" The Napa Chamber of Commerce probably also endorses the continuous flow of low wage workers into this county to accommodate the commerce of hospitality and agriculture. And I doubt that it matters much to them that the costs of the low wage, non union workers are passed onto taxpayers through increased social services, medical costs, and educational services etc. No one seems to want to make THIS connection. Too many people just say "no union" without considering the consequences.

Voters need to THINK for themselves. They should not attach themselves to a group of candidates just because it's easier to not think about it. In other words, just because you might support Luce doesn't mean you should automatically support Simpson just because they are grouped together.

I hope you people think long and hard about this. The Chamber of Commerce is probably an advocate for low wage workers primarily because it benefits business. Does it benefit the common taxpayer or are we subsidizing businesses with our taxpayer dollars so that they can have low wage, non union workers? Someone has to pay for their medical care when they are uninsured. Someone has to pay for their subsidized housing when their incomes are too low. And how much tax contributions can they actually make? The middle income pick up the slack. The burden of cost is transferred from businesses to YOU, the taxpayer.

Be careful about who you vote for and think about the REASONS someone wants you to vote for a particular candidate. Are they "pro business, anti union at taxpayers expense"? Or perhaps you don't object to the influx of low income, non union workers into the county. Either way, be informed. "

" This is good news. These are proven leaders in our community. Voters should check out their candidates, which is exactly what the Chamber did before endorsing them Endorsements are not given without lots of thought and review of the candidates record. Voters need to look at the candidates experience, education, and track records. These candidates will stand up to their review. "

" Years ago the Chamber of Commerce supported creating Napa into an executive community and having the workers come in from Sonoma and Solano counties. Strange how they never held meetings to interview the candiates they didn't endorse. "

" I am a member of the chamber for "business" not politics. The chamber wouldn't exist without its members but it takes political positions like this in the name of its members without their permission.

As a chamber member, I was never consulted about supporting these issues or candidates. The chamber ioften takes the wrong position in relation to the community - suppreting the losing side -Measures H & L lost at the polls.

The chamber also makes campaign contributions of member's dues without their permission - Measure H.

The chamber is apparently run by petty officials interested only in personal gain and power from favors from politicians they support with other peoples' money.

I urge the community to disregard the chamber's recommendations for these reasons. "

" The Chamber invites every candidate to be interviewed... some candidates just don't choose to participate. The interviews are tough. I wouldn't want to be a candidate going through the grilling they get at the interview... Having the best interest of business in mind isn't a bad thing. A healthy local economy is always good for the community. "

" I disagree with the chamber for being political. The most important reason I object is that as a chamber member neither I nor any other member was asked for approval of their candidates nor their monetary donations to candidates an issues. It is not fair to the members who support other candidates on issues to see this happen. The 2nd reason is that the chamber obtains monetary support from local government. when the chamber supports local government officials who vote for chamber subsidies, and when the chamber endorses new taxes to support the local government like the transportation tax it seems like a payback. "

" napan1961, it's not healthy when taxpayers are subsidizing business expenses. When an employer involved in the construction, agriculture, or hospitality trade either pays under the table or pays a low wage without covering health insurance costs, the burden is passed onto our hospitals which are then passed onto taxpayers. Follow the trail. Sure, the business earnings are increased but taxpayers, particularly middle class, must bear the burden.

So go on ahead and argue the healthy economy angle. Our middle class is eroding in case you haven't noticed, partly because of displacement (think of a union plumber who can't get work because illegals are willing to do the work under the table). You call this "healthy"? Ok you're right. It's healthy for the super wealthy.

As a middle income taxpayer, I would rather have unions fight for fair wages and benefits so that the employers are responsible for those expenses rather than just being transferred to taxpayers. This cycle is well hidden and unless you follow the trail, it's difficult making the connection.

Tell me, what opinion does the Chamber of Commerce have on unions? Maybe someone should be putting THEM through an intensive interview. "

" Musik: I know for a fact that the Napa Chamber gets no monetary support from the local government.

Vocal: The unions just make it very hard for businesses to make any money. They would probably just leave and go somewhere else where there is no union, and leave us with no jobs. Also... I pretty sure that the Chamber of Commerce doesn't support hiring illegals... so you can give up that argument.

Unions are nice for the employees who work for them and get the great benefits... but it really puts a huge burden on employers. In a perfect world we would all get great pay and great benefits, but the world isn't perfect.

