Billie C. Greer is the speaker of the luncheon forum with the topic GETTING CALIFORNIA IN SHAPE FOR THE LONG HAUL – How the Governor is doing just that!
In March, 2004 Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger appointed Billie Greer as Director of the Los Angeles office. She also serves as a member of his senior staff.
Billie most recently served as president and founding principal of Greer/Dailey/Minter, a Los Angeles based firm specializing in public affairs and issues management, primarily focused on land use and environmental issues.
Active in the community, Billie is a trustee of the Lowe Institute of Political Economy at Claremont-McKenna College. She has served on the board of directors of several organizations including the Harbor Association of Industry and Commerce, VICA, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and the CORO Foundation, among others.
In 2004, Billie was inducted into the National Association of Women Business Owners/LA’s Hall of Fame.
In 2005, she was designated a Woman of Distinction by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Foundation.
In announcing the appointment, the Governor said, “Billie’s years of experience working with a variety of community, business and government leaders in the Los Angeles area are a tremendous asset to my administration. She will help me work with the people of Southern California and to understand the unique issues affecting the region.”
Most recently, Billie received the Spirit of Excellence Award from LA Bio Med.
Billie Greer talked about the environmental issues of the State of California and how aggressive the governor is on the issue of protecting the environment and being a model for the federal government and other states in the country and around the world. She said the resolutions he wants to bring is confronted by stiff opposition by the automakers.
Ms Greer also talked about the water problem of the state and that was deepened by less snow melt in Sierra Mountains, the Supreme Court of California’s decision to recess the pumps sucking water from the reservoir by 30% percent to protect a special kind of endangered fish. These factors can eventually lead to a water rationing unless there is more rain than expected this summer.
Another problem California is facing this year is the budget crisis which is around 17 billion dollars. In order to decrease the budget deficit, the governor is proposing a lottery which can bring of about 5 billion dollars and this amount can be fixed with the Wall Street Investors.
The director started the Q&A session by urging the audience not to ask about the governor’s height, weight and that whether he is using any make ups before his public appearances. Another question not to be answered is the kind of security around the governor.