VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY The state of our local economy is on the mind of every San Diegan. Tens of thou- sands of people are struggling to nd good-paying jobs. San Diegans cant wait for the politicians in Washington and Sacramento to nd solutions. If we are going to turn our economy around, it must start here, in San Diego. VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY The state of our local economy is on the mind of every San Diegan. Tens of thousands of people are struggling to nd good-paying jobs. Even those who are fully employed are impacted by falling home values and economic uncertainty. Newspapers, television and radio are ooded with stories of government gridlock and partisan bickering in Washing- ton. San Diegans can't wait for the politicians in Washington and Sacramento to nd solutions. If we are going to turn our economy around, it must start here, in San Diego.
There are literally thousands of high-paying job openings in San Diego County just waiting for the applicants with the right skills. Ac- cording to the San Diego Software Industries Council, there are ap- proximately 6,000 vacant information technology jobs in the coun- ty. There are thousands more jobs in engineering and clean energy research. Companies are struggling to attract quali ed people to these jobs from other cities, in part because San Diego isn't known globally as a hub for innovative companies. If companies can't hire the employees they need in San Diego, they will be forced to locate elsewhere.
After losing 102,400 jobs between 2007 and 2009, San Diego added 36,000 in 2010 and 2011. Another 21,000 are forecast to be added in 2012, reaching just over half-way to full recovery in job numbers. -- Kelly Cunningham, National University System Institute for Policy Research
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY In 1972, the Republican National Committee (RNC) The concept that local government can help turn around announced it was rescinding its decision made a year the local economy has been demonstrated in San Diego. earlier to allow San Diego to host the Republican When federal defense spending was cut dramatically in National Convention that would nominate President the early 1990s and thousands of local defense workers Richard Nixon. Unfortunately, the RNCs decision left were thrown out of work, local government aggressively the nation with the impression that San Diego was promoted the growth of new biotech, wireless and other tainted, which could have resulted in lasting negative high-tech businesses. The result was a transformation of economic consequences for our region. In response, our local economy that put our region in the forefront of Mayor Pete Wilson proclaimed the subsequent economic San Diego as "America's Finest recovery. City" and embarked on a suc- cessful marketing campaign to I am running for mayor because establish the City's new brand. I believe San Diego expects its Today, San Diego has become leaders to take on big problems, known throughout the coun- bring people together to nd try as America's Finest City. solutions, and then get them done. I want to be a mayor who That was almost 40 years ago, says my job is job creation, a and the world has changed mayor who brings together the dramatically. We now live in a private sector, public sector, City, globally connected world driven by innovative ideas. State and Federal leaders to nd ways to put San Diegans As Mayor, I will answer today's challenges in the same back to work. I am willing to work hard every day to get sprit as Mayor Wilson did in 1972, by building San Di- the job done. I wont just pay lip service, I will actually egos brand as the "World's Most Innovative City." This establish metrics to hold myself accountable. won't just be a slogan. I will work every day to give San Diego the most innovative city government pos- sible, to build the world's most innovative economy, and to inspire residents to become part of the world's most innovative workforce. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE I am willing to set 1. Create a competitive environment that will contribute to the speci c goals and be creation of 130,000 new jobs in our region by 2020. held accountable for achieving them. If 2. Increase the number of patents generated by our region 33% Im elected, my goal by 2020. We will measure our progress each year and report the will be to decrease numbers. our regional unem- ployment rate each 3. Increase the amount of venture capital San Diego receives 33% and every year of my by 2020. That would bring us to over a billion dollars annually in administration. By venture capital in San Diego. the end of my rst term as mayor, I will 4. Increase exports from our region 33% by 2020. That would have worked with the equate to a $5 billion increase, bringing our total exports to over private sector to cre- $20 billion annually by 2020. ate 130,000 new jobs. These are not empty 5. And nally, to ensure we are striving to have balanced eco- promises. They are nomic growth and ensure we have a robust middle class, our fth goals for which Im goal will focus on increasing the median household income by prepared to be held exceeding SANDAG projections by 33% by 2020. That increase of accountable. over $18,000 would bring regional median household income to -Nathan Fletcher just under 80,000 a year.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
SEVEN AREAS OF FOCUS
My plan outlines seven areas of focus to achieve job creation goals, including:
Mayor as Regional Economic Leader - Focus the Oƥ ce of Mayor as one dedicated to being a regional economic leader. Re-structure the City's economic development functions into one department charged with working every day to get San Diegans working again.
Build on Our Core Competencies - Build and maintain our core economic drivers: defense/military, tourism and technology.
A New City for a New Economy - Modernize the Citys permitting eơ orts and start a new eơ ort to incentivize job creation by oơ ering expedited, time-certain permitting based on how many jobs a business or project will hire and the environmental standards they are meeting.
Global City: Reintroducing San Diego to the World - The next Mayor has the opportunity to market and sell San Diego and the opportunities in our region to the rest of the nation and the world. Nathan will lead delegations aboard and throughout America to attract investment and economic advancement in San Diego.
Protecting our Base. Protect the jobs we have - Nathan will launch small business support teams that will work outside of City Hall in the community helping San Diego business owners with permitting, regulatory compliance and accessing City services.
