At the 20th annual South County Economic Development Summit on Sept. 17, elected officials talked about ways to jump start the South County economy.
Congressman Bob Filner said the federal border crossing is one of the biggest obstacles to real economic development.
“As I looked at the stimulus bills, I didn’t like that they (the government) tended to give money to the big bad banks and insurance companies and did not really stimulate small business growth,” he said. “The federal government has the money and the resources to have an efficient border.”
Filner said he is working with San Diego and Imperial counties to expand his alliances to get things done with a bigger base of support.
“One part that we’ve improved that has really not taken full effect yet and can improve the South County is the billions and billions of dollars we set aside for alternative-energy projects, research, development and manufacturing,” Filner said.
Assemblyman Marty Block said that the passage of AB24 would drive the economy in the South Bay.
The measure is a feasibility study that explores the possibility of establishing a California State University campus in Chula Vista.
However, despite it passing in the Senate and State Assembly, the bill failed to pass the governor’s desk.
Block said this university is important because San Diego State University is heavily impacted and admitting fewer students.
“It’s critical for students south of the (Interstate) 8,” he said.
State Senator Denise Ducheny said there’s a need to get back to the basics in regard to what the government is for.
“It’s for all those things we need to do collectively … it’s about the education system that supports workers … it’s about keeping families safe and if we don’t have the resources in the cities things don’t get done,” she said. “No one wants to do taxes but we have to think about what we are willing to pay collectively to keep some of those things in place.”
