1. He Heard Us!:  We were ecstatic to participate at a briefing yesterday given by President Barack Obama with Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner and SBA Administrator Karen Mills. Lately, through writings and airwaves we have been complaining about the Bail Out monies not materializing into business loans for our members.  Well, our President has corrected that situation.  He is bringing in the TARP monies from the big boys and will redirect it to smaller, community banks and CDFI entities.  Plus, he has raised the limits for SBA 7a and 504 loans to $5 million dollars.  This is historical!  Get ready for more access to capital for your survival and growth.  Thanks to President Obama for his leadership and direct action and we applaud Administrator Mills for her noticeable and effective advocacy on our behalf.

2. Cleaning Cali:  In our ongoing effort to bring California back into compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights, we are now reviewing the DBE participation reports for the last year for each of the major airports in the state.  Also, we are reviewing the diversity of the concessions (stores) now in each airport.  Likewise, we are reviewing the annual Title VI reviews for each major bus, train and subway entity in major populations from Sacramento to San Diego.  From these reviews we will set new goals and demand them to be met.  Somebody has to do it!!

3. Section 3 of the HUD Act:  Our affiliate, the Alabama State Black Chamber of Commerce, reported arrogance coming from housing authorities and cities located in Alabama.  Thus, we have filed 26 Section 3 complaints against various housing authorities and entitlement cities and counties in this state.  Also, we finished up our complaints for the state of California.  We now have 58 complaints within California from Sacramento to San Diego with a high concentration around the Bay Area and LA County.  Here is our Sacramento complaint. In your pursuit to bring compliance with Section 3 in your community please do not allow for reticence or arrogance coming from a HUD grant recipient or an employee of HUD.  If you encounter it please let us know immediately.  Don’t take “stuff” from anyone being paid with your tax money.

4. Form Your Political Action Committee (PAC):  Tired of seeing your elected officials selling out business policy for “pieces of silver” from unions, environmental zealots, etc?  Then form an effective PAC to support the ones who will fight for your cause.  We applaud the Illinois State Black Chamber of Commerce for their newly formed PAC.  It is going to make a difference in their political arena.  Also, our chapters in Louisiana have begun organizing theirs.  For the Illinois example go to www.ibpac.org.

5. California Here We Come:  Your time will be well spent in San Diego on November 5-6 at the US Grant Hotel.  See us in action.  Meet our board members.  The registration is nominal—the advocacy is phenomenal.