"We're What's Next!"
Dr. Jerry Adams for Mayor
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Our Economy and Jobs

In order for government to have our trust, it must spend our tax dollars carefully, just as we spend our personal dollars carefully.

More Living Wage Jobs
Most jobs in Portland are created by small business. Instead of focusing on attracting multinational giants, Jerry will concentrate on ensuring that local small businesses have a fighting chance. He will give the most encouragement to businesses that supply living wage jobs with benefits.

Fostering Small Business
Portland metro plays a strong role in the economies of the Pacific Rim, and the world. Our state attracts entrepreneurial spirits. As mayor, Jerry Adams will create an environment where small businesses-- the foundation of our economy--can thrive.

Local Control of Resources
PGE and Enron showed us that when we lose local control of energy resources, the region's economy suffers. Jerry will advance the planning for energy, water, and sewage management, with an eye toward city self-sufficiency in energy generation.

Streamline Paperwork for Businesses
Local businesses find their paperwork burden excessive.

Goal: Analyze the paper requirements for local businesses and work on streamlining the process, from a business point of view rather than from a government point of view. Jerry has had some experience in streamlining paperwork:

In 1988, Dr. Adams assembled a team of lending institutions and the U.S. Small Business Administration on behalf of the National Business Association in order to streamline loan applications for small businesses in the United States. Dr. Adams led them in the development of the solution, First Step Review, a program that allows small businesses to assess and screen their own loan applications before submitting them. This way, a business owner could learn specifically what he or she needs to strengthen before qualifying for a loan. This reduces the number of unqualified applications going through the system. Fewer unqualified applications, in turn, help reduce the paper load for the U.S. Small Business Administration and lending institutions. By reducing the paper load, businesses are able to gain quicker answers on their loans and thus possibly even save their businesses.

In 1989, USA Today recognized First Step as one of the top 10 innovations for small businesses in the United States. Even today, First Step is the National Business Association's most requested program. Dr. Adams was instrumental in the design and implementation of our membership mall and the member business web page – benefits that are very valuable to our membership.

-Raj Nisankarao, President
National Business Association

March 18, 2004

Conserve Tax Dollars
We can conserve our tax dollars by investing them carefully. We can cut our overall health costs by investing in proven, effective prevention programs.
Example: We can help ensure that all of those needing select preventive medications have access to them to prevent catastrophic health incidents--and the related astronomical health care costs.
Example: We can employ leaders within communities to support and implement effective prevention programs. This can greatly reduce health costs for our citizens.

We can reduce our costs in the justice system by investing in our youth.
Example: We can employ our youth to work on self-funding projects for the city. For example, we can place youth in apprenticeships on projects, such as projects to repair abandoned buildings. This can provide youth with skills as well as jobs. Repaired buildings can be sold and the program can become self-funded.

We can reduce our energy costs--and our pollution--by investing in renewable energy sources. Renewable energy will allow the city to reduce total energy costs. Low energy costs can help attract new industry and jobs for Portlanders. In addition, developing renewable energy sources can provide employment and training opportunities. Jerry's company has assembled some Web resources to demonstrate renewable energy sources and Jerry has developed a guide.

We can reduce consumption of water and sewage services--thereby reducing costs--without making sacrifices.
Example: We can provide strong incentives for diverting rainwater from downspouts and harvest the water. Up to half of total water use for a household is for yards, but the water comes from city water rather than rainwater. In most homes and apartments, water goes directly from downspouts into the city drainage system. When it rains hard, the city drainpipes become over-filled and sewage spills into the Willamette River. Other cities have found programs for diverting water from downspouts to be a cost-effective solution. A Portland program is doing this, but slowly, with only 42,000 home in the program to date. The mayor needs to give the program a large boost.
Example: We can provide strong incentives for installing newly effective "low-flow" toilets to greatly reduce water use and sewage costs. Other cities have found this to be a cost-effective solution. Portland is supporting this, but slowly. Jerry's company has assembled Web resources for water conservation and a good source of information on low-flow toilets.

Move Jobs from East to West
Jobs are flowing from West to East. Portland has been losing high tech and manufacturing jobs to India, Southeast Asia, and other parts of the world. The mayor of Portland needs to team with key business leaders, the Governor, the Commerce Department, and the Small Business Administration to bring jobs into Portland that fit Portland's unique strengths, skilled work force, and geographic location.

We need to stimulate the tourism industry in Portland. The mayor's office needs to meet regularly with representatives of the tourism industry to ensure that a broad-based coalition is working on the effort to help match what Portland offers and what overseas visitors need.

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Event Calender


May 8-15
Watch for television version of KPSU interview on cable.
May 11
"Discussion For Change" on Channel 30 TV 9:30pm

May 12
Presentation on Channel 22 TV 7-7:30pm.

May 12
"Discussion For Change" on Channel 11 TV 8:00pm

May 12-18
K-Lite 106.7 Radio spots at various times
May 13
"Discussion For Change" on Channel 30 TV 8:30am &
Channel 21 TV 11pm
May 13
Mayor's Forum MCTV 7-8pm
May 13
Presentation on Channel 23 TV 9:30-10pm
May 14
"Discussion For Change" on Channel 23 TV 12 noon & Channel 30 TV  7pm
May 15
"Discussion For Change" on Channel 22 TV 12 noon & Channel 30 TV  7pm
May 16
"Discussion For Change" on Channel 30 TV 3:30pm
May 17
"Discussion For Change" on Channel 23 TV 12 midnight, Channel 21 TV 3pm, Channel 30 TV  9:30pm & Channel 21 TV 11pm
May 18

"Discussion For Change" on Channel 30 TV 12 noon



view complete calender