Dear CAR Member,
This week, the California legislature returned from its summer recess to close out the 2020-2022 legislative session, which concludes at the end of this month. As we recently emailed you, C.A.R. strongly opposes two bills currently before the legislature — SB 1105 (Hueso) and SB 679 (Kamlager). Both bills create housing agencies with the power to impose a range of new property taxes on homeowners. SB 1105 is particularly concerning as it grants an unelected six-member body broad power to unilaterally raise a very wide range of taxes on homeowners and real property generally.
C.A.R. obviously does not oppose the creation of housing, but local government can already pursue projects to build and promote housing and even raise taxes, so these unelected agencies are duplicative, costly, and harmful to property owners. The taxes that the agencies could impose would make owning a home more expensive in a time of serious economic stress and rising prices and would also put homeownership further out of reach for California’s working families.
Here’s how you and your clients can take action to stop these bills. Please share this link with your clients and ask them to use the website to tell their legislators they oppose new housing taxes. And ask your clients, friends, and family to TAKE ACTION and continue posting on social media using the sample posts available here under Action Center. We are stronger together and your voice will help us defeat SB 1105 and SB 679.
If you’ve ever been interested in learning more about local government and how to get involved in politics at the local level, here’s an educational opportunity just for C.A.R. members. In partnership with Pepperdine University’s School of Public Policy, C.A.R.’s Center for California Real Estate (CCRE) presents our six-part Leadership in Local Government Workshop (free for C.A.R. members) that includes instruction from Maureen Tobin, Executive Director at the Davenport Institute for Public Engagement and Civic Leadership. This repeats the course that ended July 7.
The six-week virtual workshop will be divided into two parts. The first three sessions explore how local governments operate, how they’re funded, and how policy decisions get made. The next three sessions will focus on how to run for local office, how to decide which office to run for, what to consider prior to deciding whether to run, how to run a campaign, raise funds and build political networks. The six-week program takes place on Tuesdays, beginning Aug. 16. To attend this free C.A.R. member virtual series (Aug. 16 – Sept. 20), a single registration is all that’s needed. With your free registration, you will have access to all six on-demand sessions through the end of the year (Dec. 31, 2022). Register for free here.
If you’re like me and are eager to get out to be with people in person again, I’m thrilled to announce that the entire National Association of REALTORS® female Leadership Team, as well as C.A.R.’s majority female Leadership Team will take the stage at WomanUP!® on Aug. 31 for the first time in more than two years. C.A.R. President-elect Jennifer Branchini, C.A.R. Treasurer Heather Ozur and 2023 President-elect Melanie Barker will join myself and C.A.R. CEO John M. Sebree to kick off the event. We’ll also have an exciting conversation with 2022 NAR President Leslie Rouda Smith and her team: Shannon King, VP of Association Affairs; Tracy Kasper, First Vice President; Nancy Lane, Treasurer; and Kaki Lybbert, VP of Advocacy. If you’re interested in joining us at the 2022 WomanUP!® Conference at the Paséa Hotel + Spa in Huntington Beach, visit here for more details and tickets.
Another event gathering in-person for the first time in more than two years is REimagine!, your CA REALTOR® Conference and Expo. While the two-day Conference and Expo, held Oct. 12-13, is free for all C.A.R. members, the popular Pre-Conference sessions on Oct. 11 and Housing Market Forecast Luncheon on Oct. 12 require separate paid passes. But you’re in luck because the passes are currently available at special member-pricing until next Friday, Aug. 12. During the Oct. 12 luncheon, C.A.R. Chief Economist Jordan Levine will provide the economic forecast for the 2023 Housing Market. Every year at this event, his valuable data provides insight into today’s pressing housing issues that may impact your clients and your business in the future. If you are curious about any of the Pre-Conference sessions (including those on the new RPA, YPN, disclosures, social media and financial literacy), please visit the REimagine! Conference & Expo website to learn more and register.
Sincerely,
Otto Catrina
C.A.R. President