3. Putting Boston to Work

Promoting Boston’s economy is the first step in putting Boston to work. However, the second and more important step is to make sure that the city’s residents are a priority for new jobs. As your City Councilor, I will fight for Boston residents to receive a fair share of construction and permanent job opportunities associated with new real estate development in Boston.

According to a recent Boston Redevelopment Authority Report, The Boston Economy in 2010, “In 2008, economic activity in Boston generated $87 billion in annual Gross Domestic Product (GDP). This figure accounts for approximately 24% of the Massachusetts economy and 10% of that of the six New England states.” Boston is one of the largest residential areas in the U.S. and is a central location for jobs and economic activity. While these numbers show our city’s strength, the last couple of years have been tough on Boston’s economy. Many individuals have either lost their jobs or homes.

As a small business owner, I know first hand how hard this economy has been.  The effects of a shrinking economy have impacts both on individual families and on the entire state.  Therefore, we need to ensure that we continue to grow Boston’s economy.

As Boston City Councilor, I will fight to keep jobs in Boston, push for more innovative companies to establish a presence in our city, and most importantly, support small businesses, which make our neighborhoods strong. These local businesses are the economic engines that drive our city forward and reflect the rich cultures of hard-working people in our neighborhoods.

Some of the initiatives I will pursue are:
• Identify companies that are looking to relocate outside of Boston and tackle the reasons that are pushing them away from our city;
• Challenge banks to make small business loans more readily available for local merchants and small business owners;
• Fight for more efficient and smart ways to spend taxpayer dollars;
• Pursue Boston’s fair share of state and federal dollars to rebuild our aging roads and bridges, which in turn will create jobs; and
• Fight for Boston residents to receive a fair share of construction and permanent job opportunities associated with new real estate development in the city.