Education: An Economic Issue - Bridge the gap between our current education system and the one that will bring San Diego into the future
Infrastructure: The Foundation We Build Upon - Work to implement Nathans previously released infrastructure plan along with working to invest in our ports, transit, air, and rail systems of the future.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
MAYOR AS REGIONAL ECONOMIC LEADER: FOCUS THE OFFICE OF MAYOR ON BEING A REGIONAL ECONOMIC LEADER Changing the Culture at City Hall Speaking with One Voice Politicians today don't want to take responsibility for the Every politician has ideas on how to create jobs. In economy. City, State and Federal leaders all point ngers order for our City to get anything done, our elected at each other in an attempt to shift blame, while tens of oƥ cials need to nd a way to speak with one voice. thousands of San Diegans are out of work or underem- We need a plan everyone embraces. As mayor, I will ployed. In my administration, job work with the City Council to creation and public safety will be develop an economic devel- our top priorities. When it comes opment strategy for the City to job creation, "not my job" will of San Diego that outlines become a phrase of the past. Ev- our plan for creating jobs and ery city employee will understand getting San Diegans back to the importance of his or her role work. in paving the way for our econom- ic future. Our economic development strategy will contain plans I will appoint a Deputy Mayor for working with local busi- for Economic Competitiveness, nesses to keep them in San and consolidate all of the City's Diego and to help them expand economic development functions into one department and grow. The strategy will also incorporate plans charged with working every day to get San Diegans work- to target businesses that should move to San Diego ing again. Our Deputy Mayor for Economic Competitive- instead of expanding in other cities like Austin or San ness will prepare an economic impact statement on every Jose. Most importantly, our strategy will outline our recommendation I make to Council and on every action metrics and goals to hold my administration account- considered by the Council. These statements will evalu- able for getting San Diegans back to work. ate the economic impact, negative or positive, of each and every action proposed by city government.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
MAYOR AS REGIONAL ECONOMIC LEADER: FOCUS THE OFFICE OF MAYOR ON BEING A REGIONAL ECONOMIC LEADER Establish a Regional Leaders Forum Only politicians care where in our countys 18 cities new jobs are created. For the rest of us, we just want our regions city, county, state and federal leaders to come together to create good paying jobs. As mayor, I am not going to steal jobs from Poway and Chula Vista so I can tell you I created jobs in San Diego. I am going to bring our regional leaders together, including those in the larger mega-region, to come up with a working agenda for regional job creation. By working together, we can take advantage of the unique resources available in each of our cities, match them with the needs of targeted companies, recruit these companies from out of state or overseas, promote San Diego as the most innovative business-friendly region in the world and encourage local businesses to grow here instead of moving out of state. If we have a great opportunity I Helping the Businesses of the Future could care less if it goes in Chula Many of San Diegos largest local employers are businesses that grew out of research and innovation at our local universities Vista, Linda Vista, or Vista. It all and research institutions. The CONNECT program has done an helps our region -Nathan Fletcher excellent job of pairing researchers who have great ideas with investors and managers who can help bring those good ideas to market. The San Diego Downtown Partnership is developing plans to launch a high-tech incubator to bring innovative new startup companies downtown. CommNexus has developed a successful incubator known as EvoNexus. When I am mayor, I will play a more active role in these programs and help start-ups nd the space and resources they need to expand and become successful. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
MAYOR AS REGIONAL ECONOMIC LEADER: FOCUS THE OFFICE OF MAYOR ON BEING A REGIONAL ECONOMIC LEADER Identifying Problems and Implementing Solutions As your mayor, I wont con ne my reform agenda to As mayor, each month I will invite a group of large and City Hall. When businesses in San Diego come to me small business leaders to meet in the Mayors oƥ ce to with a regulation that is keeping them from hiring hear about the challenges they are facing and how the City new employees, I will have an unrelenting focus on can help them create jobs. Additionally, I will hold at least getting our legislative delegations to push through one industry forum per quarter to bring the leaders in San the reform we need to get San Diegans working Diegos innovation economy together to discuss speci c is- again. sues that aơ ect San Diegos high-wage growth industries, the types of companies that are the targets of recruiters I am the only candidate running with a track record from other states. I will invite the Council President to join of delivering. As a member of the state legislature, I the conversation and I will direct my economic develop- was instrumental in passing a major tax code revision ment team to work on the ideas and concepts discussed in that will help create 144,000 new California jobs, in- these meetings. cluding many in the biotech and high-tech industries. For this eơ ort, I was named BIOCOMs Legislator of No Excuses for Reform the Year. Additionally, I jointly authored Assembly Bill We are all familiar with the reasons businesses leave 23 to help small business employees whove suơ ered California. High taxes and fees, unreasonable government layoơ s retain their private health insurance. In 2011, regulations, high costs and a lack of incentives for business I worked with San Diegos biotech industry to close to grow. Local government leaders usually throw their a loophole in the state tax code that punished com- hands up and proclaim that these problems are caused by panies that hired workers in California and rewarded the State and Federal government. We cant let that stop companies that hired them out of state. I also worked us from nding solutions and building a coalition of State with the craft brewing industry to modernize state or Federal legislators to get the reform we need from regulations, allowing dozens of local breweries to Sacramento and Washington. expand their operations and hire new employees. As your mayor, when presented with these problems,
I wont say thats not my job. Instead, I will ght for the reform we need to get San Diegans working again. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
BUILD ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES
Focus on Innovation San Diegos innovation economy is comprised of ve major, well-established industry sectors: life sciences, communications, software, and defense and transportation. These ve sectors employed more than 75% of San Diegos innovation economy workforce. Other sectors are rapidly developing at the convergence of these industries, such as cleantech and wireless health. Based on data from the California Employment Development Department (EDD), there are almost 6,150 tech companies in San Diego directly employing almost 140,000 employees.