Personally, I don't want to go to a restaurant and pay $25 for a hamburger... which is what would happen if they went union. You have a good point about us taxpayers paying for the healthcare of the uninsured, but unions are not the answer. "

" musikluvr - You are completely wrong, the Chamber receives no money whatsoever from local government. Period. For the very reason you stated, your Napa Chamber does not wish to be influenced nor be perceived to be influenced by money from that source.

Candidate endorsement is given after interviews that ask questions related to the objectives stated in the 5 year plan. This plan is formulated and reviewed every year by the incoming board of directors. The board is a divergent mix of about 25 oustanding individuals in fields related to business, education, non-profit, planning and development and a host of other industries.

The endorsement of a candidate or issue is a well thought out process that is discussed from many points of view, but always filtered through the five year plan.

As a member of the chamber, you should be aware of this process. You can familiarize yourself at the chamber website. "

" I also know the that the Chamber does not take ANY government money. The Chamber consists of a Board of Directors who make the decisions for the organization. The members have given the Board that right and it is stated in the bylaws of the organization. See the Chamber's website, also check out the board will which are business owners just like me and you. As to the Union discussion and living wages. I have several friends who work in unions, they like the benefits, however, the wage caps are unfair. How would you like to work for an industry that lets you have a .25 cent per hour raise every three years!!! For me I've stayed away from union jobs, because in the long run they cost you the opportunity to move up the ladder for performance rewards. My friend has been at $22.00/hour for the last 10 years! How would you like to be stuck in a union job that kept you in the lower class? Do you think the union asks their members if they can spend their money for polictical gain? HA! The Chamber does not give money to candidates...Unions Do! If you go to the State of CA EDD website you can do the research and see that Napa's average wage is higher than the State of CA average wage! Let's say the living wage in Napa is $15 per hour and every entry level employee gets that wage. What do you think would happen to the fee for getting your car washed? buying a hamburger? getting your groceries? staying in a hotel room? having a package delivered? Buying a book? However you look at it Consumers or Taxpayers we are still the ones footing the bill. I stop here. "

" To Mom2: You are wrong about the chamber not donating to any candidate! The Chamber donated $thousands to the Measure H campaign in 2006. And, in doing so they donated members dues without permission from the members. I am sure there have been many other "donations" of member's money lately too.

You are also wrong about unions. Unions control the supply of labor and dictate pay and benefits. This is called price fixing. Unions have a monopoly on labor. They keep other people who are perfectly qualified to do the job from getting jobs unless those people pay the union bosses. This is called protectionism. The fact that you find people stuck in a union job with little or no pay or satisfaction is what is known known as wage slavery.

Business can't fix prices nor can they monopolize a product or a service - only unions can do that. "

" musicluvr, I do understand your frustration about unions. I believe, however, that without them, we would return to the days where favoritism played a role in promotion; for example, a manager who had a bum nephew who couldn't hold a job anywhere else. To please his brother, he hired his bum nephew ahead of more experienced employees who had been there a long time. Please do some research on the treatment of employees prior to the union movement. Employees were treated fairly poorly.

But I also understand your perspective on other levels. I wish that there was a happy medium. It seems, though, that unions are always trying to hold onto territory that they have gained; for example, healthcare benefits which are extraordinary expensive and that business is always trying to take away. it's quite a tug of war. And the teachers union drives me nuts more than anything else because our children then become pawns and it interferes with educational progress.

I do want you to answer this question, though: What are we supposed to do about the influx of migrant workers who are taking the jobs of union workers? Are you ok with that? If so, what do you think would happen to those people who once held those jobs and were once middle class? Do you feel ok about them being misplaced into a lower level of living because there is someone willing to migrate here and do it for cheaper? How do you feel when you drive by a construction site and almost all of the men working there do not speak our language and look a little nervous, as though they are going to be deported?
Unions do maintain a healthy middle class. Cheaper is not always better. "

" And napan1961, you may be paying $25 for that hamburger whether you realize it or not(ok maybe not quite that much but probably close).
Let's say that a person works at a fast food restaurant and makes minimum wage. On the way home he gets in an automobile accident and ends out in the hospital. He breaks several bones and must be subjected to numerous and costly diagnostic procedures. He is in the hospital for three days. The bill comes to $25,000.

He leaves the hospital and is unable to work for awhile. He has no benefits to assist him through this situation. He returns to a subsidized home that he qualified for because of low income status. His family also requires food stamps to help feed his children. Welfare payments help with other expenses such as clothing. His children are enrolled in Head Start and the government assists in childcare costs because the mother says she's seeking a job. A few weeks later, his child is taken to the doctor's office because of flu symptoms and Medi-Cal (or rather you) pay.

