Chamber Sets the Record Straight

* On June 26, you featured the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce in a piece titled “Chamber Draws Fire for Leadership Ranks Living Out of Town.” The chamber’s leadership is offended by the way in which the article was developed and by the way it seems to support the ridiculous premise that the leadership of a business organization should be chosen from residents in a particular city rather than from its member businesses. We were especially offended by the narrow-minded viewpoint that business leaders who live in the surrounding communities do not give time and resources back to the community of Oxnard.

The Oxnard Chamber of Commerce is a business advocacy group for our business members and the business community at large. Our members are primarily businesses that operate in the greater Oxnard area, but many also operate in other communities in Ventura County. Our mission is to “Help Business Do Business,” and we believe that we do that superbly.

Over the past couple of years, the Oxnard Chamber of Commerce has worked on important issues for the business community. For instance, we have:

* Worked to keep Oxnard’s existing businesses here and successful by providing them with timely and important information, assistance and advocacy.

* Encouraged the creation of the Greater Oxnard Economic Development Corp. and actively worked with them to attract quality businesses to create many new jobs in our community, including the GTE Regional Service Center, Kinko’s Corp., Oxnard Factory Outlet Stores, Shopping at the Rose, Wallenius Lines and State Compensation Insurance Fund and the expansion of Procter and Gamble and Waterway Plastics.

* Worked with other organizations and governmental agencies other than the city of Oxnard to save our military bases, develop a regional airport, improve Rule 210, prepare and present the state implementation plan as an alternative to the onerous EPA-developed plan and development of a four-year university here on the Oxnard Plain.

* Participated in the Ventura County Council of Economic Vitality, Ventura County Council of Business Organizations and the Federated Chambers of Commerce to keep in touch with regional issues that affect Oxnard and its business community.

* Supported public safety through raising funds for the Oxnard Police Department’s K-9 Unit and supporting the City Council’s efforts to add police officers and encourage neighborhood watch and patrol programs.

* Fought for the creation of the Greater Oxnard & Harbors Tourism Bureau after a three-year absence.

* Lobbied the city for a streamlined planning and permit process and encouraged the city to be more “customer focused” in dealing with the public and the business community

We agree that “it’s not just about taking” and we walk the talk. The business community provides significant time, money and other resources to civic and charitable organizations. For example, members of our “non-resident” board also serve as volunteers and unpaid directors on the boards of dozens of charitable and business organizations.

Finally, the article incorrectly stated that the chamber “endorsed plans to bring big-time casino gambling to the city and to combine the police and fire departments.”

What the chamber did in fact was to recommend that the city analyze and have a complete and thoughtful public process to “evaluate” these options and make an “informed decision based upon facts.”

Neither plan was developed to a point that we were able to evaluate. Consequently, we were not willing to endorse or reject them. Both were killed by provincial political posturing and were not fully evaluated by the City Council.

The article also implied that we are getting some sort of subsidy by sharing office space and a receptionist with the Oxnard Economic Development Corp. We pay rent, and we pay our share of the receptionist’s salary and benefits. We find it beneficial to be close to those we work with to build a strong and growing economy.

We appreciate the opportunity to set the record straight.

MICHAEL MONTOYA

Oxnard

Michael Montoya is president of the Greater Oxnard Chamber of Commerce.