Your San Antonio Chamber of Commerce is uniting with eight other Chambers of Commerce, Visit San Antonio, Centro, the San Antonio Tourism Council, and several local leaders to oppose discriminatory legislation that would hamper our ability to attract a skilled workforce. A joint letter signed by CEO’s of each of the nine chambers and three business organizations was sent to Governor Greg Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Dan Patrick and Speaker Joe Straus this week opposing SB 3, SB 91, HB 46 and HB 50. Collectively, the letter represents approximately 5,800 businesses in San Antonio and the surrounding region. While each Chamber of Commerce operates separately, we are all working together to support pro-growth legislation that helps build a vibrant business community.
In addition, we have worked closely with several organizations to garner support of key business leaders throughout San Antonio and will be sending a similar joint letter to state leaders later this week. We currently have more than 20 key business leaders signed on to the joint letter, including but not limited to:
Rick Archer - Overland Partners,
Michael Beldon - Beldon Roofing Company,
Maryanne Guido - Guido & Companies Inc.,
Johnette Lee - San Antonio Lighthouse for the Blind and Vision Impaired, IBC Bank,
Bartell Zachry - Zachry Interests,
Jim Reed - San Antonio Medical Foundation,
Dan Bonk - Nix Heath,
Trip Pilgrim - Tenet Health Care, Auntie Anne’s, Weston Urban,
Arthur Coulombe - JW Marriott Resort and Spa,
Paula Gold-Williams - CPS Energy,
Danny Anderson - Trinity University,
Leo Gomez - Brooks, BD,
Dr. Alfonso Chiscano - 300 Centennial Commission,
Jim Goudge - Broadway Bank, and
Mike Novak - Novak Group LLC.
Over the past few weeks, 14 high-profile executives from the Dallas-area and more than 50 from Houston signed a letter opposing the proposed bathroom legislation.
Below is a copy of the joint letter sent by the Chambers earlier this week:
Dear Governor Abbott, Lieutenant Governor Patrick, and Speaker Straus:
During the 85th legislative session, San Antonio businesses stood together with the greater community in opposition to the discriminatory bathroom bills. As we enter a special session called by Governor Abbott, we write to reaffirm our opposition to discriminatory legislation such as SB 3, SB 91, HB 46 and HB 50.
As local business leaders, we oppose any law, statute, ordinance or rule that weakens our community’s private and/or public sector’s ability to attract talent and private investment or in any way limits San Antonio’s identity as a welcoming destination to visit, live, and work. Policies that discriminate against individuals or groups based upon gender identity, sexual orientation, veteran status, race, color, religion, national origin, sex, age, or disability are not in keeping with the long history of inclusion that has been San Antonio’s promise, and they hamper Texas’ ability to compete in the global marketplace.
San Antonio’s economy has grown in part through the investments made in the bioscience, cybersecurity and manufacturing industries. As we compete for talent, it is imperative that our leaders not hamper our ability to attract a skilled workforce by passing discriminatory bills, or other related companions or amendments.
An economic impact study by The Perryman Group estimates the initial impact of the bathroom bill on business activity in the San Antonio region to be a loss of $411.8 million annually and nearly 4,650 jobs. At maturity, the losses could be expected to rise to $689.2 million and nearly 7,780 jobs.
In total, 54 organizations issued an ultimatum to various Convention and Visitors Bureaus and Economic Developers throughout the state: Should discriminatory legislation similar to SB 3, SB 91, HB 46 or HB 50 pass, they will cancel their current projects and redirect them to alternate locations. In total, this represents $1.04 billion in economic impact through 2026.
We believe our economy is stronger when Texas is open for business to everyone. Therefore, we strongly urge you to oppose any discriminatory legislation.
Respectfully,
|
Al Arreola Jr.
President & CEO
South San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
|
Marco Barros
President & CEO
San Antonio Area
Tourism Council |
Sarah Becher
Design Engineer,
Alterman Inc.
Chair, San Antonio Women’s Chamber
|
|
Ramiro A. Cavazos
President & CEO
San Antonio Hispanic Chamber of Commerce
|
Pat DiGiovanni
President & CEO
Centro San Antonio
|
Dr. Yvonne Katz, Superintendent (ret.)
Chair, Board of Trustees
Alamo Colleges District
Executive Director, San Antonio
Women’s Chamber
|
|
Sarit Kapur
President & CEO
Alamo Asian American
Chamber of Commerce |
Casandra Matej
President & CEO
Visit San Antonio |
Deborah Omowale
Chairman
Alamo City Black
Chamber of Commerce |
|
Richard Perez
President & CEO
San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
|
David Solis
President & CEO
San Antonio LGBT Chamber
of Commerce
|
E. Duane Wilson
President & CEO
North San Antonio Chamber of Commerce
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If you are interested in joining efforts to fight this discriminatory legislation, please contact Stephanie Reyes, Vice President of Public Affairs at
sreyes@sachamber.org.
