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Dr. Jerry Adams for Mayor
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Our Economy and Jobs -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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