Lobby Day by APCA | Punjab Mail USA TV Channel

Hinzugefügt: 2026-06-01

[00:00:12]American Petroleum and Convenience California California Association the other door member It's my mom.

[00:00:42]Sacramento the Hyatt Regency Capital View Room which provide again some of them the show what registration of the breakfast not way just about must set already with style that they gave It's okay that Congress woman that is that sweet Senate majority leader Angelique Ashby assembly member David assembly member Gonzalez assembly member Maggie Correll Sacramento County District Attorney Dean Hall Senator Roger Nilo they city council member Lisa Kaplan which is what they I don't know what they Sorry.

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[00:01:42]which are You know which are Paul Hill Joe Joe Hill Sanjeev Patel Manraj Singh not money Samra Simranjit Singh Rocky money Karanjit Singh Olak and net had to be some some and I go to store my car on the page.

[00:02:03]But I want to get a car wash So lucky somebody must No way to go to the mall by the cookie.

[00:02:13]Okay, so I got to go to the mall only.

[00:02:15]So kind of a store mall company I get a fancy Joe got over only. Mother got some of the home. What do you program mobile Island below?

[00:02:28]Professional Donald What did you get a guy? After the California birthday walk walk chapter the ugly It's a small picture called store the bunch of Wilson.

[00:02:38]Just got to know a A guy that got the water protection money.

[00:02:43]So my God run walk walk assembly member Remember in the You know what you store my car I don't know what you are already below by the star now John got After the argument is supposed to get the guy number one I still want to let you get What kind of a gentleman by the area? I think all in a below the below the garden.

[00:03:07]Association What do you call store the SB 940 SB 982 I think SB 2108 working below the new I suppose going to be going to get to get to get It's going to allow a proposition 36 lady.

[00:03:22]Governor of California Fund Jerry got The appeal we get to get to get I do going to go with that I think so to go to go to go to go to So lucky no more than what we get to get to get I want to get to So kind of a joke I had a I don't want to get to get to get to get I still want to go to go to go to go to go to go to go to go to go to go to go to So I can get to get Lobby day during Saturday member of the California which So kind of a lot of money to go to go to What do you want to go to go to go to So lucky no more than what we go to go to I think so to go to go to go to go to go to go to go to go to >> Sat Sri Akal everybody. This is Bobby Singh Allen my El Cerrito mayor Hagia.

[00:04:25]Like in my also app cavity president Hagia app card a Muslim American petroleum convenience store association.

[00:04:34]Capital division I see that the Caribbean The SC 3 square Hagia Also the like a couple issues new Sudan. I don't know sorry I knew you had a lot of the proposition 36 to pass get the Sega.

[00:04:53]The whole over governor Legislatures all prop 36 Lee funding needed So sorry to say Hagia the lobby day day eight I don't have you have proposition 36 Lee All over the world of my budget the witch Add current funding.

[00:05:10]The equal Hagia a legislation I hear you have The all of the proposition 36 new weekend calendar Sunday. So they want to make it less strict. And I got you all over The all proposal Hagia I see all of the all of the proposal got the all of the I call the legislation introduced we have you have So that is to Ready band got the Hagia sorry to back of stores Hagia statewide All over the all of the band got the all of the band Hagia All of the stores got the all of the all of the all of the all of the all of the all of the all of the All of the all of the all of the all of the all of the all of the 600 feet All over the all of the all of the all of the all of the all of the all of the all of All of the all of the all of the all of the all of the all of All of the all of the all of the all of the all of the all All of the all of the All of the all of the all of the all of the all of >> It's not right to order to punish the road. So there you know, there are good strong operating businesses. They should be allowed to run their business. So this is a very important day we bring together all of our members to come and advocate our new industry.

[00:06:14]Thank you.

[00:06:17]>> [applause] >> I'm the proud president Bobby Singh Allen.

[00:06:22]Today is about sharing your voice.

[00:06:26]You're representing all of the gas stations and convenience stores throughout the state of California and we have a robust agenda for all of you.

[00:06:34]Hi friends, come on in.

[00:06:35]We have a robust agenda for all of you this morning and we'll go over this in greater detail as the morning unfolds.

[00:06:44]But I do want to call up since our current chairman is still on his way, I will invite up our past chairman Simpson G. Patel to say a few words. Thank you everyone for joining in such a big number.

[00:06:57]A lot and appreciation for everyone who attended.

[00:07:02]I think a lot of people have a tendency to complain and whine after the law passes and the bad impact they have on [clears throat] their business and lives.

[00:07:12]But when it's time to really speak up, they don't show up.

[00:07:16]So kudos to all of you for being here and try to raise your voice. So a lot of applause for you.

[00:07:23]>> [applause] >> I think this is our as Bobby G.

