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BOMA OEB Meets with Legislators


At the end of January, I attended my first BOMA International National Issues Conference in Washington DC.  BOMA OEB President Warren Mead and Government Affairs Chair Manny Moreno also attended this three day event. This event is held in our nation's capital every two years, the first two days include briefings and speakers on legislative affairs. The event culminates with a day of congressional visits.  This year more than 200 visits with US Representatives and Senators were held.  
Your membership in BOMA Oakland/East Bay includes this critical advocacy.   This year the three main issues we advocated on behalf of BOMA and you were: infrastructure investment, ADA lawsuit reform, and the preservation of ENERGY STAR.   BOMA International prepared great one page summaries of these issues – be sure to click the link to read more about these issues.  We met with Representative Jerry McNerney (9th District), Representative Mark DeSaulnier's staff (11th District) and Representative Eric Swalwell (15th District).  We provided them with first-person insights into how these issues are affecting building owners and managers on a day-to-day basis.  

The timing of our meetings was pretty special with the State of the Union Address on Tuesday, and the work on the budget.  It was a great experience to walk the halls of the congressional offices, the Capitol and all the surroundings. I'd encourage you to consider participating in this experience in 2020.  
Another key area we learned about was the BOMA Political Action Committee (PAC).  BOMA OEB is a contributor to this and the BOMA California PAC.  These two PACs make the legislative work happen inside and outside DC.  The BOMA PAC is there when we need help locally. The PAC has given money to local representatives and legislators during their election and re-election campaigns.  We need your help and contributions to continue to make this process a success for our members and our lobbying efforts. Without your participation, the BOMA PAC cannot operate. And without our BOMA PAC contributions to our Representatives, we lose our voice in Washington, D.C.   Please join me, Manny, and Warren in donating to your industry's legislative PACs. 

This event also allowed us to catch up with other BOMA locals and BOMA staff, including updates from all the BOMA International committees.  Anne Sparks, Next Play Consulting, and I are serving on the Technology Committee.  BOMA Technology Committee is collecting data on the uses and needs that buildings have around technology. Be on the lookout for a survey request in our weekly eblasts. 

I look forward to seeing you at our Spring Events, including the Walter Finch Golf Tournament on April 23 at Roundhill Golf Club.

 

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