After reading the statements written by the candidates running for Mayor and City Council. I was left with the feeling that nothing will change. It really doesn't matter who wins, when they still don't get it. It cannot be business as usual anymore. They city has to focus on the individuals and families of Scottsdale and not on big businesses.
Not one of them presented anything new that hasn't already been being done or tried. They are all for bringing big business to the city. To do it they will spend our tax dollars to build facilities for them then give them tax breaks.
Bringing companies to the city doesn't automatically put residents of Scottsdale to work. It puts anyone willing to commute to Scottsdale or even relocate to Scottsdale to work. It doesn't educate our kids or research new ways to motivate and excite kids about learning. Improving our kids lives will improve our lives in the future. Something we will all benefit from for years to come. Our pocket books can improve without the need for big business.
What they should be doing is creating something that is only found in Scottsdale so companies will want to come here without tax incentives. For instance my idea is for the city to build solar and wind fields to generate electricity. The energy would be sold back to the grid to lower the energy rates for residence and businesses in Scottsdale. Lowering the rates will cause businesses to have lower operating costs making it cheaper than other cities. With the current rates across the country this is a huge selling point that bring business to the city without giving tax breaks. Giving tax incentives to get businesses to move here result in higher taxes for the citizens which lowers our quality of life.
Using bonds to build the field and contracting the company who installs them to maintain them. With the understanding that the contract would include a 20 year warranty (solar panels have a tendency to have issues after about 10 years). Adding a provision to replace any panels with newer top of the line panels as they come available. There would be no need for expensive batteries since there wouldn't be any storage of the energy. It would be sold back directly to the gird for the purpose of reducing the rate charged to Scottsdale residences and businesses.
For homeowners the cost and space needed to use solar panels possible. Preventing most of us from benefiting from them. This also allows those who live in apartments, townhouses, condos, and rented homes to get the benefits of solar and wind energy.
Stop building housing. If the company wants to move here let them build the housing for their employees. Require them to build rent controlled housing for employees with an annual income of $45,000 or less for a family or $30,000 or less for a single person. They would maintain the property which will be energy efficient and collect rent for it for as long as the person works for the company. Prohibit them from outsource any jobs outside of the country. Why should tax incentives be given to a company that isn't going to be hiring locals and outsource instead? We shouldn't!
The city should be giving more contracts to Scottsdale based small family owned businesses. This would cause them to hire more employees and hopefully puts more Scottsdale people to work. Give these businesses reduced taxes. They are the ones who deserve and need them!
We keep burdening the citizens in this country and benefiting businesses. The citizens will always be here. The jobs may not. Lessen the financial burden put onto the citizens. I believe this would improve our lives.
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