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A NEW BRIDGE. Plans to replace an aging bridge in Long Beach means improved safety and traffic, better accommodations for larger, cleaner freight ships and more jobs. The Chamber testified on Monday in support of the $1.1 billion plan to replace the Gerald Desmond Bridge at the Port of Long Beach. The Long Beach Board of Harbor Commissioners unanimously approved the plan, which will generate more than 4,000 jobs per year over a five to six year period. Currently, 15 percent of the goods coming into the country move across the bridge, while commuters account for about three quarters of the bridge's traffic. Contact Jessica Duboff, 213.580.7558 or [email protected]
Chamber and L.A. Compact applaud measure to save jobs
 More than 16,000 education jobs are expected to be saved thanks to the recent passage of a
$26 billion measure by Congress. "We applaud President Obama and Congressional leaders for moving quickly and decisively to provide much-needed funds to save thousands of jobs of the teachers and support staff who are doing the essential task of educating our future workforce," said Chamber President & CEO Gary Toebben. Contact David Rattray, 213.580.7515 or [email protected].
Chamber efforts to oppose airport curfew successful
 Curfews at local airports would cost jobs, hurt businesses and increase congestion at the Los Angeles International Airport (LAX), which is why the Chamber recently joined other stakeholders to oppose an attempt to ban — for the second time — all overnight flights at Van Nuys and Bob Hope Airports. This latest attempt to insert language for a ban in the upcoming Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) reauthorization bill failed. Commercial airlines already observe a voluntary curfew at Bob Hope Airport. Any new curfew would directly impact cargo carriers and business aircraft, forcing them to reroute operations to LAX. The FAA denied an earlier administrative request by Bob Hope Airport. Contact Beverly Kenworthy, 213.580.7531 or [email protected].
Chamber meets with Attorney General Candidate Kamala Harris
 Innovation and collaboration are key when it comes to fighting crimes including identity theft, high-tech crime, mortgage fraud and truancy at schools, said San Francisco District Attorney Kamala Harris at the Chamber's California Candidates Series on Wednesday.
"To fix what is broken in our State will require true and meaningful public-private partnership," said the Democratic nominee for California Attorney General. "It will require your leadership as well as mine." Join us for the next event in the series when San Francisco Mayor Gavin Newsom, the Democratic nominee for California Lieutenant Governor, visits the Chamber on Tuesday, Aug. 31. Register now or contact Samuel Garrison, 213.580.7568 or [email protected].
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After three months of renovations, the Ralphs store at 4760 W. Pico Blvd. celebrated its grand reopening last week as the company's first "Ralphs Signature" format prototype. The new "Ralphs Signature" features groceries from gourmet to everyday, offering customers an expansive selection of fresh foods and quality groceries. The store now employs more than 150 full-time and part-time associates. About 30 store associates have been newly hired from the community. 
The Education Trust singled out Woodbury University as a school where Latino students are thriving, noting that 31 percent of Woodbury students are Hispanic and that the graduation rate for this population is 62 percent — well above the 47 percent rate for Latino students nationally. "Woodbury's Hispanic students are typically the first in their families to go to college, and they're coming here in search of their entry to economic success," said David M. Rosen, senior vice president, Academic Affairs, Woodbury University. 
