Advocacy in Action: September 2025 Update
Welcome to the monthly roundup of how the Business For Good Advocacy Committee is making a difference in our community.
Flagship Campaign Update: San Diego City Minimum Wage Increase
The main campaign our Advocacy Committee is using our voice to support this year
Issue
San Diego City minimum wage increase for hotel, event center, and janitorial service workers
What it means
The city is proposing a minimum wage for these categories in order to provide a living wage to these workers. Currently, the minimum wage is $17.25; this bill would raise that to $25.
Why we support this
This bill would positively impact hotel, event center, and janitorial service workers in the City of San Diego so that industries like tourism and entertainment benefit the people who work in them—not just visitors or out-of-town ownership groups.
4 reasons business owners should support this
- Employee Retention: Paying a livable wage reduces costly turnover by helping businesses keep experienced staff, saving on recruitment and training.
- Higher Productivity: Employees who earn a livable wage are more motivated, engaged, and productive in their work.
- Stronger Local Economy: When workers have more spending power, they reinvest in their communities—boosting demand for local businesses and fueling economic growth.
- Better Quality of Life: Higher wages raise living standards for low-wage workers, improving overall well-being and stability in the community.
How we stepped up
- BFG Advocacy Committee and board members had meetings with with City Council President Joe LaCava and District 3 Councilmember Stephen Whitburn in early September to ensure they hear directly from business owners in their districts before the upcoming vote. The message is clear: paying workers a living wage is a smart, research-based policy that addresses San Diego’s high cost of living, where 1 in 8 workers are employed in the tourism industry
- Submitted this op-ed to the San Diego Union Tribune to educate the public with research-driven information and to counter misleading claims from opposition parties with profit-driven interests. Although opponents argue—without relevant data—that higher wages harm the local economy, BFG can highlight numerous studies showing the opposite
Bottom Line: Paying workers a livable wage does not directly cause job cuts or price increases and, in fact, stimulates local economic growth. (Source: UC Berkeley Sectoral Wage Study in California 2024)
What’s next
- Since the draft minimum wage ordinance for tourism workers was unanimously passed by The City of San Diego’s Cost of Living Committee on June 25, it is set to move to a full City Council vote on September 16, 2025
- LAST CHANCE for BFG members to get involved in our efforts to support the min wage increase for tourism workers before the full city council vote on September 16. We want BFG members to show up as a force for good! Here’s how:
- Option 1: Show up in person and make a 1-minute public comment
- Option 2: Show up in person and cede your time to another BFG member
- Option 3: Make a comment virtually, or online
- If interested in making a public comment, please request access to our talking points doc by emailing Erica Castillo.
Issue: Immigrants’ Rights
Policies, measures, and more our Advocacy Committee is raising awareness of
Issue
Supporting immigrants, refugees, and new Americans
What it means
The current federal administration is implementing policies that target and negatively affect immigrants, refugees, new Americans, and undocumented people.
Why we support this
We believe America thrives when our communities are diverse. As purpose-driven business owners, we understand that staying silent isn’t an option when our community’s values are under attack. Check out this blog article for more info on the BFG perspective.
The vibrancy we have in San Diego is impossible without immigrants. – Mikey Knab, BFG co-founder and Advocacy Committee co-chair
How we stepped up
- BFG members formally submitted their input on the County’s “Protecting small businesses and workers: Know your rights when ICE arrives” training program during their stakeholder engagement outreach period in August
What’s next
- BFG is working with the County and community orgs to ensure the training is multilingual, accessible, and trauma-informed
- Once the training program is updated to reflect our input, the BFG Advocacy Committee plans to co-host a training later this year for BFG members in collaboration with the County’s Office of Labor Standards & Enforcement Department (OLSE)
Check out our August update to learn more
Immigrants’ Rights Resources
- Employer guides: Helps employers get prepared to assert their constitutional rights and ensure safe working environments for their workers and customers in the case of an ICE raid:
- Guide for Employers from the National Immigration Law Center (NILC)
- Employer Guide from the National Employment Law Project (NELP) and NILC.