Your $5 dollar hamburger just turned into a $15 dollar hamburger except you did not add the cost of taxes you paid to support the uninsured, non union service employee. The business on the other hand, is delighted that you have not made the connection and dearly hope you never figure it out! "

" Musikluvr said: "The chamber often takes the wrong position in relation to the community - suppreting the losing side -Measures H & L lost at the polls."

Are you suggesting that the Chamber should take the popular position... instead of the one that is best for the business community?

If you are a member of Chamber, like you say, maybe you should get more involved with the leadership so your opinion could be heard, instead of Chamber-bashing here. "

" To Musik- I think we agree on Unions. I don't like them and it appears neither do you.

As far as the Chamber is concerned you are correct, simple research on the Chamber site reveals that they did give money to the Measure H campaign. As far as giving member dues, I would suggest that you become more familiar with the Chamber of Commerce. To find out what their mission and vision are, go to their website as mentioned earlier. I did tonight and their is a huge amount of information there. This is what I know about the Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber is an organization that is run by a Board that was elected through the membership by following their bylaws. So in essence the Board represents the members interest. They set the policy of the Chamber and also decide where to invest the revenue, whether that be collected by dues, programs or sponsorship. Further research on their site reveals that what they do is represent business to government and engage in political action. It seems funny to me that when you joined the Chamber of Commerce you weren't aware of these things? "

" To Vocal: The prolonged discussion about unions is not reallly appropos here. But 4 commentss. The first thing is that I admire unions for how good they are at being unionists. If they were businessmen they would be the best. 2nd: I detest elected officials who get bought by unions and lose their side of the negotiations as soon as the bucks hit their pocket. 3rd: You bring up racism and i also detest that so I won't discuss it. 4th: Non english speaking foreigners are the life blood of the immigrants who have made our country what it is for 225 years - I love em! "

" To Napan1961: The chamber has no business taking any side in any election - period. By constantly taking the losing side the chamber staff have proven to be an embarrassment to the business community members of the chamber. By taking political positions the chamber is simply stroking the egos of the minor bureaucrats running the chamber. These self important people seem to think that the chamber's persuasion and money is their personal entre into elitism in the community. "

" Vocal: I guess either way we pay for it... but I think unions are obsolete now. They just make it harder for business. There are enough labor laws now to cover the problems that unions were originally created for.

Maybe universal healthcare is the answer? Then, at least I could have full insurance, and a $10 burger?

You are also confusing the issues of illegal workers (cheap and nervous) with people who just want entry-level jobs. I don't think anyone here agrees with hiring illegals for cheap. "

" Musik: Chambers of Commerce are no longer the little organizations that put on parades and try to get visitors. We have a Downtown association and CVB for that. Chambers have evolved and are now politically active and hopefully an influencial presence in the community. You need to pay attention... it isn't 1950 anymore. "

" We would solve many problems with establishing Universal Healthcare. I'm for it. But I still do not want to pay for abuses so it needs to be set up correctly.

Musikluvr, I'm realist, not racist. If you ever had the opportunity to meet me, you would realize just how absurd that statement is. I don't like the country being crowded by ANYONE. I am just as likely to discuss the issue of government agencies who promote population growth through enabling. Crowding by ANYONE is what troubles me; even by women who don't believe in birth control! "

" I think people should keep in mind, however, that a chamber of commerce is going to be pro business. They are not necessarily seeking balance between the needs of the community and businesses. Their selection of candidates is obviously going to be a reflection of their bias. Keep that in mind.

Oh...Napa 1961, actually I would like to see entry level workers, at the very least, with health insurance benefits. I am actually an advocate of taking care of our entry level workers so that they are less dependent on taxpayers. I suppose, no matter what, we will still have to help pay the difference between their wages and the costs to house and feed them. When people's wages are low, something has got to give. If the corporate world is unwilling to step up to the plate, taxpayers will have to do it for them.

And my discussion about the underground economy, the one where there are no contributions toward taxes (under the table workers) was to address the practice of transferring a greater burden onto those who DO pay their fair share of taxes. That industry needs to be cleaned up in spite of the Musikluvrs' out there who probably benefit from it. It's also an exploitation of people because their wages are low and it's difficult proving workmen's comp problems. But then again, if their solution is visiting the emergency room (which it probably is when they have a work related injury) taxpayers foot the bill and actually contribute to the growing underground economy. There's a problem though. When our economy is struggling, the underground economy shakes the healthy apples to the ground. It's fairly easy to make a connection to the trickle down social changes happening in Napa lately. "

" Does the Chamber of Commerce approve of political signs on non-profit businesses? The IRS does not. Caldwell apparently does. If I am wrong, please correct me. "