Economic Development Strategy

By Dwayne Jusino

My economic plan utilizes a three pronged approach:

I) Jobs Creation + by making the City structurally capable and business friendly so as to induce investment by (job generating) entrepreneurs.

II) Comprehensive training investment of workforce.

III) Community (Neighborhoods) Revitalization.

But in spite years of political rhetoric and empty promises, the economic divide between many of District 10's residents and the rest of the City only continues to widen. That's because real economic development requires deliberate planning and a sound implementation strategy, to both attract potential new jobs, as well as, to also ensure that our community's residents are, this time, ready for job opportunities that are developed.

My economic plan utilizes a three pronged approach: I) Jobs Creation + by making the City structurally capable and business friendly so as to induce investment by (job generating) entrepreneurs.

II) Employment Opportunities Access + through a comprehensive training investment of our residents, we prepare and forge them into a workforce qualified to secure the job opportunities developed.

III) Community (Neighborhoods) Revitalization + by promoting structural (aesthetic) improvements, coupled with technical assistance, in order to attract and retain small businesses, which produce over 80% of our tax revenue and 50% of our job opportunities.

I) JOBS CREATION

Stimulate jobs creation through attraction of new business investment into the city by: A) improving City infrastructure & services, such as public transit, roads, workforce housing, dependable power-grid, etc.

B) streamlining burdensome City regulations that raise business costs or discourage venturing entrepreneurs from investing in San Francisco, thereby causing both a loss of job opportunities for our residents and a loss of tax revenue needed for funding essential city services and community programs.

C) open (publicized) and competitive bidding process in the system for awarding City contracts (Sole Source Contract Reform) in order to ensure the process is both fair to local businesses and accountable to taxpayers.

II) EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY ACCESS

Invest in and develop our under-employed residents into a qualified, motivated and employable workforce by:

A) directing dedicated resources / funding to vocational training programs targeting low & middle income residents, in order to facilitate their ability to gain jobs that provide livable wages & benefits. Create and seed an Employer Incentive Fund to induce potential employers to participate in workforce training programs in partnership with vocational training non-profits, unions & schools (e.g.: S.F. Community College's Southeast Job Training Program and the Schools-to-Career Partnership), inclusive of:

1) Skilled Trades Apprenticeships e.g. carpentry, electricians, machinists, masonry, construction, plumbing, HAV (heating / ventilation), refrigeration, etc.

2) Technical / Science Training Programs (vocations in emerging / growth industries), e.g. computer technology, bio-science, nano-technology, clean energy technology, telecommunications, health care, etc.

B) promoting an enhanced, municipally run Job Networking Clearinghouse (permanent jobs fair) providing access to career recruitment opportunities (available both within & outside the City) for our economically disadvantaged residents, thereby exceeding the reach of the City's existing First Source Hiring Program, which is limited by its focus upon dedicating job slots for projects operating solely within the City's boundaries.

C) streamlining the First Source Hiring Program interaction process between community based employment organizations (CBO's) and participating businesses, to heighten the program's efficiency; and in order to enhance the program's effectiveness, strengthen accountability by enforcing compliance through penalties against businesses that bypass the process for prioritizing the hiring of local residents.

III) COMMUNITY REVITALIZATION

Revitalized neighborhoods, with flourishing small business commercial strips, are essential to the overall success of any economic development strategy for San Francisco. Community revitalization is attained by:

A) making aesthetic improvements to community environs in order to create cleaner, safer and more attractive neighborhoods that raise property values and attract / retain community serving businesses.

1) Capital Improvement Programs funded by the City / State and targeted to communities lacking the financial base to pursue the capital improvements (e.g. façade improvements, street-scape redesigns, tree planting beautification, small lot / pocket parks, traffic calming / pedestrian safety, public parking structures, etc.) needed for effective community renewal.

2) Business Improvement Districts (BIDs) seeded by City funds and maintained by pooled merchant contributions to finance enhanced City services (e.g. street cleaning, sidewalk steaming, graffiti removal, etc.) targeted to neighborhood commercial areas.

3) Community Policing Programs that develop close, mutually supportive community / police relations targeted to ensure that neighborhood commercial areas and community services are kept safe and user friendly.

4) Commercial use of Public Space is a component of street redesign that can contribute significantly to the sociability and distinctiveness of neighborhood character. Therefore, I will pursue the easing of restrictions placed upon restaurants' outdoor seating and stores' sidewalk vendor displays, where appropriate + with accommodation for access for our disabled, as well as, for the general pedestrian right-of-way.

B) directing dedicated resources / funding for Small Business investment, through:

1) establishment of Enterprise Empowerment Zones for needy areas not meeting Redevelopment Zones criteria.

2) promotion of Technical Assistance & Training Programs.

3) promotion of Entrepreneurial Loan & Grant Programs, such as MOCD's Micro-Enterprise Loan Program which provides start-up business loans for economically disadvantaged residents unable to qualify for conventional bank loans.

4) promotion of Employer Tax Credit Incentives, as well as, the inclusion of a Tip Credit for those employers complying with the city's "Living Wage" criteria.

5) streamlining of the Minority / Women Business Enterprise Certification process, modeled on Los Angeles' successful Small & Local Business Preference Program.

C) exploring Community Cooperative Ventures as an alternative means for obtaining essential community serving businesses (such as supermarkets) that have not been successfully enticed to invest in economically challenged (Bayview & Visitacion Valley) communities. Modeled on the premise for the Our Market Project of Buffalo, New York, such Co-op corporation enterprises, underwritten by repayable municipal revenue bonds and supported by effective management teams, have the potential benefits of:

1) attaining essential services sorely needed by economically challenged communities.

2) creating job opportunities for local residents.

3) being a vehicle towards the goal of community self reliance and empowerment.