- ReadyNow! – a free and secure mobile app from Human Rights First’s Innovation Lab
- One-click emergency alerts via SMS to pre-selected contacts
- Personalized emergency plans for childcare, medical needs, legal support, and more
- Option to share key information with National Immigration Legal Response Alliance (NILRA) if faced with arrest, a national network of pro bono immigration attorneys
- Currently available in six languages: English, Spanish, Korean, Mandarin, Haitian Kreyol, and French
- Check out the Protect & Progress toolkit
- 🖨️ Download print-ready materials for your storefront or print them out and give them to businesses in your neighborhood
- 📱 Grab pre-sized images for your social media and website
- 👕 Support the cause with Protect & Progress apparel from BFG member Fervor & Zeal (50% of profits support coalition organizations)
Partnering with Purpose
Other organizations making a positive difference for immigrants’ rights in San Diego
- ACLU San Diego + Imperial Counties
- San Diego Immigrants’ Rights Consortium
- CHIRLA (The Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights)
- California Immigrant Policy Center
Issue: Addressing the Impact of Federal Funding Cuts on San Diego
What it means
San Diego faces threats from deep funding cuts due to the passage of H.R. 1, or the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act”– a federal law that hands massive tax breaks to billionaires and big corporations while slashing the critical services thousands of our residents rely on.
Why we support this
These federal cuts will impact our neighbors, children, family members, and seniors who rely on the services the federal government now wants to discontinue. Federal cuts will impact Medicaid, SNAP, housing, Medi-Cal, and other core services.
Our action steps
- We submitted a Letter of Support and public comment to the County to express our strong support for the County’s proposal to establish an “Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Sustainable Fiscal Planning” and the Board Letter to Unlock County Reserves, both brought forward by Supervisor Terra Lawson-Remer and Supervisor Monica Montgomery-Steppe. In the letter, we emphasized that:
- The Sustainable Fiscal Planning Subcommittee offers a proactive, community-centered approach to:
- Safeguard essential services
- Explore equitable, sustainable local financing solutions
- Protect vulnerable residents from preventable harm
- Maintain the County’s strong financial standing and long-term investments
- The Sustainable Fiscal Planning Subcommittee offers a proactive, community-centered approach to:
What’s next
- Following our advocacy efforts, both proposals were passed on August 26th. BFG will continue to monitor the proposals’ implementation to ensure accountability and positive outcomes for our communities.
Issue: Climate Action
What it means
Addressing the climate crisis through sustainable policies and practices that reduce pollution, protect natural resources, and support healthier communities.
Why we support this
As business owners, we recognize that a thriving economy depends on a thriving environment. Reducing harmful pollutants like plastic foam helps protect public health, safeguard ecosystems, and create more sustainable supply chains. Supporting climate-forward legislation is both a responsibility and an opportunity to build a healthier, more resilient future.
How we stepped up
- We signed a Letter of Support for the Federal Farewell to Foam Act of 2025
- In this letter, Business For Good, alongside 218 other business owners, local elected officials, and community leaders, urged Congress to take action to reduce plastic foam by cosponsoring and passing the Farewell to Foam Act (S.897 and H.R.1918). This timely bill addresses a pervasive threat to the environment and human health, following the lead of many local governments, states, and businesses that have already begun phasing out plastic foam products.
- In this letter, Business For Good, alongside 218 other business owners, local elected officials, and community leaders, urged Congress to take action to reduce plastic foam by cosponsoring and passing the Farewell to Foam Act (S.897 and H.R.1918). This timely bill addresses a pervasive threat to the environment and human health, following the lead of many local governments, states, and businesses that have already begun phasing out plastic foam products.
BFG Advocacy in the News
BFG members making headlines
- Erica Castillo, BFG Advocacy Committee Co-Chair, and Katrina Oprisko, BFG Board Member, were quoted in an article discussing their support of San Diego County’s Know Your Rights Training Program
- Mikey Knab, BFG Co-Founder and Advocacy Committee Co-Chair, provided an op-ed to the San Diego Business Journal on the importance of housing near transit
- Mikey Knab also provided an op-ed to the San Diego Union Tribune about the tourism sector minimum wage increase: Workers deserve higher pay. Doom-and-gloom warnings don’t pan out.
Take Action
Ways you can get involved with advocacy efforts this month
Events and meetings for BFG Members
San Diego City Council Meeting to advocate for Minimum Wage Increase for Tourism Workers
September 16, 2025 | 2:00 PM | See above in the Flagship Campaign section for info on how to get involved!
Monthly Advocacy Committee Meetings
We meet virtually on the first Thursday of every month.
Advocacy Committee Meeting Calendar
Next meeting: October 2, 2025 | 5:00-6:30 PM | Register to attend (open to members only)
#Advocacy Slack Channel
Members can follow our channel to get the latest news about what we’re up to!
Want to learn more? Reach out to Advocacy Committee Co-Chair, Erica Castillo.
