State of the City 2009: Economic Outlook "Reflecting on the Past to Find Solutions for the Future
Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce will host the first State Of the City reception for 2009 on Friday, January 30, 2009 at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica.

SANTA MONICA, CA, January 15, 2009 /24-7PressRelease/ -- Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce will host the first State Of the City reception for 2009 on Friday, January 30, 2009 at the Eli and Edythe Broad Stage in Santa Monica. Following the success of State of The City I and II held in January and July 2008 respectively, Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce will host a breakfast reception and conference to address concerns regarding the impact of the current global and state economic situation at a local level to be lead by expert panelists, City Manager P. Lamont Ewell and economist Christopher Thornberg.

The breakfast reception will initiate the proceedings (7:30-8:00 am) with a welcome from Santa Monica's new Mayor, Ken Genser. The conference will follow at 8:00 am with an agenda to include: a local overview of the city budget 2009 from P. Lamont Ewell and a global perspective as to how the economy affects us locally presented by Christopher Thornberg, past economist with the UCLA Anderson Forecast and cofounder of Beacon Economics.

"We are all aware that the City's current financial position and future economic outlook have been impacted by the unexpected financial crisis occurring throughout California and the Nation," said Laurel Rosen, President of Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce. "Santa Monica is a rich and diverse community that has weathered storms before. The purpose of this event is to learn from the past and gain insight from our speakers on how to move forward in the coming year towards a more secure and prosperous future."

In keeping with the format from State of the City I (January 2008), the morning will take on a relatively formal setting as the three panelists outline their perspectives and discuss their goals in the changing economy. City Manager P. Lamont Ewell will be tackling issues such as the challenges expected in preparing the financial budget for 2009-2010 and beyond; local economic and revenue trends; and the potential local impacts of the State budget crisis.

Christopher Thornberg will provide answers to questions such as will the economy recovery, get worse or stay the same? Are homes going to be a good buy in 09? The new D word is deflation, can it happen? Does it matter?

"A new year brings in new hopes and new fears," said Thornberg. "While the underlying problems in the US economy remain large, the Federal Reserve and Treasury have already taken historic actions in order to stabilize the economy—and the new Obama administration promises to bring aggressive fiscal actions to the table as well."

Participating sponsors for this event include First Private Bank & Trust, Santa Monica College, Santa Monica Convention & Visitors Bureau, Loews Santa Monica Beach Hotel, RAND Corporation, Acceptors Inc., Harding Larmore Mullen Jakle Kutcher & Kozal, Striker Media Group, Bayside District Corporation, Pacific Park, Perry's Beach Caf and Rental, St. John's Hospital, US Bank and Crossroads School. For State of the City 2009 tickets or sponsorship information please call (310) 393-9825 or visit online at www.smchamber.com. Presale tickets for chamber members $35, non-members $45. At the door $55. Students (with valid school ID) presale $15, at the door $20. Seating is limited and all tickets include parking.

Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce is the voice of business in the Santa Monica Community. The Chamber's Business Roundtable is made up of 30 local leaders who meet regularly with city officials. The Government Affairs Committee, open to all Chamber members, tracks important issues affecting the business community and advocates for solutions that improve the local business climate. Recent issues the Chamber has played a role in shaping local policy on include: changes to the no-smoking ordinance, General Plan Update planning and upcoming construction projects. The Government Affairs Committee meets on the first Monday of each month.

About Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce
Santa Monica Chamber of Commerce advocates and represents businesses' interests and issues affecting the community. We provide the environment to help our members prosper and succeed through a proactive working partnership with all levels of government and community organizations to achieve a healthy local economy and quality of life. The Chamber provides a wide range of community and member services, including community events The Taste of Santa Monica, Non-Profit Festival, Business Expo and Health Festival. Get involved: www.smchamber.com.

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