Presorted STD U.S. Postage Paid Norwalk, CA Permit NO. 55
Chamber of Commerce
Serving and Supporting the Business Community Since 1923
APRIL 2011 • Vol 1, No. 5 • www.norwalkchamber.com • info@norwalkchamber.org
PRESIDENT'S MESSAGE
Chamber Annual State of the County Breakfast
Savings Ideas for Small Businesses.” I would like to thank Art Husami of Husami & Associates for presenting this workshop which offered valuable information to the business owners about the many tax savings available for this year. If you missed this workshop - keep your eyes open, because there will be others coming in the future. One of the advantages to your membership in the Norwalk Chamber is free and discounted workshops, trainings and seminars all designed to support our Chamber members and help them to grow their businesses. We also held our Annual State of the County Breakfast which featured our own Supervisor Don Knabe. Mr. Knabe shared with us much information about how Los Angeles County is working within the economic constraints that all
Supervisor Don Knabe joined the Norwalk Chamber of Commerce and the City of Norwalk, as we presented the Annual “State of the County” Breakfast at the Norwalk Arts & Sports Complex. Special thanks to Sylvia Southerland and Southern California Edison for sponsoring this great event. We also thank Café n’ Stuff for sponsoring the breakfast. And of course, the event could not have been possible without Supervisor Knabe and his staff and their ongoing support to the Norwalk Community. Much information was shared by Supervisor Knabe about the current issues and successes that Los Angeles County is dealing with. He shared that Los Angeles County is in better shape than many because of good planning and the cooperation of all employee bargaining units. Still many burdens have been placed on the system because of economic hardships. Both the welfare and food stamp programs have seen a considerable increase in demand, and more than 20% of that increase comes from first time participants. The unemployment rate in the County has improved slightly but is still at 12.7%. Property tax and sales tax revenues are down, and there are statewide budget issues to contend with. Some of the creative ideas that the state is coming up with would put additional strains on the county systems. Concerns are that more administrative work will be given to the local governments but financial resources will not come with that additional responsibility. Becoming “partners” seems to be the buzzword or spin that is being used by the state, but a true partnership involves all parties sharing the responsibilities and revenues together. According to the Supervisor, the realty is the state budget gap is so large, even if you shut down the entire Cal State University system, the University of California schools, the Junior College system and the Highway Patrol, it would not cover the current budget gap. So there are still serious budget issues that will have to be addressed over the coming months and years.
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[See BREAKFAST Page 3]
Betty Chacon President Wells Fargo Bank
L
ately it seems all you hear on the news are taxes and more taxes: “Tax day is fast approaching, Extend the sales Taxes, Put New Taxes on the Ballot” and more. That is why the Norwalk Chamber was pleased to offer a free workshop this last month on “Tax
Betty Chacon
Supervisor Don Knabe receives “thank you” from the Norwalk Chamber Board of Directors. Pictured here are Carol Trujillo, Camino Federal Credit Union, Maria Gonzalez, Norwalk Union 76 Service Center, Tracy Polley, Kelco Sales, Gary Murphy, Norwalk Florist, Karla Butler, Thompson Bookkeeping, Supervisor Don Knabe, Katherine Osterfeld, Office Depot and Rob Cazares, Outback Steakhouse.
Supervisor Don Knabe with local elected officials, Joseph Gonzales City of El Monte Councilmember, Marcel Rodarte City of Norwalk Councilmember, Ana Valencia Norwalk La Mirada USD School Board, Vivian Hansen, Paramount USD School Board, Cheri Kelley City of Norwalk Vice Mayor, Supervisor Don Knabe, Luigi Vernola City of Norwalk Councilmember, Tom Jackson President Cerritos College Board of Trustees, Bob Arthur Vice President Cerritos College Board of Trustees.
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