Recently, I was asked to volunteer my time and talents to help recruit businesses for our city.
Why? Well, we like all of California were hit by an economic recession.
In the city I live in unemployment was still quite low, in the six percent or less range, but our neighboring cities were experiencing at or above the 10.
1% like the rest of California.
After reviewing what our city and the local cities had to offer a company moving into our area.
I came to the conclusion that there was a severe problem that ran much deeper.
And I stated to the economic development association recruitment team, which was then forming: "Maybe the reason we don't have high-tech office parks filled with the best of the brightest is because we don't deserve them.
" In other words, The State of California has done everything to discourage businesses from doing business here, including the new increases in taxes.
Our city has developed in a way to cater to the lower upper class and upper middle class tourist, business person and retired couple.
Thus, they have assumed those businesses that cater to those folks are desired and other businesses are not really desired.
Further, the economic development folks, city planners, and such have not until realized that it would be nice to be more diversified with higher paying jobs in clean industries.
Still, the focus now is to lump the Valley all together as one, and thus, concentrate on the "biggest perceived problem" which happens to be low-income areas and jobs to match their skill level and education.
Thus, "Maybe the reason we don't have high-tech office parks filled with the best of the brightest is because we don't deserve them.
" Think on this.