivard Report, WOAI 4, KENS 5, KSAT 12, KABB 29

Advocacy Alert: Support for Constitutional Amendment for Increased Funding for Transportation
A strong transportation infrastructure is fundamental to Texas’ quality of life and economic vitality, attracting new businesses and generating new jobs. According to the latest report of the 2030 Commission, approximately $6.1 billion per year in construction funding is needed to achieve “worst possible” transportation conditions and $9.5 billion per year is need to achieve “minimally competitive” transportation conditions. The current State budget results in a $1.1 billion shortfall in transportation construction funding and that shortfall will increase to $3.5 billion in the next biennium based on current revenue projections.

Thus, the North San Antonio Chamber board of directors supports the proposed constitutional amendment to provide for the transfer of certain general revenue to the economic stabilization and state highway funds, and for the dedication of the revenue transferred to the state highway fund to be used only for developing public road rolls (not toll roads) and that those dedicated funds be allocated by the Texas Department of Transportation in a manner consistent with existing formulas to ensure that the entire state benefits from this additional funding. The proposed amendment will be on the November 4, 2014 ballot and we encourage you to vote in favor of the amendment that increases funding for transportation. Help to keep Texas moving!

Announcing – North SA Chamber Member Benefit Solutions program by MetLife

We’re proud to announce that we have teamed up with MetLife to present the North SA Chamber Member Benefit Solutions program that offers members with 2 to 999 employees competitive group rates for life, dental, disability and vision coverage. The program features a product suite including:

  • Basic Term Life Insurance including Supplemental Term Life, Accidental Death & Dismemberment (AD&D)
  • Group Dental Benefits that include Pediatric Dental Essential Health Benefits (EHB), where appropriate
  • Employer-Sponsored Short- & Long-term Disability
  • Voluntary Short-term Disability (VSTD)
  • VisionAccess Program*

*   The MetLife VisionAccess program is a discount program and not an insured benefit. It is provided through Vision Service Plan (VSP), Rancho Cordova, CA. VSP is not affiliated with Metropolitan Life Insurance Company or its affiliates.

Learn more about Member Benefit Solutions program by MetLife

To learn more about how MetLife can benefit you, we encourage you to contact your agent or broker or search the FIND A MEMBER online directory to find a North SA Chamber member agent or broker.

Like most group insurance policies, MetLife group policies contain certain exclusions, exceptions, waiting periods, reductions, limitations, and terms for keeping them in force. Eligibility varies by product based on the number of eligible versus participating employees. Ask your MetLife group representative for costs and complete details.

 

 

The San Antonio Express-News offering more to readers

SA Express News logoThe San Antonio Express-News is giving readers even more reasons to pick up the newspaper seven days a week by investing in new sections and content that were unveiled this past week-end.

Readers can now look forward to a business section every day that will focus on topics including personal finance, small business, coverage of major public companies and the impact of the Eagle Ford development on our community.

A new Sunday Opinion section will deliver more analysis and commentary, providing context and a deeper understanding of key issues facing our community, state and nation. The section enhances the newspaper’s role as the vigorous marketplace of ideas.

The popular weekly arts and entertainment section (formerly Weekender) has moved to Friday and is now mySA. It will be the ultimate source on San Antonio with features and listings on what to see and do, along with movie reviews, places to dine, a map of San Antonio attractions and more. The mySA brand will extend to the former S.A. Life sections. The daily feature sections will have a new focus on lifestyle, trends, fashion, home and health from a San   Antonio perspective.

Readers tell us they value the Express-News for coverage of local news. In order to better serve those needs, our main news and metro sections are being combined into a big, comprehensive news section that covers local, state, national and world news. The new A section will emphasize local news, with regular coverage of local government and politics, military bases, the border, San Antonio neighborhoods and tourism.

The Sunday Real Estate section has been renamed Home and will feature topics including buying a home, decorating ideas and gardening advice.

The San Antonio Express-News is proud to offer MORE to its readers and is proud to continue to be the voice of South Texas.

San Antonio Express-News
Founded in 1865, the San Antonio Express-News is a division of the Hearst Newspapers Partnership, L.P. The Express-News is San Antonio’s daily newspaper, which also produces a variety of diverse publications, including the bilingual publication Conexión, as well as community newspapers reaching broad audiences throughout San Antonio and its surrounding areas. With its fast-growing web audience, the Express-News also reaches the community with San   Antonio’s home pagewww.mySA.com.