[00:07:28]mentioned, this is our third lobby day and we have been learning and improving and as number shows, I think and we have a lot more on the way. So we should have a tremendous amount of numbers. The Bobby G and all the staff members have set up great lineup of speakers as well as a lot of meetings that are moderate dams and whoever is willing to listen to us. So, I think we have a full busy day today and I think we'll go through some etiquettes and what to do.

[00:08:07]We have picked about four bills that are detrimental to our industry. So, there was a lot of discussion went back and forth because there's no shortage of detrimental bills [clears throat] to go through, but they don't want to overwhelm so we picked some that are the biggest impact that we have on our industry. So, I think we'll get into the details of the talking points and and how to deal with the lobbyists and in in some instances since the session is taking place right now, we may not be able to meet them directly. So, a lot of their chief of staff or other staff will be meeting.

[00:08:47]They get their ear so it it's equally important to meet with them and and share our concerns.

[00:08:53]Personal stories are always really more impactful than the generalized data or anything like that. And I'm sure the experts will share more details. But I think with that I will pass it back to Bobby G, but once again thank you very much for a huge number for showing up and protecting your industry.

[00:09:14]>> I guess a shout out to you know, Manny and Dilip from you know, they came all the way from LA.

[00:09:21]A lot of us came from LA. Los Angeles.

[00:09:23]>> [applause] >> With Manny leading? Yep. Thank you.

[00:09:28]Yeah.

[00:09:29]Thank you. I'm going to call up Joe G who's our um Executive founding member, but he's also the key advisor for the government relations committee, but before I turn it over to Joji, I just want to recognize four of our big sponsors um for this morning. Our sponsors are Republic Amusements.

[00:09:50]So, you can give them a round of applause.

[00:09:53]>> [applause] >> Reynolds, RJR, our friends at Shell, >> [applause] >> and Sacrison Commercial Insurance Agency, protection for life.

[00:10:07]>> [applause] >> We do have our Senate Majority Leader here, but before we turn it over to this rockstar, I'm going to have Joji um just to provide some introductory remarks as well. Good good morning, everyone. We'll keep it short as you're on the Indian Standard Time.

[00:10:24]Our chair is stuck in traffic along with our uh vice chair who's also stuck in traffic with a bunch of people coming from the North Bay, but I want to thank Bobby Singh Allen and Joji for putting this event. This is the third annual. And every year, just like Sanjeev Sanjeevji said and Tej and Raji all know that as well, we try to do our best to make it better. Their organization they've been doing this for 25, 30, 40 years, and I think we can match what they have done as far as you can see that the work that gets put into the to the preparation and lining up all those meetings. As you go to the meeting, you'll get details a little later on. But our responsibility of the government of uh affairs committee that we have for this organization is throughout the year looking at what bills are coming up, how they're going to affect our industry, and what we can do, not only at the state level, but local and national at the same time.

[00:11:19]And Jack was just asking me earlier with this uh bill that's coming up through the San Joaquin, the Stockton area, that's where it's key for you for your chapters to get engaged and meet your council members, your supervisors, and your mayors.

[00:11:37]Cuz whatever whoever is a council member today is going to be a governor and the president tomorrow. We need to make sure they understand that we're not only doing businesses in the area, but we're also part of the community. They look at the Chevron and the Shells and the McDonald's and the Wendys, and they think we're national organizations. We are not. We are just using the name for the corporations, and all we're We're just a lot of individuals. Some may be running two, three businesses and shops, and some may be running you know, 10, 15, 20, but we're not a a corporation, and they bunch us together with that, and that's where a lot of ordinances like money goes what's happening in the LA county right now. They're trying to make the minimum wage to come to that $25.

[00:12:23]I mean, if that issue at $25 or for the hospitality industry 30 to 35, you're not going to be able to be able to stay in business. That will hit you.

[00:12:32]When with our business, I'm on the fast food council for state of California. I was appointed by the governor to that council 2 years ago. We represent 40,000 fast food restaurants in California. And out of the 40,000, 21,000 are franchise owned. So, they pretty much only went after the franchise owned. We didn't go after the other mom and pops, but it doesn't really matter. When you're paying $20, if I'm paying $20 at my restaurant, there's no way someone's going to come and work for you at 16.50. They're going to come to me, and probably that way you're going to have to raise your minimum wages. So, that's what happens.

[00:13:10]We need to make sure we stay engaged, let the our elected officials know our story and how we are the fabric of the communities we live and work in. We need to support them, to educate them how they what the decisions they make today, how they're going to affect us. That minimum wage that went up from 16 to 20 affected my business 700 basis points.

[00:13:32]Thank you so much for having me. I'm honored to be here today. My name is Angelique Ashby. I am the state senator for the greater Sacramento area and I serve as majority leader for the state of California for the Senate. And I'm here in large part to thank you for your investment in this region, in this state, for for choosing to put down roots here and to invest your hard-earned dollars in businesses here.