National University Systems Institute for Policy Research estimated the total number of rms for all industries in San Diego was more than 100,400. These companies are estimated to have employed more than 1.26 million workers and represent a total payroll of more than $70 billion annually.
To put this in perspective, technology companies represent only 6% of all San Diego County employers, but technology sector employment represents 11% of all jobs and more than 20% of all payrolls directly.
Continued mayoral leadership is pivotal to accelerate the growth of this sector. Innovation is the future of the worlds economy and San Diego is part of a global competition to attract the talent and venture capital that will fuel the growth of the innovation economy.
As mayor, I will work with groups like CleanTECH, BIOCOM, CommNEXUS, TechAmerica, CONNECT and the Software Industries Council to demonstrate to the world that San Diego is the Worlds Most Innovative City and the very best place to establish or expand innovative companies. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
BUILD ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES
We will also bring local business, academic and government leaders together to nd new funding opportunities for the 75 research institutes we are blessed to have, including SPAWAR, Scripps Research Institute, Sanford-Burnham Medical Research Institute, Scripps Institution of Oceanography and the Salk Institute.
We also have to nd new ways of transferring research innovations out of our research institutions and universities into new or existing local businesses that can develop these ideas into the next Qualcomm. A key focus will be building collaborative eơ orts among research institutions, our universities and the business community to fund early stage technology incubators to help create new companies and give them the support they need to succeed. CommNEXUS has demonstrated solid success The mayor can also play a pivotal role in helping with its EvoNEXUS incubation model, which operates local startups secure venture capital. As mayor, I will without any public funding. actively support the San Diego Venture Group in its eơ orts to attract venture capital to the region, giving venture capital investors the same kind of red carpet treatment as a company looking to locate or expand here. We need to communicate to prospective investors that when they invest in San Diego, we arent simply making a commitment to a company, but our entire region is invested in the success of that rm.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
BUILD ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES
Focus on Defense San Diego is home to the largest concentration of military in the world. It is home to 60 percent of the ships of the U.S. Paci c Fleet and over one-third of the Marine Corps. In total, there are more than 100,000 active-duty Navy and Marine Corps personnel assigned to the ships and bases in the San Diego region. In fact, economists do not count ac- tive-duty personnel in our local unemployment stats. If we did, the unemployment levels in our region would decrease by approximately one percent.
San Diego is also home to a vibrant community of defense contractors and suppliers. The defense industry creates an estimated $30.5 billion in total economic impact and sustains approximately 354,627 jobs in our region annually. This economic activity makes the defense industry San Diegos largest employer and largest industry sector.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
BUILD ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES
Although the Federal Another strategic advantage San Diego can use to Government has increase the number of defense-related jobs in our announced plans to region is our deep-water port. The working cut overall defense waterfront plays an important role in the countrys spending in coming national defense. Shipbuilding and ship repair years, San Diego can companies and dozens of other related businesses increase its share of support the Navys San Diego presence. General defense spending. For Dynamics NASSCO is the only full-service shipyard on example, as the Navy the West Coast capable of performing major makes cuts in some structural repairs or modi cations to Navy ships. Of areas, it plans to more than 600 U.S. ports, the Port of San Diego has increase spending in been designated one of 15 strategic ports by the areas like autonomous robotics and cyber U.S. military. This designation means the Port of San security. In San Diego, SPAWAR serves as the Navys Diego is used by the military to aid in the movement leading research institution for these two technologies of goods and personnel to support national defense. and is the second-largest driver of patents in our region. SPAWAR research is leading to new business opportunities for San Diego as well through private-sector defense contractors. SPAWAR cannot lobby for itself, but as your mayor, I will bring together business leaders and regional elected oƥ cials to make the case in Washington that SPAWAR and San Diego are the best places to grow our nations research in autonomous robotics and cyber security.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
BUILD ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES
Additionally, the Navy has been moving ships and other military assets from the Atlantic Ocean to the Paci c Ocean, a trend that is expected to continue over the next decade as China and Russia continue to expand their naval capabilities in the Paci c. Additionally, the Navy is increasingly focused on its mission of protecting international shipping lanes from threats. With 90 percent of the worlds goods traveling by sea and much of the nations imports and exports owing from the West Coast, San Diego can position itself to gain jobs and federal investment.
