January 2025: Advocacy Updates
Happy 2025! I hope you'll consider making a commitment this year to seek out locally owned businesses whenever possible. You are our community's best advocate and every dollar you spend shapes this place. Just use our Local Business Directory to search by keyword, zip code, industry type and more to help you find just what you're looking for. And look for the Certified Local decals on storefronts when you're out and about. Need a suggestion or tip on how to find something? Our team is here and excited to help!
Our Advocacy & Policy Committee and Board of Directors approved our 2025 Advocacy Priorities and a set of new Advocacy Principles that guide our work throughout the years. Take a look at what we're focusing on and how you can get involved.
What else is going on?
Local
The City of Charleston’s Peninsula Plan, when adopted, will provide a clear vision for the future of the Charleston Peninsula, especially relating to the public realm, transportation, housing, economic development and flooding adaptation. Phase 1 was completed in 2024, which was focused on listening and learning. Phase 2, drafting the plan, will launch in Spring 2025. Learn more here.
State
H 3221 was pre-filed in early December, looking to address an outdated law that prohibits municipalities from making deposits with qualified credit unions. Our team is actively urging our state lawmakers to support this bill.
Federal
Two recent wins for fair competition:
- In mid-December 2024, the FTC filed an antitrust lawsuit against Southern Glazer’s Wine and Spirits, alleging the company violated the Robinson-Patman Act, harming independent retailers and impeding their ability to compete against large chains. Read ILSR’s statement and Small Business Majority’s statement.
- Also in mid-December, Judge Adrienne Nelson of the U.S. District Court in Oregon halted the merger of Kroger and Albertsons, ruling that the deal would harm competition in hundreds of communities. The next day, Albertsons abandoned the deal. This potential merger sparked fears of higher grocery prices and closed supermarkets. Read Stacy Mitchell’s recent take in The Atlantic on the Failed Kroger-Albertsons Merger.