[00:13:57]I'm also here because Mayor Singh Allen is a very close friend and ally to me.

[00:14:03]She's a person I I trust deeply and in this region, especially for women who are elected, we really have to lean on each other a lot and I'm lucky to have her in my corner.

[00:14:17]She's somebody I think very highly of and I think it is incredible that you have continued to select her to be your leader in this region. I think that is a wise decision. That's how you get a majority leader to come and see you on a Tuesday morning during House of Origin, which is really tough, but I'm glad to be here. I I know it's a really tough environment for the business that you're in right now. I fully understand that and I just if one legislator could come and stand in front of you and at least say to you, "Thank you for not giving up on California. We'd be in big trouble if you did."

[00:14:55]I know that you each individually own your businesses and yet you get painted with a a broad brush that really shouldn't apply to you.

[00:15:05]You are You are not Chevron. You are not Shell. You are individual business owners who are serving communities. You are the place that lots of little kiddos ride their bikes to get candy. I know that for a fact. Certainly true in our communities in Elk Grove and Natomas.

[00:15:22]You are the place that people rely on to be right around the corner from their home should they need something, anything.

[00:15:30]You are there day and night, 24 hours, you are there to serve our communities, and I want you to know that that is deeply appreciated and seen, at least by this legislator, and I thank you for that investment. You are a a very large job base across the state of California, and of course we know the diversity of your hiring reflects also the diversity of yourselves as business owners across California. So, on behalf of just my region, I thank you for riding through difficult times in the state of California with us. I thank you for continuing to invest and bringing a positive attitude and continuing to work with local elected officials to address whatever issues you are facing in each community around the state of California to be able to continue to serve our collective constituency and customers. Thank you so much for everything that you're doing, and thank you, Mayor Singh Allen, for your incredible advocacy for this group and for this region. But, please give a warm welcome to Assemblymember David Tang IPA.

[00:16:34]>> [applause] >> Well, good morning, everyone. Good morning.

[00:16:45]So, first and foremost, I just want to thank I I like to refer to you as Bobby since I feel like we're friends.

[00:16:52]Um but, I want [clears throat] to thank the mayor right here for a lot of her advocacy on just fighting for normal, and I think it is paramount to a lot of the work that all of you do, uh and not only that, a big reason why you decided to put your businesses here, why you decided to invest into this community, because all of you have lived the American dream. I think about when my mother immigrated here from the island of Tonga, and she would always tell me that you may be the poorest Americans, but you're the richest Tongans because you're in America.

[00:17:28]She would tell me that you can be whatever you want as long as you fight for it and you protect it.

[00:17:34]But also, what I have realized is as long as the legislators that are here in this building also fight and protect it as well. I remember I grew up not too far from here in low-income Section 8 housing.

[00:17:50]I would wait in the food lines at the churches nearby.

[00:17:55]My mom would always tell me that there's no place in Tonga where there's a church that has a box of food waiting for you. And then there's another church that has a box of food waiting for you. And then there's another community event that has a box of food waiting for you.

[00:18:10]But here in America, you have that opportunity.

[00:18:13]So, what you do with it is just as important as when you have it. And that's exactly why we ran for office and we wanted to fight for this state because I believe I have lived the American dream. First person to graduate from college, had a chance to go play football.

[00:18:29]And then I got to realize that policy is really what changes our lives. Whether it's for the better or the worse depends on who's making it. And we know right now that our lives here in California are getting harder because of the policies in place.

[00:18:44]I'm uh the assemblyman for the 8th District, which is Fresno County, Madera County, Mariposa, Tuolumne, Calaveras, Mono, and Inyo. So, I've pretty much got all of the Eastern Sierras.

[00:18:56]Uh and when I look at the people in the community that really helped change my life, I think about the problems that they're going through, the business owners, and the problems that are created here because of bad legislation and bad policy. And that's exactly why again we ran for office. I was I worked as one of the captains and co-captains for the Prop 36 campaign. This was before I was even elected here and I worked as one of the campaign managers for the Central Valley.

[00:19:26]There is only one initiative in the state of California that it passed by almost 70% in every single county in the state of California. I forgot to mention another rock star fighting for our industry, Assembly member Jeff Gonzalez, who represents Imperial County, Riverside County, and San Bernardino County.

[00:19:49]Please welcome Jeff Gonzalez.

[00:19:52]>> [applause] >> Well, David did a great job and which completely throws off my speech.

[00:20:02]So, I'll have to make him buy me lunch later.

[00:20:05]My name is Jeff Gonzalez. I am the Assemblyman for the 36th District as I was just introduced.

[00:20:12]And I represent the southeast corner of California.

[00:20:17]Big area.

[00:20:18]A little bit larger than the state of New Hampshire.

[00:20:21]Which means a lot of people drive.

[00:20:24]A lot of people drive from one place to the other.

