Goldman "Economic Growth" Plan for Richmond

Goldman for Mayor - 23 June 08 - For Immediate Release - Contact, 804-833-6313 -

"We can not become a first tier city, we can not reduce the economic, social and governmental costs of poverty, while running last in job creation."


"My "Economic Growth" agenda - which will drive down taxes and the cost of government by giving families new hope by helping to lift them out of poverty - is centered on creating more jobs and more businesses in Richmond, not more Echo Harbour type projects."

(Richmond) - Paul Goldman, candidate for Mayor, announced today a comprehensive "Economic Growth" plan based on a basic economic premise:

"Richmond can not become a first tier city, Richmond can not reduce the economic, social and governmental costs of poverty, while running last in job creation."

Goldman continued. " When Governor Kaine's Urban Policy Task Force studied the state's 19 largest independent cities, they made a startling discovery: Richmond ranked last in the category they called "employment growth." Truth is, "employment growth" really was a misnomer when discussing Richmond, for the Kaine Administration found that in our River City, jobs had actually declined by 6500 in the first half of this decade."


The Goldman Difference.

"The Kaine study concluded what is clear to me but not my opponents: we need a Mayor with the vision and proven political courage to challenge the old thinking and the old power-brokers who have brought us to this cross-roads.

We need to make Job Creation....Job # 1 in Richmond.

Having been cited in three different decades for being a leader not afraid to do the grunt work and take the point position in efforts to make historic, fundamental change, I am not afraid of taking the criticism necessary to make real progress for real people.


As the Kaine Task Force concedes, unless Richmond moves from dead last on jobs, the job of solving Richmond's social problems will get harder, not easier.

I am the only one running for Mayor who had the vision, and was also willing to do the grunt work needed, to give us what my opponents now concede was necessary, a fundamental change in our form of government.

Now, we need to make a fundamental policy shift: move away from an approach that looks for ways to give significant tax and other governmental incentives for projects like Echo Harbour and move towards my "Economic Growth" approach that looks for opportunities to offer new and significant incentives for private capital to invest in expanding the businesses we have in Richmond, bringing new businesses to Richmond, all of which will create more jobs."


The "Gold Standard" of Economic Growth: Less Government, Lower taxes, More Business Growth, Unprecedented vocational and technical skill training, Record Job Creation.

This year, Americans will be going for the Gold at the Olympics. They will try their best.

Why should we in Richmond do any less?

The Kaine Report admits that the state has not done enough to spur economic growth in cities like Richmond. My plan includes a novel way for the state to assist economic growth not just Richmond but all localities willing to cut local business taxes.

THE "GOLD STANDARD" PLEDGE:

Given my commitment to fiscal responsibility, and given a seeming lack of transparency in city finances [for example, we have City Hall and City Council arguing over whose budget is legal!, this plan is of course subject, as was Mark Warner's fiscal action plan, to my getting the opportunity to inspect the books upon taking office.

SOME HIGHLIGHTS OF THE GOLDMAN "Economic Growth" Agenda: [Full-position paper with all the points and further discussion to be released tomorrow]


* Slash by 50% Business license taxes in new budget starting July 1, 2009
* Cut bureaucratic Government Spending by 15 million in new budget starting July 1, 2009.
* Reduce certain business-related fees by 10% in new budget starting in July 1, 2009
* 99 cent property tax rate is achievable far faster than you think if the many specific
policy recommendations contained in my "Economic Growth" agenda are adopted.
* Charter school for Vocational and Technological Education to raise local job skills
* Reduce bureaucratic Red Tape at City Hall: Within two years, I want it said that it is easier,
faster, and less costly to start a business in Richmond than anywhere else in the region.
+ Richmond First Tourism Initiative making us the destination city to learn history of
the Southern woman
* Create new incentives aimed specifically at attracting the new 21st century economy to
Richmond
* 8th and 9th District Economic Development, Grow Port of Richmond,
* Top-notch "cost-benefit" study to determine whether the Richmond Coliseum
needs to be replaced by a modern facility
* Jump Start a Revitalized Farmers Market by banning traffic from 17th Street
* Action Agenda for The Diamond and the Boulevard Corridor
* Novel state legislation to help Kaine's Urban Task Force keep pledge to Richmond