BILL NUMBER: SCR 124	ENROLLED
	BILL TEXT

	ADOPTED IN SENATE  AUGUST 23, 2010
	ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY  AUGUST 30, 2010

INTRODUCED BY   Senator Yee
   (Principal coauthor: Senator Leno)
   (Coauthors: Assembly Members Ammiano and Ma)

                        AUGUST 17, 2010

   Relative to 34th Defense Match for the America's Cup.


	LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST


   SCR 124, Yee. The 34th Defense Match for the America's Cup.
   This measure would recognize that Californians would benefit from
the immense, positive economic impact of hosting the 34th Defense of
the America's Cup in San Francisco, California. The measure would
petition the BMW ORACLE Racing Team representing the Golden Gate
Yacht Club to designate San Francisco, California, to be the host of
the 34th Defense of the America's Cup in 2013 or 2014. The measure
would urge the state to support San Francisco's bid to host the 34th
Defense of America's Cup and to execute the formation of a single
face of state government for securing state permits for the America's
cup in San Francisco or other state documents.




   WHEREAS, The BMW ORACLE Racing Team representing the Golden Gate
Yacht Club of San Francisco, California, won an America's Cup Deed of
Gift Match Regatta in Valencia, Spain, on February 14, 2010, and has
returned the America's Cup Trophy to the United States; and
   WHEREAS, On August 22, 1851, the United States-built schooner
America defeated a fleet of Britain's finest ships in a race around
England's Isle of Wight. The ornate silver trophy won by the America
was donated to the New York Yacht Club on condition that the cup
trophy would forever be placed in international competition. Today,
the America's Cup is the world's oldest continually contested
sporting trophy and represents the pinnacle of international sailing
yacht competition; and
   WHEREAS, The 159-year history of the America's Cup makes it the
oldest and most distinguished prize in the world of sports. The
America's Cup is the Holy Grail of yacht racing. This cup, in
competition for a period of 159 years, is the oldest and most
distinguished trophy in all sport, predating the World Cup, Davis
Cup, Stanley Cup, Walker Cup, and all others of significance; and
   WHEREAS, The America's Cup, first contested in 1851, presently
resides at the Golden Gate Yacht Club in San Francisco, the home club
of BMW ORACLE Racing. Only two other American yacht clubs have held
the trophy - New York Yacht Club and San Diego Yacht Club. On
February 14, 2010, off Valencia, Spain, BMW ORACLE Racing defeated
Team Alinghi 2-0 to win the cup, and will defend the America's Cup in
the 34th cup match expected in 2013 or 2014 at a venue to be
determined by the American team; and
   WHEREAS, Other United States cities that have hosted the America's
Cup match, notably New York City, 1851 through 1930, Newport, Rhode
Island, where cup racing was held from 1930 through 1983, San Diego,
California, which hosted cup defenses in 1988, 1992, and 1995, have
been eliminated from consideration for hosting the 34th cup defense,
leaving only San Francisco as the last possible United States host
city; and
   WHEREAS, The assessments of economic studies found that holding
the next America's Cup here in either 2013 or 2014 would infuse $1.4
billion into the San Francisco Bay area's economy, the vast majority
of it in San Francisco, and generate 8,800 jobs; and
   WHEREAS, A report by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute and
Beacon Economics estimates that all told, including statewide and
national impacts, including extended tourism, the series of yacht
races in San Francisco Bay would generate $1.9 billion in economic
activity and create about 12,000 jobs; and
   WHEREAS, All the citizens of California would benefit from the
proven immense, positive economic impact of hosting the 34th Defense
of the America's Cup in San Francisco; now, therefore, be it
   Resolved by the Senate of the State of California, the Assembly
thereof concurring, That the Legislature petitions the BMW ORACLE
Racing Team representing the Golden Gate Yacht Club to designate the
City of San Francisco to be the host of the 34th Defense of the
America's Cup; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Legislature urges the State of California to
support San Francisco's bid to host the 34th Defense of the America's
Cup in San Francisco California and urges the state to execute the
formation of a single face of state government for the purpose of
securing state permits for the America's Cup in San Francisco, or
other state documents, such as driver's licenses for the
international competitors and their families; and be it further
   Resolved, That the Secretary of the Senate transmit copies of this
resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.