Would Sacramento find the U.S. on a map?
In this News10 story about California losing green businesses (nice effect with the scrolling list of businesses leaving California during the piece), we learn that “the number of companies moving out of the state is five times higher than the rate of companies that moved out of California in 2009.” The two main causes of this exodus are said to be regulations and energy costs, but what I found most interesting was the lack of an organized effort by the state to lure/keep businesses to California.
Business owners said California can learn from other states who are working hard to attract business. Krehnke said many cities they toured went into “pageant mode.” “[We were assigned] a dedicated person to call anytime to ask questions,” Krehnke said. “They arranged meetings with the mayor so we got very good exposure to the right people. We were educated on incentives and they went out of their way to put themselves in a good light.”
What would Sacramento look like if it went into “pageant mode”? My guess is it would do well in the swimsuit competition, but really struggle in the question and answer piece. But, seriously, what’s going on here?
Logue said the governor has over 600 appointments and should switch out the bureaucrats for people who understand business. He would also like to see the passion of the occupy movement turned on the legislature. “When you go to the Central Valley and look at the unemployment rate and look at who is representing those people, you need to rise up,” Logue said. “I need to see them in Sacramento sometime outside my window, 10,000 of them saying, ‘I want to go back to work. What are YOU doing?’ You cannot kill the goose and expect golden eggs.”
SACTO did get a mention as doing a good job locally, but as a state, are we just screwed?
The Sac Rag 
He sees 10,000 people out his window?
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That’s interesting. I think maybe California has a “We’re California, where else are you going to live?” mentality, where we don’t think we have to fight so hard, because of the great weather, natural beauty, and economy that is still somehow larger than lots of other whole countries. But even water has to advertise.
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Nice idea Logue, but I think bringing more corporations to Sacramento is not on the Occupy agenda.
Re: what Sacramento would look like in “pageant” mode?… do you mean the City or region? The city would look pretty unwelcoming, maybe Kevin McCarty could drive the visitors past the Nestle water plant he tried to shutdown. City leadership explaining Sacramento embrace of “profit” and “free enterprise” would sound like Herm Cain explaining foreign policy.
Of course the region (ie the burbs) would fare a bit better.
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I think both, cogmeyer, would be worth discussing. Interesting that the place in Rocklin moved to Denver. City or region, they all fall under state laws, right? Or, can we bend regulation requirements to attract a new business?
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