As mayor, I will work with the maritime industry to protect our working waterfront from being displaced by incompat- ible development. I will also reach out directly to military and federal leaders in Washington to bring more contracts for our local shipbuilding industry and express our regions enthusiasm and willingness to homeport additional ships.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
BUILD ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES
Focus on Tourism As mayor, I will focus on attracting sporting events Tourism is the third largest industry in San Diego and em- to San Diego, retooling the Citys Oƥ ce of Special ploys approximately 169,700 people. Each year, nearly 30 Events to serve as a one-stop permitting shop for million visitors come to San Diego, providing an overall an- groups wanting to hold sporting events in San Diego. nual economic impact on our economy of $16.6 billion. Our My oƥ ce will work collaboratively with other cities regional assets ensure that tourism can play a critical role and jurisdictions in our region to identify locations in our economic future. and venues for these events. As your mayor, I will reach With our favorable climate, one out to sporting groups and area of strength in our tourism organizers holding events market is sports tourism. The San outside San Diego to nd out Diego Convention and Visitors what we can do to host their Bureau estimates that 90,000 events in San Diego. hotel rooms are lled each year by groups coming to San Diego Conventions are an integral for sporting events. According to part of the success of San a study by Scott Minto, Diegos tourism industry. director of the Sports MBA The Mayors Citizen Task program at San Diego State Force estimated that the University, $55 million in direct and indirect spending proposed expansion of our convention center will comes to San Diego each year as a result of the Rock n generate $698 million of economic activity annually in Roll Marathon alone, bringing 37,463 out-of-town visitors addition to the $1.3 billion a year the Convention and 41,766 hotel-room nights for the one-day event in 2010 Center already generates. Every eơ ort should be alone. Other cities are ahead of the curve. Since 1979, the made to move forward with the current expansion Indiana Sports Corporation has brought more than 400 plans and to study what additional expansion is national and international sporting events to Indianapolis, warranted. and Los Angeles is now the permanent home of the X- Games once held here in San Diego. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
BUILD ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES
Las Vegas, Chicago, Orlando, New York and Anaheim are the top ve cities for conventions in the United States. Although each city has a large convention center that of- fers contiguous space, other large venues are available as well. As mayor, I will not stop with the current expansion. I will work with local hoteliers, business leaders and other regional leaders to nd innovative ways to continue to increase the amount of convention space available in our region. Together, we will market San Diego as the best place in the world to host a convention, highlighting San Diegos climate, its vibrant downtown, and its innovation culture.
With its great weather, miles of sandy beaches, and attrac- tions like Sea World, San Diego is known worldwide as one of the best beach destinations. Reputations like these can be won and lost in an instant. Each year, San Diego experi- ences embarrassing beach closures due to sewage spills and pollution. I have already released a plan to address the deferred maintenance issues that are causing many of these beach closures. As your mayor, I will do everything I can to ensure the beaches are safe and clean for use by both local residents and tourists.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
BUILD ON OUR CORE COMPETENCIES
Focusing on Our Quality of Life According to an annual quality of life While companies seldom decide where survey conducted by Mercer Human to locate or expand their business Resource Consulting, the best place in based solely on quality of life, issues the world to live is Vienna, Austria. In the such as housing, schools, community United States, the highest ranking entry infrastructure and crime are is Honolulu at number 29, followed by increasingly important. San Francisco at number 30.
This is especially true for companies In the Mercer study, each city is assessed dependent on the talents of highly for its local living conditions and analyzed educated and highly skilled workers. according to 39 factors in 10 catego- For companies relocating a relatively ries, including political stability, banking high proportion of professional talent, services, waste disposal, availability of quality of life issues can even make or schools, restaurants and theaters and break the deal. Quality of life will di- record of natural disasters. I am not rectly impact the ability of a company saying this survey is perfect, but it does to attract the best talent during illustrate that the world is paying more national and international recruiting. attention to how livable cities are compared to others. San Diego is a great place to live, but we cant aơ ord to take that for granted. As the campaign moves forward I will We have to start thinking about the outline a series of policy ideas designed condition of our roads, schools, parks to enhance our quality of life with the and libraries, not just in terms of notion the world is watching San Diego whether or not they are better than in mind. As we become the worlds they were last year, but are they better most innovative city, we will also nd than those in other regions nationally and internationally. ways to make it an even more enjoyable place to live. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
A NEW CITY FOR A NEW ECONOMY
Modernizing our Business Practices My administration will work with the private sector In order for Americas Finest City to become the Worlds to complete Program Environmental Impact Reports Most Innovative City, San Diego city government must (PEIR) on all Prime Industrial Land in San Diego. To lead by example. We must take a fresh look at everything streamline development in other parts of our city, we city government does, and put a new set of eyes on old can replicate the Center City Development problems to nd innovative solutions. Earlier this year, Corporations (CCDC) success in using Program EIRs I outlined a plan to streamline and innovate the permit- downtown. Key to CCDCs success is the 2006 Down- ting process at City Hall. My plan will make city permitting town Community Plans Final Environmental Impact easy, fast, eƥ cient and online to make it simpler for Report (FEIR). This document, as a Program FEIR companies to comply with city requirements. Providing meeting requirements of the California this certainty will enable San Diego to be a magnet for the Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), treats the down- innovative companies that will create good-paying local town redevelopment area as one large project that jobs for our future. You can nd the full plan on my web- has been evaluated for environmental impacts and site. for which mitigation measures have been established. Development projects downtown use the approved FEIR when going through the permitting process. Helping Business Comply with Environmental Regulations As a result, additional CEQA review is not necessary, In order for San Diego to become the Worlds Most In- greatly reducing processing time and potential legal novative City, it will also be my priority to attract more challenges. By applying this model to other Prime innovative companies to San Diego. As we all know, build- Industrial Land, we can greatly accelerate permit ing in California can mean months and sometimes years processing and provide certainty for new job-creating of environmental studies that increase project costs and projects, so that we can be competitive for high discourage businesses from opening their doors, without quality jobs in manufacturing and other key adding any real environmental bene t. It doesn't have to industries. be this way. We can be eƥ cient and cost-eơ ective without compromising the kinds of environmental regulations that protect our quality of life.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
A NEW CITY FOR A NEW ECONOMY
Helping Job Creators Get Permits Faster In order to get San Diegans working again, we need make sure City Hall isnt standing in the way. This means ensuring those who want to create jobs in our City are not stymied by slow permitting processes and drawn-out bureaucratic approvals. My administra- tion will incentivize job creation by oơ ering expedited, time-certain permitting for businesses hiring new employees.
