Fourth Ward Race: Fred Shorett's economic development platform

This is 4th Ward incumbent Fred Shorett's economic development platform. It is not edited.

San Bernardino Economic Recovery

Crime, though down according to statistics, remains the number one concern in San Bernardino. The key to economic development is to continue to reduce crime, change our city's image and ensure that San Bernardino is a safe, clean and vibrant place to live, work and raise a family. Revitalization of our historic business corridors... Highland Ave., Baseline, "E" street (north and south) and 40th street will help in the effort to improve our local economy. This may be achieved through the formation of "Business Improvement Districts" commonly known as P-BIDs. We should take the successes achieved on Hospitality Lane and duplicate it in these important historic commercial areas.

We must stop the politics at city hall that has paralyzed progress. Business owners, as well as citizens at large want, and indeed deserve, professional leadership at city hall. Leaders to be proud of... not embarrassed by. We must continue to eliminate graffiti and aggressively prosecute offenders.

We must promote San Bernardino. Promotion of our many assets, such as location, water resources, international airport, Cal State University and others is critical. One major asset that cannot be ignored is the historic Arrowhead Springs Hotel property. This unique and historic property has the potential to provide high-end housing, resort and boutique commercial development that our city desperately needs. Arrowhead Springs Resort will become San Bernardino's "Mission Inn"

We must create Jobs; the kind of jobs I'm speaking of will be created by small business. Entrepreneurs will open businesses in a safe, clean, vibrant, business friendly city. We must ensure that we are safe, clean, vibrant and business friendly. Aggressive marketing is critical. We must go after "Big Business" as well. We must figure out ways to incentivize "Big Business" to come to San Bernardino. We must think out of the box with advertising and marketing efforts. Budgets are a challenge right now, but we must to do whatever necessary to advertise and market our city and invite all business to come here and thrive. When business thrives we all benefit.

I believe opening the Maya Cinema downtown is paramount to the beginning of our city's economic recovery. It is unacceptable that a city the size of San Bernardino does not have a high caliber movie theater. It is time to get that venue opened. Our citizens deserve nothing less than a state-of-the-art, first class venue to enjoy high quality, first run movies. We must overcome the delays and get that theater opened. We cannot afford to delay this any longer and risk losing this very important opportunity. With the opening of that downtown venue other businesses will follow. That will only be good for our community.