[00:20:27]There's a lot of places where there are no buses.

[00:20:31]You know, I thought about what I was going to say and really I wanted to bring you back to to this I was in the Marine Corps for 21 years. Two combat tours in Iraq, two in Afghanistan. I'm the only member of THIS >> [applause] >> THANK YOU.

[00:20:50]I'M THE only member of the State Assembly that has served in as a veteran.

[00:20:56]So, out of 80 there is but one. Thank you. Um And what that means to me from a veteran's perspective, especially this on this past Memorial Day, means what will I do with the time that I have? How will I honor the legacy of those who came before me?

[00:21:16]And I think that's kind of a family thing, also, right? We look at our parents. We say, "How will we honor the legacy?" Cuz they got us here, right?

[00:21:24]They Whatever that family member was, maybe it was a grandmother, maybe it was a dad or mom, whoever that was, how will we honor their legacy?

[00:21:35]And my legacy is that of a warrior.

[00:21:39]And first I try to pull back from that, you know, I try to be a little bit calm about things and um but I realized that for me that's how I was made.

[00:21:51]I was made to be a warrior.

[00:21:54]So now I lean into it.

[00:21:56]>> [clears throat] [snorts] >> The question that remains is how will I do it?

[00:22:03]What will I do? What will we do for California?

[00:22:07]There was this battle that in the Marine Corps that that we talk about quite often. It was the Battle of Thermopylae.

[00:22:13]Ever seen the There was a movie the three 300, I think it was the Sparta, right? And it talks about the small group of uh of of community, the 300 men, but it was actually the entire community that raised together to fight for what they believed in at all cost, right?

[00:22:34]And they met some intense battles and intense foes.

[00:22:39]Yes.

[00:22:40]And the way to do that is to make your voice heard.

[00:22:44]You have to be a force. You have to be powerful. You have to say what you mean.

[00:22:49]You have to hold them accountable. You have to show them how it hurts. You have to do this. There is no other choice, or else we will be completely overrun. And I refuse to do that. My name is Jeff Gonzales. That's David Tommy Park. This is Maggie Crow. We are warriors in this fight and we need your help. Thank you.

[00:23:09]>> [applause] >> But we're going to welcome here the rockstar who took on the governor, our party. I'm I'm a damn.

[00:23:21]>> [laughter] >> I'm a very I'm very moderate damn. But um she is a true champion. She fights the fight on public safety and for our business community. Please welcome Assemblywoman Maggie Crow.

[00:23:34]>> [applause] >> Hi everyone. Good morning. Good morning.

[00:23:41]Uh so good to see you here today. Thank you Assemblymember Gonzales um for your service and for your remarks. Um because you're probably curious about what the bill was about that I got into fight with everyone over. I'll just tell you.

[00:23:54]Um before I got here, I was a prosecutor. Most of my career I spent prosecuting human trafficking, sex trafficking cases. Um I wrote a bill to hold accountable grown men who were buying little girls for sex. This caused big controversy controversy um in my old party and it made the news every day for several days and one of the days after feeling like I had totally got beat up on the assembly floor, I was driving home. I stopped at a Valero. I went to buy a buy another soda and some snacks for my kids on the way home at one of the stores that you all probably own or your families do.

[00:24:32]And [clears throat] um I you know, I always talk to the guy who works there cuz I go there a lot and I said, "Hi." He said, "How's your day going?" I said, "It's okay." And he looks me in the eye and he says, "Yes, it should be a felony."

[00:24:44]Um and it was like every it was like he had he had heard about it. He knew what my battle was about and it was so vindicating to know that even if I couldn't get my colleagues to get it, um the community got it. The community got it. So, I'm always appreciative of that.

[00:24:59]I'm always appreciative of the gut check I can easily get when I walk into a convenience store and have a real conversation with a real person. Um, as um, Mayor Bobby Shing Allen has stated, I worked in public safety for a long time before I got here. A proud supporter of Prop 36. I know we have work to do to make sure that it's fully implemented. I think of what it's like for you guys, the safety issues you face, what it's like when your stores are ransacked by organized retail thieves.

[00:25:29]Um, you know, when you hear about an employee that works the night shift having a gun held to them while the store is being robbed. These things are unacceptable. These are unacceptable in California and we need to make sure that we have a safe place for you to operate your businesses. I want you to think of me and the legislator as your partner, as someone who's there to make sure that your businesses can not only survive, but can thrive. That we don't put regulations in the way of your ability to do your jobs, and pay your employees, and be successful, and that we make sure that your stores are safe. That when someone steals from you, we hold them accountable. Um, and that we do everything we can to ensure the safety of the communities that you and your families can thrive.

[00:26:15]And one of those that even liberal newspapers like the Sacramento Bee recognized for their strength. Um, and so they proudly endorsed his re-election. But it is my honor and privilege to welcome Senator Roger Niello.