Any project that can demonstrate it will create at least 50 new jobs in San Diego will qualify for a Tier I incentive which delivers permits in less than 30 days. For businesses willing to incorporate sustain- able building practices like energy eƥ ciency and renewable energy into their projects, we will oơ er additional incentives. LEED Silver- certi ed projects creating at least 50 new jobs will qualify for Tier II, which will expedite permits to less than 30 days, and also waive all fees until the project is completed. Finally, buildings that are certi ed at least LEED Silver and create at least 150 new jobs can qualify for the Tier III incentive, which will deliver permits in less than 15 days and defer all fees until project completion. The City will sign formal agreements with both developers and business owners to ensure the project seeking approval meets its sustain- ability and hiring goals in order to bene t from these incentives; it will also include provisions establishing nes and penalties for ei- ther party not following through. Additionally, we will bring much of this permitting process online, allowing developers and city staơ to share information in real time.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
A NEW CITY FOR A NEW ECONOMY
Maximize the Use of Foreign-Trade Zones Expand the San Diego Regional Enterprise Zone Foreign-Trade Zones (FTZ), authorized by Congress, are Established in 2006, the One Zone is a regional eco- used to help U.S. manufacturers nomic development 15-year compete with foreign companies business tax credit program by allowing delayed or reduced incorporating portions of the duty payments on foreign mer- City of San Diego, signi cant chandise, as well as other savings. portions of the City of Chula San Diegos Foreign-Trade Zone Vista and the City of National was established in 1988, and is ad- City. The San Diego Regional ministered by the Mayors Oƥ ce of Enterprise Zone is a desig- Economic Growth Services. There nated area within these cities are eleven Foreign-Trade Zones where businesses receive near San Diegos border with substantial tax breaks and Tijuana. The law allows for the cre- other incentives. Because ation of Foreign-Trade Subzones San Diegos economy is re- that include noncontiguous areas gional in nature, collaborat- that can be established within 60 ing with other local cities and miles of the border to help quali- the state to expand business ed businesses be more competi- incentives increases our abil- tive. As mayor, I will aggressively ity to compete with other reach out to San Diego business to regions, create new jobs and increase the number of companies increase investment in our using this unique advantage. region. As mayor, I will work to expand the Regional Enterprise Zone to encompass as much of our re- gions Prime Industrial Land as possible. Doing so will provide a powerful incentive for companies to open their doors in San Diego at no expense to the City. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
A NEW CITY FOR A NEW ECONOMY
Create a Sports and Innovation District Downtown The stadium is estimated to cost up to $800 million, Many people are talking about building a sports and enter- excluding the costs of nding a new home for a bus tainment district downtown similar to the L.A. LIVE enter- yard on the site and cleaning up contamination once tainment complex in Downtown Los Angeles adjacent to estimated to top $100 million. the Staples Center. L.A. LIVE cost approximately $2.5 bil- lion and was developed by Anschutz Entertainment Group The I.D.E.A District innovation, design, education (AEG), Wachovia Corp, Azteca Corp and the arts is planned a few and investment rm MacFarlane blocks east of this site. It will Partners with help from Los An- contain three million square geles taxpayers. It has 5,600,000 feet of oƥ ces and design square feet of apartments, ball- studio space; 600,000 square rooms, bars, concert theatres, feet of retail and restaurants; restaurants, movie theaters and a and 2,200 apartments. The 54-story hotel and condominium projects developers estimate tower, all on a 27-acre site. The it could create 10,000 new jobs complex became home to AEG and for the region and spur a new Herbalife corporate headquarters economic cluster that would in December 2008. San Diego can complement San Diegos high- do better. tech and biomedical clusters.
