The Challenge

A strong economy is the foundation of a flourishing California. Small businesses need more help, and larger businesses need a friendlier environment. 

A short walk through any of our city’s shopping districts - be it around Union Square, or in Noe Valley, or in the Sunset District - will show anyone the same picture: one empty storefront after another. 

The COVID crisis, the surge in brazen shoplifting, and the state and city’s insufficient support of small businesses has led hundreds of them into bankruptcy. Thousands of our fellow citizens lost their livelihood, and often their life’s work, weakening our economy and our social fabric. 

Larger businesses, as well as small ones, struggle under a barrage of red tape and high taxes and fees, as well as a general hostility toward businesses. The result: companies such as Charles Schwab, HP Enterprise, Jamba Juice, North Face, and Oracle have left California in record numbers. In 2020, we lost more than 60 enterprises. 2021 was on track to more than double that number.

The Solution

• Provide more support to small businesses to help them recover from COVID. This could include:
  • Financial assistance
  • Loan guarantees
  • Debt moratoriums
  • Tax relief
• Cut back on regulations and red tape and accelerate processes related to opening a business and issuing licenses and permits.