[00:26:29]>> [applause] >> Thank you.

[00:26:31]Appreciate it.

[00:26:36]Well, I'm actually kind of one of you.

[00:26:39]Um, in my uh, other life, I'm an automobile dealer. So, I'm a retailer.

[00:26:44]Now, uh, the retail theft of the sort that uh, Proposition 36 was uh, authored to uh, combat against uh, the doesn't really happen so much to an automobile dealer. It's very difficult to walk into a showroom and pick up a car and walk out. So we haven't seen so much of that, but I did see a lot of it leading up to the reform of proposition 47. And I've been I was active in that campaign.

[00:27:19]And I've been dismayed at the rollout of that not only from the standpoint of funding, but also I'm learning about AB 2108 which frankly I was not aware of it's in the assembly. We'll see it here eventually.

[00:27:34]But there were two major portions of proposition [clears throat] 36. One was retail theft and the other was what was called a treatment mandated felony of a violation of drug laws. Now one thing proposition 47 did several things. It decriminalized offenses that were um alleged to be non-violent and for some reason not that significant. One of them was to increase the threshold for grand theft to $950.

[00:28:12]That ushered in the possibility for people to go into stores and take $950 worth of stuff and leave.

[00:28:21]Now part of that was an enforcement.

[00:28:22]They they could have been arrested for that, but it's just a misdemeanor. And it can happen on the same day at another place and it's still just a misdemeanor.

[00:28:31]We saw the explosion of this and I'm sure sure that very much affected your businesses. And proposition 36 allowed an accumulation of those offenses that on the third it became I I became a felony.

[00:28:47]And that's given local law enforcement an incredible tool to combat against that. And here in Sacramento, our sheriff has been very active in that as has the sheriff and DA of Placer County, which is another part of my district. I represent part of Sacramento County and part of Placer County. And they've been very aggressive in combating against that.

[00:29:16]The real challenge of the enforcement of Proposition 36 has to do with the drug treatment, which is a significant contributor to homelessness.

[00:29:28]And this allows for a as I said a treatment mandated felony.

[00:29:36]What it means is it is reinstituted the law against drug possession and drug use, but not to arrest people for that, but to to mandate them to remand them to treatment, which is a resurrection of what used to be called drug court. Before Proposition 47, drug court was a very important tool against drug abuse. What you all can be doing in your respective cities when it comes to these burdensome ordinances. So please welcome Councilmember Lisa Kaplan.

[00:30:15]>> [applause] >> Yes, it is still well good morning.

[00:30:24]Namaste. Sat Sri Akal.

[00:30:28]Yes.

[00:30:29]Uh license transfer. Raise your hands.

[00:30:34]Okay, so the guys in the middle back over there, I'm also giving you a homework assignment because what's happening in the city of Sacramento, many of you might find happening in your city. So, um I would be probably I like to call myself pragmatic. I'm the pragmatic one on the city council. I believe we got to balance things. It's neither one way or another, but I am probably uh one of the few pragmatic on my council. So, there are there was a restriction put forward by staff. And realize elected officials vote on things. And so, it's really important that you also not only create relationships with your electeds, create relationships with the staff.

[00:31:21]Because the city staff are the ones writing the language, proposing it, and bringing it forward to council.

[00:31:27]But you have to realize most council members, I have a council meeting every Tuesday. I'm going to start my meetings at 12:00 and they're probably going to go to 8:00.

[00:31:37]And I get all the agenda items that I am supposed to be up to speed on on Thursday.

[00:31:43]So, I have between Thursday and Tuesday to read everything and get up to speed with the staff is doing.

[00:31:49]So, that's why when I say it's important when something is affecting you guys, one have the relationship with staff, so maybe you get a heads-up a week or two before it's coming, but two make sure you're paying attention that when agendas are published because there is such a short amount of time to be able to see what's on the agenda before I as a council member and council members have to vote on it. Generally, it's only four to five days. So, that's again the value of a very well-connected um executive director to keep you up to speed on that, but also make sure you have somebody in your local area that is paying attention to what councils are doing.

[00:32:32]So, what? There's a two-committee process, almost like with the state where things go to committee before they go to floor.

[00:32:38]Um in the city, it's called law and ledge. So, when there's changes in rules and regulations, it comes to law and ledge. And what was uh brought forward that if anybody has an existing retail store, but wishes to sell it, that then because in city of Sacramento, it says you cannot sell uh stores and there's restrictions on new stores if they're within a thousand feet of a school or certain sensitive area.

[00:33:05]Well, the regulation that came forward at council at law and ledge for consideration would have meant those of you who already had a store that was in existence, and the rule changed, you would then no longer be able to transfer or sell your store because it violated the thousand-foot rule.