We can build a Sports and Innovation District that cre- As mayor, I will move both of these projects forward ates thousands of new jobs and revitalizes a currently and look for opportunities to expand on the I.D.E.A under-used section of our downtown. The catalyst for Districts concept of building out downtown as a San Diegos Sports and Innovation District could be the place where young, talented and creative people in combination of two projects currently being discussed, San Diegos innovation economy will want to live and the proposed downtown football station and the I.D.E.A. work. District. The San Diego Chargers and Mayor Jerry Sanders are currently discussing a 10-acre stadium site downtown, bounded by 14th, 16th and K streets and Imperial Avenue. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
A NEW CITY FOR A NEW ECONOMY Building the I.D.E.A District and a Sports and Innovation District, where creative people will live, work and play, re- quires us to have a more innovative discussion regarding land use downtown. For instance, much of our land use and zoning code is early 20th century: it focuses on separation of uses. The innovative economy, and the jobs that come out of it, on the other hand, will be based on integration of land uses. San Diego has an opportunity to address these issues before other cities do, giving us a leg up in the new economy and establishing a whole new blueprint for growth and prosperity.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
GLOBAL CITY: REINTRODUCING SAN DIEGO TO THE WORLD
The Mayors Role as Ambassador Traveling throughout the world, I have had an opportunity to interact with government and business leaders in other coun- tries. I often see delegations led by the mayors of other great American cities. These mayors are helping their local business- es to establish relationships with businesses in other countries and regions. In a competitive global marketplace, these rela- tionships are more important than ever.
As mayor, I am committed to doing the same for local San Di- ego businesses. I will reach out nationally and globally, helping our local business leaders to connect with potential business partners and to nd opportunities to bring job-creating invest- ment to San Diego. I will do this transparently and responsibly. We will publish all aspects of the itinerary and schedule and issue public reports outlining the jobs created and local invest- ments made as a result of each trip that is taken.
Filling Out our Industry Clusters As mayor, I will work with our Regional Economic Develop- ment Corporation (EDC) to target companies who should be doing business here. Governors and mayors in other states frequently send representatives to San Diego to convince our businesses to leave. I will request that EDC launch focused programs for San Diego to do the same thing in Texas target- ing cleantech companies, in Boston targeting biotech compa- nies, and in New York and Washington, D.C. targeting commu- nications and software companies. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
GLOBAL CITY: REINTRODUCING SAN DIEGO TO THE WORLD
Our Special Relationship with Tijuana Continuing to Support the Mega-Region Initiative The shared border between San Diego and Tijuana is a The Cali Baja Bi-National Mega-Region is a multi shared opportunity for our two cities to serve as the con- jurisdictional marketing and planning initiative that duit for trade and cultural exchange between the United encompasses San Diego, Imperial Valley and Baja States and Mexico. In 2010, the combined population of California. Here in San Diego these eơ orts are San Diego and Tijuana was more than 5 million people, spearheaded by the San Diego Regional Economic making it the largest bi-national region shared between Development Corporation. Together with their the United States and Mexico. Both cities are known counterparts in Baja California and the Imperial throughout the world for their culture, history, Valley, they are promoting our region as an ideal technological innovations, natural geography and tourism. place for business growth and expansion. As mayor, Tijuana is the westernmost city in Mexico and the I will continue to champion and support this unique dominant economic center of northwestern Mexico. Over Mega-Region Initiative. I will also encourage other forty million people cross the border each year between local mayors and leaders to take a more active role in San Diego and Tijuana, giving the region the busiest land- helping to promote the Mega-Region as a border crossing in the world. competitive advantage for San Diego.
I believe that strengthening our ties between San Diego and Tijuana is an important endeavor. As mayor, I will build a strong partnership with the Mayor of Tijuana. Through a regular dialogue we can bring business, community and government leaders together from both sides of the border to nd ways for our combined region to increase its global competitiveness and attract new businesses and investments. We can also work on public safety and infrastructure issues as well that will provide a solid foundation for a more uid exchange of cultural experiences. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
PROTECTING OUR BASE
Small Business Support Team Launch a Made In San Diego Campaign Small businesses play an integral role in San Diegos econ- As mayor, I will work with local chambers of com- omy. During an economic downturn, small businesses get merce and the City Council to establish an oƥ cial hit the hardest. Small businesses are often run by families Made in San Diego branding campaign for local and sole proprietors who cant take hours oơ from work products. We will create an oƥ cial logo and QR code to navigate bureaucracies at City Hall. As mayor, I will cre- that only products made in San Diego can legally use, ate a Small Business Support Team that works outside of with a no-cost license provided to qualifying City Hall in the community, helping small business owners companies. with permitting, regulatory compliance and accessing City services. In my administration, business will see City Hall as a partner, not an adversary, in their eơ orts to grow and create jobs.
Staying Connected with Business The city, state and federal governments all oơ er incentive programs that many businesses dont even know about. As mayor, each year I will send a survey to each and ev- ery business registered with the City of San Diego to help them self-assess whether or not they are taking advantage of all the incentives available to them. If they are not, I will provide them with a contact in my administration to help them take advantage of missed opportunities. The survey will also ask them for any ideas they have on how the City can help their business expand, and make them aware of opportunities they may have to do business with the City.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
EDUCATION: AN ECONOMIC ISSUE Education is pivotal to San Diegos Economic Future There is a critical connection between education and the economy. Employers rank a quali ed workforce a key con- cern in decisions about where to locate and grow. A recent study by the Alliance for Excellent Education highlighted the impact the dropout epidemic is having on our economy. For instance, if the students who dropped out of the Class of 2011 had graduated, the nations economy would bene t from nearly $154 billion in additional income over the course of their lifetimes. This reframes the often-asked question, How can we aơ ord not to give our children a proper education? The answer is, We cant.
