fresno elections 2008

There are a lot of separate efforts underway in our community to generate jobs via the Regional Jobs Initiative, the City’s economic development department, the EDC, etc. In fact, we have as many efforts underway on this as we have downtown revitalization plans sitting on shelves. It is time for the Mayor and the Council to take more action and provide a strike force to recruit emerging technologies to our area such as solar, alternative energy industries that convert waste to power and industries that prepare us for the future such as a high speed rail engine, rail car manufacturing and maintenance yard. We need to refocus our attention on the completion of undeveloped industrial parks such as Roeding and streamline the way the City does business so we are set up to do tomorrow’s thinking. I continue to be told by investors who have attempted to do business in Fresno that it takes too long, cooperation is lacking between the Mayor and the Council, electeds interfere with professional staff decision making and specifications in the General Plan aren’t meshed with existing rules. All this causes unneeded delay. I propose putting a stop to this by enacting the “Good Reforms For A More Open and Transparent Government” #22 which prohibits Council member interference with City staff as they carry out their professional duties and places the Council back it its role to be sure their decisions—such as General Plan streamlining—are carried out.