[00:33:24]So, the power of knowing and how to lobby is your executive director knew about it, your local chapter knew about it, and they reached out to the councilmembers, and then went to the committee hearing to say, "Hey, I legitimately own a store. This is how it would harm me. This is what how I can now no longer sell my store. I am operating it, but if I wish to sell or retire, you don't have that tobacco license would not be valid any further.

[00:33:55]Uh you would just be selling the store."

[00:33:57]So, what now is coming forward to council because of that advocacy is to [clears throat] grandfather everybody in. So, it only applies to brand new applications, not existing applications.

[00:34:11]But, for the advocacy of your of the local chapter, this would have harmed many people because we have over 270 stores in the city of Sacramento, and those that were were going to be within the thousand feet would have been severely restricted in your livelihood. Someone I would like to bring forward, um Nate, who's is the National Federation of Independent Businesses. We actually partner with him on a number of items. So, we'll get a turn let you speak for a few minutes. We're just waiting on the DA and the Congresswoman.

[00:34:41]Thank you.

[00:34:45]Uh thank you. Uh yeah, I NFIB National Federation of Independent Business.

[00:34:49]They're they're one group that we work with. My boss and I we we run a firm called Capitol Tech Strategies where our main focus is making sure that we advocate for small businesses. We've worked with uh the California Film Commission Alliance as well with our previous lead.

[00:35:02]We've got a bunch of things. I see Congresswoman Matsui is here, so I will briefly wrap this up. She's a lot more important than I am. But, uh one of the coalitions that we built and and are proud of is the Californians Against Retail and Residential Theft. We started this coalition back in 2019 uh before Prop 36 was even uh a dwindle.

[00:35:23]Um we're extremely proud of it. There's over 400 members of our coalition including APCA, which is why Bobby asked us to to come and be here part of this today. Uh you've heard a lot about Prop 36. You voted for Prop 36. We want Prop 36 to be funded.

[00:35:38]Um our ask we our part of our coalition card that we're been we've been doing for the last uh year and a half now that Prop 36 passed is making sure that uh we're trying to rebuild that relationship between you, the business owners, and public safety officials, and and the district attorneys and all such so that they can prosecute, they can show up to your stores. We know that we know uh as the as the advocates of small business that it's really hard to um make those calls. It's really hard to take time out of your day, take time out of your staff's day. Um and then again, as we heard uh I think David Chiu mentioned it, insurance uh gets hit when you report and you have that that report happening. Um our ask though is that you do continue to report because the state the reason the governor and and uh his his uh folks that that run with him don't want to fund this is because the data does not show that retail theft is happening still.

[00:36:35]According to the the state reports only not only but there are more car thefts reported than there are retail thefts. And not not breaking and entering into a car, actually taking a car and driving it away. There are more car thefts reported in California than there are retail thefts. So please we've been doing the last year and a half we've been going around from from district to district trying to advocate for for you know repairing these relationships with the law enforcement.

[00:37:07]We've gone to Central Valley, San Diego, we just did one in in Fresno two weeks ago. We've done one up here in Sacramento. We're going to be going down to LA and the Bay Area and even up into Redding to just kind of have these conversations. The one thing that we continue to hear is continuing to report report report. It sucks, we know it but they're not going to the governor and and people that change these laws if the data doesn't match they're not going to do it. They're not going to fall in line and and and do what has been asked of them. So please continue to report. I'm going to get out of here cuz Doris Matsui is here so a lot more important. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you very much. Thank you very And so this morning Congresswoman Matsui has joined us and she's a dear friend.

[00:37:54]We are truly blessed to have to have you with our group. Congresswoman Matsui so we are made up of gas station owners, convenience stores and we have a lot number of 7-Eleven owners here. And so we're very concerned about the business climate not only here at the capital but even on the federal level. So we'd >> [clears throat] >> love to hear some of your thoughts on what's happening.

[00:38:14]Please welcome Congresswoman Doris Matsui.

[00:38:21]Okay.

[00:38:24]Yeah.

[00:38:25]>> You're good? Okay.

[00:38:27]Hi everybody. Good morning to you all.

[00:38:30]Good morning.

[00:38:31]I love to see all of you here. Um small business is really close to my heart. I grew up in a small town in the valley and small business generated everything.

[00:38:40]I didn't know at the time that it generates everything in big cities, too.

[00:38:44]And I know in Sacramento, south of this region, without small business, we wouldn't be the engine of growth that people want us to be. That is what it takes to be.

[00:38:53]And we can't always just say small business is all alike, either. And that's one of the things that I really work on. Um I'm very acquainted with um the convenience stores, small businesses. I have worked with people uh in Washington, D.C.

[00:39:11]who are really involved in uh National Association of Convenience Stores and all the affiliates that come with it, too.

[00:39:18]So, I understand the issues that you are always having to deal with at the federal level and also the state level, too. Cuz so much has come down to the states and they're concerned about their own budgets and things like that.