A quality education is the best opportunity we can give children for achieving the American dream. Education and the economy are inextricably linked, and we must connect the interests of business, philanthropy, parents and government to lift education as a true partner in the economic success of our region. Therefore, early in 2012 I will release a comprehensive vision for how the Oƥ ce of the Mayor can be used to improve Pre K-14 education in our region.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
INFRASTRUCTURE: THE FOUNDATION WE BUILD UPON Reduce Border Wait Times Today, having easy access to international markets isnt a luxury, it is a necessity. According to a 2006 SANDAG study, our infrastructure is failing to keep up with the increase in trade and security requirements at the prin- ciple border crossings between San Diego County and Baja California. Traƥ c congestion and delays cost the U.S. and Mexican economies an estimated $6 billion in gross output in 2005, and 51,325 jobs. It is absolutely unacceptable for this border to be a hindrance to the economy in our Cali Increase Airport Capacity Baja Bi-National Mega-Region. Airports are an important part of our economic en- gine. Companies need to be able to connect to all As mayor, I will work with federal authorities to expedite parts of the world, moving people and cargo eƥ - goods movement across the border. I will champion the ciently and economically. Cities with congested or expansion of the San Ysidro Port of Entry from 24 to 63 inadequate airport infrastructure can quickly nd lanes, secure federal funding for a new pedestrian pro- themselves left out of opportunities to attract new cessing facility and pedestrian crossing, and champion the businesses and the jobs they bring. establishment of a third Port of Entry in East Otay Mesa. Breakthroughs in technology have recently made San Diegos International Airport more competitive. New technologies have enabled the Boeing 747, a plane used for transatlantic travel that was too large for Lindbergh Field, to be replaced by the Boeing 777, a newer, lighter aircraft for international travel in three classes of service that will carry 275 passengers and cargo directly from San Diego to Europe. As mayor, I will work with the Regional Airport Authority to ex- pand San Diegos new potential to other destinations. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
INFRASTRUCTURE: THE FOUNDATION WE BUILD UPON
I will also support plans to build a cross-border airport Improving Transportation terminal. The Otay-Tijuana Venture LLC has plans to build a Our public transportation system is slow and inef- cross-border facility that will ultimately become an airport cient and doesnt adequately serve many areas of terminal in the United States for Rodriguez Tijuana Inter- our city. A related problem is that traƥ c congestion national Airport. The $77.9 million privately funded facility is compromising our quality of life. On average, San would be built in Otay Mesa, just west of the Otay Mesa Diegans lose 37 hours per year in traƥ c. Port of Entry. Airline passengers would park in the U.S., I support SANDAGs plans for the Mid-Coast Corridor check their bags and clear security in the U.S. They would Transit project extending trolley service from Old then walk across a 500-foot pedestrian bridge crossing the Town to UCSD, and the South Bay Bus Rapid Transit U.S.-Mexico border and board their plane in Tijuana. The project that provides service between the Otay Mesa project already has a U.S. Presidential Permit and is now border crossing and downtown San Diego. As mayor, waiting for a Presidential Permit from Mexico City. It also Ill work to see it implemented as a rst step toward a needs several other permits before construction can begin better and more comprehensive transit system. in Otay Mesa, for which I will advocate. The prospect of our region being conveniently served by two international The truth remains that for many San Diegans its airports oơ ers hope for a real breakthrough in aơ ordable, diƥ cult to use public transportation to commute to convenient international transport. work. There are exceptions like those who live at the northern ends of the I-15 or I-5 corridors. We have to do better. Making fast, eƥ cient public transportation available to more San Diegans will require thinking outside the box and pursuing innovative solutions. I envision a future where cars, buses, trolleys, trains, and new modes of transit, all linked together, play a role in moving people more eƥ ciently. Doing so will ensure people can easily move from their homes to the jobs of the future.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THE FIVE GOALS FIRST GOAL: Create a competitive environment that will contribute to the cre- ation of 130,000 new jobs in our region by 2020.
Represents jobs the Fletcher administration will bring to the region or help to create through direct action in addition to the 104,000 jobs SANDAG estimates that our region will create between 2008 and 2020. The Fletcher jobs goal represents a signi cation commitment to directly engage the Mayors Oƥ ce in a regional business devel- opment and attraction eơ ort where the administration eơ orts are measured and reported out publicly.
According to CONNECT, for every new job created in San Diegos traded economies, at least one-and-a-half jobs are created in other sectors of San Di- egos economy as a result of the increased demand for services. The Fletcher administration would create 10,000 jobs in our three most competitive sectors, which will create 15,000 jobs in other sectors of the economy. In total, the ad- ministrations eơ orts would therefore create a total of 25,000 jobs in excess of SANDAG projections.
