The Chamber also asked all 13 City Council candidates what business in the City of Richmond meant to them. Hear those who provided answers to the following questions to help guide you as you cast your vote this November:

• What does economic development mean to you?
• How will you work with the business community if elected?
• What does job retention mean to you?

What does economic development mean to you?

I believe economic development can sustain communities by providing good paying jobs and thus allowing members of the community to not displaced because of the rising cost of living. Economic development is about retaining current businesses and attracting new businesses. It is about creating an eco-system around the business community to help businesses grow and thrive.

City government can empower economic development by providing useful services and incentives to help businesses hire Richmond residents and contribute to the community. The City of Richmond can make a deep and sustained investment in economic development by creating straightforward instructions on what is needed to start a business. Also, City government needs to provide strong and stable leadership so that businesses can plan for the long term. If current or new businesses think there will be new changes to fees, penalties or taxes that are created with little to no warning they will ultimately will look elsewhere to relocate or start their business.

There are many needs in Richmond, in order to help those experiencing homeless, clean our streets, keep our neighborhoods safe, roads paved, good schools, maintain parks and more we need to have a thriving and growing business community to generate sales tax revenue. 

How will you work with the business community if elected? 

I have been working with the business community in Richmond for the past 9 years as the President of the Point Richmond Business Association and Board Member of the Richmond Chamber of Commerce. I have connected and worked with many businesses in Richmond. I will continue to listen, collaborate and consult with businesses to understand what the city government can do to ensure they stay for the long term and hire local, as well as seek out new businesses to start in Richmond. