Cornerstone 4: A Strong Economy Is More Than Just One Cornerstone of Common Sense – It Is The Vital Foundation
Our Neighbors Deserve a Local Economy That Works For All of Us – If You Agree, Join Us:
Matthew Quevedo understands strong cities need strong economies that can lift families into the middle class and keep them there.
He knows that when our economy works well, everything else works better. Thriving businesses hire local residents, boost tax revenue without needing to raise taxes, contribute to vibrant streets and commercial corridors, and there is a clear connection between a rising economy and falling crime rates.
That’s why Matthew believes our city government needs to do more to attract and retain businesses, remove red tape and unnecessary regulations that hinder business growth, and focus relentlessly on the foundations of a strong business climate – safe streets, an end to homelessness, affordable housing, and highly skilled workers.
1
Make San José the most welcoming place to do business in California.
We need to cut red tape, suspend the business tax for the first three years of any small business that is helping to enliven a commercial corridor, and speed up permitting or make permits free.
2
Forge a stronger partnership with San José State.
Universities are one of the strongest engines of economic growth – and when San José State is growing, our economy is growing. Matthew will forge a stronger partnership with SJSU and make it the highest priority to support both the growth of the university and better integration between the university and the city. To compete for the best talent we need to know what attracts that talent – and a strong cultural environment is one of the key drivers in determining where people want to live. We already have so much cultural production going on at SJSU – let’s make sure the whole community has access to it. And study after study shows vibrant institutions of higher learning create economic benefits for the entire community, including higher wages for the entire workforce, not just those associated with the university. That’s why Matthew will make supporting SJSU one of his highest economic development priorities.
3
Focus on the Industries of the Future.
San José is already emerging as one of the key hubs for Artificial Intelligence companies (and the chip manufacturers that power AI, like Nvidia). San José city government should thoughtfully embrace these homegrown technologies to make government work faster while aggressively marketing our city to the job creators of the future. We can’t rest on our laurels – we should be working overtime to attract new employers. And significant events like both the Super Bowl, which will be co-hosted by San José next year, and the World Cup in the South Bay next year are opportune moments to do just that.
4
Make San José a safe and welcoming place to shop and dine.
Matthew will focus on all of our commercial corridors and he supports making every commercial corridor a no camping zone, working to set up more business improvement districts, hiring homeless people to clean streets, and making sure we enforce our laws against dumping and blight.
5
Focus on Housing Affordability.
Remember, the number one driver of job loss is the lack of affordable housing. We just saw another tech company flee California and move to Texas (Realtor.com) citing the high cost of housing. One of the key reasons why Matthew Quevedo is tripling down on bringing the cost of housing down is because more affordable housing keeps and attracts high-wage employers. And his proposals to help create more affordable housing downtown in partnership with San José State will be a key step to finally creating the vibrant downtown environment that helps attract workers to our economy.
6
Focus on Better Infrastructure.
Too many politicians forget the basics – like filling the potholes, making sure our transit runs on time, making our airport more convenient, and finally finishing our regional rail links. Caltrain is finally electrified, meaning we have just one more step (BART to San José) to finish our regional transit links and grow our entire Bay Area economy – first and foremost San José. Matthew has been working to expand transit for over a decade and he will continue on the council to focus on cost-effective plans to finish the BART link. But beyond transit he’ll make sure that PG&E fulfills its promise to strengthen our local electric grid, make it safer, and most of all make it more affordable.
7
Buy Local.
Whenever possible, Matthew will focus city contracts and our purchasing power to buy local, particularly from local small businesses. We need to make it easier to compete by tearing down bureaucratic barriers and with better outreach so local businesses and entrepreneurs can grow their businesses, and save taxpayers money, by competing for city business.
8
Focus on Middle Class Jobs.
We are the capital of Silicon Valley, and the high-tech jobs must remain our highest priority. But that doesn’t mean we should not be partnering with local high schools and community colleges to give people the skills they need to prosper in jobs like plumber, electrician, carpenter, and all the many jobs that pay middle class wages but do not require a four-year degree. One of San José’s key strengths is we retain a manufacturing base. To maintain and grow that base we need to train the workers of the future.
9
Always remember the basics!
Businesses want to open where their employees can enjoy a safe and clean environment and where they can find affordable housing. If we get the first three Cornerstones of Common Sense Right – Safer Streets, Ending Street Homelessness, and Creating More Affordable Housing – then the final foundation of a growing a stronger economy will be so much easier. Matthew Quevedo won’t try to do everything. Instead he will work every day to get the basics right – because that makes everything else easier to do.