SANDAG Disclaimer: The 104,000 jobs created between 2008 and 2020 was taken from SANDAGs most recent 2050 Regional Forecast. This forecast was accepted by the SANDAG Board of Directors in October 2011 for distribu- tion and use in planning and other studies. This forecast represents one possi- bility for future growth in the San Diego region. www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THE FIVE GOALS SECOND GOAL: Increase the number of patents generated by our region 33% by 2020. We will measure our progress each year and report the numbers.
According to the dailybeast.coms 2010 list of Americas Most Inventive Cities, San Diego ranked 15th. Population: 1,307,402 - Patent appli- cations 2010: 3,015 - Patents awarded 2010: 2,792 - Patent applications per 100,000 residents: 231 - Approved patents per 100,000 residents: 314.
A 33% percent increase would mean by 2020 San Diego would have 307 - applications per 100,000 residents and 417 approved applications per 100,000 residents.
http://www.thedailybeast.com/ galleries/2011/10/02/america-s-most-inventive-cit- ies-san-francisco-seattle-rochester-ny-more.html
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THE FIVE GOALS THIRD GOAL: Increase the amount of venture capital San Diego receives 33% by 2020. That would bring us to over a billion dollars annually in venture capital in San Diego.
According to the National Venture Capital Associations 2011 yearbook in 2010 San Diego attracted $881 million in venture capital. According to the National Venture Capital Associations 2011 yearbook the prior to the current recession San Diego frequently attracted more than a billion in venture capital, most recently attracting $1.8 billion in 2007 and $1.1 billion in 2008.
FOURTH GOAL: Increase exports from our region 33% by 2020. That would equate to a $5 billion in- crease, bringing our total exports to over $20 billion annually by 2020.
According to the U.S. Department of Commerces International Trade Administration during the rst half of 2010 the San Diego area exported $7.9 billion in goods and services putting it on track to ex- port roughly $16 billion by the end of 2010. According to the U.S. Department of Commerces International Trade Administration, in 2005 the San Diego area exported $13.1 billion in goods and services. Between 2005 and 2008 exports regularly increased by at least $500 million each year in San Diego. Given San Diego is emerging from a recession, a $5 billion increase over 10 years is a conservatively aggressive goal for our region.
www.NathanFletcher.com VISION FOR OUR ECONOMIC FUTURE SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY
HOLDING OURSELVES ACCOUNTABLE ADDITIONAL BACKGROUND ON THE FIVE GOALS FIFTH GOAL: And nally, to ensure we are striving to have balanced economic growth and ensure we have a robust middle class, our fth goal will focus on increasing the median household income by ex- ceeding SANDAG projections by 33% by 2020. That increase of over $18,000 would bring regional me- dian household income to just under 80,000 a year.
SANDAG estimates that in 2010 the median household income in San Diego was $44,772 in 1999 dollars adjusted for in ation. SANDAG estimates that in between 2008 and 2020 median income will increase to $58,746 in 1999 dollars adjusted for in ation. The Fletcher Administration goal would ex- ceed SANDAG projections by roughly 33%.
www.NathanFletcher.com ABOUT ASSEMBLYMAN NATHAN FLETCHER SAN DIEGO: THE WORLDS MOST INNOVATIVE CITY San Diego faces unprecedented challenges: The Chelsea King tragedy exposed the need for real continuing cuts in basic city services, a pension debt reform of the criminal justice system. For years, par- that threatens even deeper cuts, a local economy still tisan di" erences had derailed real solutions. Nathan reeling from the national recession, and - most Fletcher took a di" erent approach. He worked across importantly - a loss of public trust and con! dence in political lines to achieve historic protections for our city government. San Diego’s future depends on children with Chelsea’s Law, including a true one- attracting and growing strike penalty for violent sexual innovative businesses that o" enders and sweeping reforms provide high-paying jobs. A of the parole system. stronger local economy will generate additional revenues to Before his election to the Cali- support quality city services. fornia State Legislature, Nathan Fletcher served in the U.S. Marine San Diego needs new energy, a Corps for ten years, working in new vision, and a new counterintelligence in the Horn of generation of leadership that Africa and the Near East, earning gets things done. As San Diego’s the Joint Service Commendation next mayor, Nathan Fletcher o" ers Medal and Global War on Terror- fresh ideas, proven problem ism Expeditionary Medal. Prior to solving and the courage to take that, he served in the Sunni Tri- on San Diego’s toughest prob- angle region of Iraq, earning the lems. Navy/Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Combat “V” for valor, among others. In just his ! rst term in the State Assembly, Fletcher had twenty-one pieces of legislation signed into Assemblymen Fletcher lives in San Diego with his wife law, including bills relating to veterans, job creation, Mindy, sons Zach and Caleb, and two dogs - Jagger water infrastructure, pension reform, modernization of and Rez. state government, health care, and public safety. He was also instrumental in passing tax reform that will help create thousands of new California jobs, includ- ing many in the biotech and high-tech industries located in the San Diego region. www.NathanFletcher.com Paid for by Fletcher for Mayor 2012 4079 Governor Drive #329, San Diego, CA 92122
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