MAYOR GAVIN NEWSOM ANNOUNCES ECONOMIC STIMULUS PACKAGE
Despite our economic strengths, San Francisco is not immune from the worldwide credit crunch or nation-wide economic downturn," said Mayor Newsom. "That´s why today I´ve proposed an economic stimulus package that encourages local spending, reduces the cost of doing business in San Francisco, accelerates capital spending, and increases foreign investment."
In developing the economic stimulus package, the Mayor´s office consulted extensively with dozens of business leaders from small business and big business, and labor, to better understand the issues local businesses are facing, and to solicit creative ideas. The Mayor´s office also worked with the City´s Economist, the City´s fiscal watchdogs, including the Controller, the Budget Director, the Director of Public Finance and the
heads of key enterprise departments like the Airport and the Public Utilities Commission (SFPUC), as well as leadership from public policy groups like SPUR and the Chamber of Commerce, to assess economic strategies and craft more effective solutions.
Stimulus proposals put forth by the mayor and business leaders to keep San
Francisco´s economy strong:
Accelerate capital projects, such as the Terminal 2 rebuild at SF
International Airport, the SF General rebuild, the Transbay Transit
Center, HOPE SF and the rebuild of the Hall of Justice.
Increase foreign investment by establishing San Francisco as the premier
gateway between Chinese businesses and North America. A delegation of
San Francisco officials will go to China in November to set up a
China Desk" to attract businesses to San Francisco.
Reduce the cost of doing business in San Francisco by reviewing fees on
businesses, helping local business take better advantage of federal,
state and local tax credit programs and implementing targeted tax
incentives.
Keep dollars local by creating more local jobs through City Build and
other workforce programs, expanding San Francisco tourism marketing
more regionally, revising parking and transit polices to make it
easier to visit San Francisco, expanding Neighborhood Market Place
Initiatives and Business Improvement Districts including the new
Tourism Improvement District, reducing retail leakage with the "Shop
Local" campaign, and increasing funding for business attraction and
retention efforts.