[00:39:34]And so, I understand clearly in a way that has to be looked at not only as business, but how it really does impact businesses like yours.

[00:39:49]You may have different businesses, but you all are together on what you need.

[00:39:53]And I see the fact that um if people mix you up with all the gas stations because they don't like the gas stations, right? That's not good for you.

[00:40:04]Um people also understand, too, that convenience stores are necessary part of the fabric of our lives.

[00:40:12]I don't know how many times I've seen kids go to convenience stores. That's the place they can go and get what they need.

[00:40:18]And I also also believe to when I talk to the people in convenience stores that I know coming to see me that they know the communities.

[00:40:28]They understand.

[00:40:30]Believe me, I know and you know that you all understand what's going on the ground level quicker than anyone else.

[00:40:37]You see it happen, right?

[00:40:39]And you know when prices go up what happens to you. You know when crime comes, you know what happens to you. You know when the big banks try to do something to you, wow.

[00:40:48]You know, you're not just business, you're community.

[00:40:51]And that's the nature of who you are.

[00:40:56]And it's the nature of who I am in the sense that we have to protect small businesses.

[00:41:01]We have to protect them in a way where you're not isolated out.

[00:41:06]Cuz it's somewhat easy to do that.

[00:41:09]Somewhat easy to do that.

[00:41:11]But what you're doing today and every day now is standing up.

[00:41:15]And you have people who go to government who stand up for you. And we listen.

[00:41:22]Because it's clear when the problems come to you we know that it's going to come up.

[00:41:31]It's going to come up.

[00:41:33]And so I do listen to all of you. It's so important. I mean like even just tariffs and things like that where everything's a federal issue. Uh-uh.

[00:41:40]It comes down to everybody.

[00:41:42]It comes down to everybody. I mean the goods and services that you have and you can't keep raising your prices cuz people go to convenience stores because things are a lot more affordable, right?

[00:41:53]But it impacts you clearly right away.

[00:41:56]So, what I'm basically saying is is that when you come around to talk with all of us understand that the federal issues are important.

[00:42:08]But we look at that, I look at it as how it impacts small businesses.

[00:42:14]Because you're the ones who are really on the ground. You're the ones who have to develop your own credit. You have to go to the banks. You have all these pressures on you.

[00:42:24]And you think about the interest rates and things like that. [clears throat] And so, everything that's happening today and all this chaos probably impacts you more than anyone else.

[00:42:35]So, I I feel really positive when I see a group of you. I know you have challenges.

[00:42:45]But you can work with elected officials.

[00:42:49]Because you're here on the ground.

[00:42:52]You're not in some big place like New York or wherever it is. You're not corporate.

[00:42:57]So, use that.

[00:42:59]Because people today when they see what is going on on the ground, you're part of that. Okay?

[00:43:05]Thank you.

[00:43:07]>> [applause] >> UH BUT OUR FINAL speaker before I come back up here and go over the legislation, but it's our DA is going to go over one of the bills as well.

[00:43:17]Um so, please welcome somebody who is no stranger to APCA, uh Sacramento County District Attorney Thien Ho.

[00:43:24]>> [applause] >> Good morning everybody. Good morning.

[00:43:28]Come on. We can get another one. Good morning everybody. Let's go. All right, here we go. That's the energy you're going to take over to the capital. So, I want [clears throat] to talk with you today about partnership and what true partnership means. And let me give you an example of that.

[00:43:42]I get a phone call from Bobby Singh Allen and she asked me about a particular piece of legislation AB 2108 and it's in your packet. We started talking about it.

[00:43:52]And what I wanted to emphasize, immediately she understood because she understands small business. She understands the convenience store is this.

[00:44:02]AB 2108 is bottom line bad for business and your business. What it does is this, it allows diversion, which means somebody takes a class and their charges get dismissed. It allows diversion for repeat theft offenders.

[00:44:22]We're not talking about a 16-year-old kid or an 18-year-old kid that walks in somewhere and steals one time and deserves a break before they go to college. We are talking about repeat offenders who are stealing again and again. They get diversion, which means they take a class and everything gets dismissed and we don't even know that it exists. And the problem with that is this, Proposition 36, which you helped pass, which would not have passed but for APCA, Proposition 36 allows us to charge a felony when somebody has a prior theft offense.

[00:44:59]But if we never get those prior theft offense because they've been diverted, then we would never be able to use Proposition 36 to stop retail theft.

[00:45:11]That is one of the main problems with AB 2108.

[00:45:15]So, you need to ask people, respectfully, vote no on 2108. The other problem with 2108, it makes restitution discretionary, which means that if you have an organized theft ring that comes in and steals from you, and they get diversion, and they get their cases dismissed, you may not get repaid with your loss.

[00:45:40]It's completely discretionary.

[00:45:43]So again, you are being robbed twice.

[00:45:46]Once when they take from your store, and once again when they get their charges dismissed and you don't get restitution.

[00:45:52]That is the other problem with 2108.

[00:45:56]We need Proposition 36, and we need it funded as well. Let me give you an example. From the big retailers to the small retailers, there is a Walmart in Sacramento that last year lost $5 million in theft losses.

[00:46:11]Because we are aggressively prosecuting Proposition 36 in Sacramento, that dropped to less than a million. From 5 million down to less than a million. Is a million $700,000 still a lot?

[00:46:25]Absolutely. But that has gone down because of Proposition 36 and you. And in speaking with convenience stores owners and small businesses, theft has gone down, but we need to fund it to continue prosecuting it.

[00:46:39]And so, it's about partnership. And this is one example of partnership that we have with the mayor, with you as well, um and the association. And the other thing that we talked about ICE, and I'll end on that, is this.

[00:46:52]You know, I'm an immigrant and a refugee, like many of you.

[00:46:56]And what I see happening with ICE, 84% of the people in ICE custody have no criminal history.

[00:47:03]It's affecting businesses, it's affecting agriculture, it's affecting trucking, it's affecting convenience stores. And what I've done here in Sacramento is when this administration and ICE wanted my office to help with ICE deportation, I said, "No. We're not going to do it."

[00:47:20]And so, I stand with our immigrants. We need to have comprehensive immigration reform. And whether I'm the DA or whether I'm in Congress, I will continue to partner with you every step of the way. So, thank you so much and have a great day of advocacy. Thank you.

[00:47:35]>> [applause] >> Okay. All right. Another round of applause for our mayor, District Attorney. [applause] All right.

[00:47:47]Now we get to go on to our training and and our lobby day um information. How do you say call me?

[00:47:53]How do you say stuff American Petroleum Convenience Store Association app below?

[00:47:58]I just need to give them some publicity.

[00:48:00]Members of the I am a busy good day or not to get in our members in the plan.

[00:48:04]Capital building jacket they could have got to get out here.

[00:48:07]What do you want to say? They are at the top of the week and they are the bill.

[00:48:10]So they are against Bundy. I see on a bill still a pulse going to take it to the end of the year. And lobbying day we get into the lobby going to have a basically three. They lost against money on a note. I want to look here I see sorry and they work work team up and okay. The criminal. I think so that I can get a good family man on the office job here on a memorandum that that we do today. What a good day again is it about to snow? This is in a pool school so that you can see if you get out of here today.

[00:48:37]I need a good open salad. Purpose of the second we are going to take advocacy but important here. And then I will get a good family member of the center here and we going to be knowledge in the Hindi because of the bill which is going to affect us in the 200 bill. I want to get out. What do you have to say about a lot? We are going to get a good day again because of the research getting all those together. So sorry responsibility of the members of the heavy and the members and nonmembers of businesses which have you on the business side and we are going to get a good day again because of the local the constitution for the heavy of the council member mayor supervisor assembly. [snorts] I don't know Jack Miller. I have a business layout to get a good day again because of the Saturday business key up.

[00:49:19]You do bill introduce garden and we get a good day again because of the Saturday Saturday purpose of the second. And then he is going to thank all the folks that I said a member. I need to like it.

[00:49:29]Almost ready to take the idea and made a big difference thank you. I need to get on the Saturday after the vice chairman Paul here making dinner. I need to get a good idea.

[00:49:38]>> [clears throat] >> First of all my Saturday thanks for the good day again because Saturday and at least I don't know. I don't know Saturday and I don't know.

[00:49:48]They also do this now. I don't know if you want to contact me again because of the good day again because of the good day again. Yeah, I don't know what I'm doing.

[00:49:57]Also, every city that you involve in elections and all.

[00:50:08]SB 1802 SB 1802 982 [clears throat] 1308 1314 1314 So, anyways, things are busy because of the recession.

[00:50:20]Uh, just got to be in one of open here.

[00:50:22]So, please all the communities involved here.

[00:50:25]Thank you.

[00:50:33]Sacramento, California the right thing So, I must say you see guys are all set up with the American Petroleum and Convenience Store Association.

[00:50:46]Why do I say you get bill on the assembly kiss the wrong a total businessman who can affect the hand.

[00:50:53]So, in a week which bill The minute I shall be on the right side of the proposition last minute What I mean by this I want to store it theft in the They are very very lucky repeat offender they are going to get the proper proper data under the law of California action that I get. You get it? I passed over 70% majority.

[00:51:19]He's getting into the state government.

[00:51:22]I can get the governor to help you. What do you probably find in the new way? I want to find the road to the bill pass.

[00:51:29]I can do that number page on the 82108.

[00:51:34]So, I can have a bill prepared by the judge in which he had the inner name. I can close by a key to get the one day John and get the way out. You can get the state the module and you should have class not then you could program a 10 gallon. You can get the crime get on the >> [laughter] [music]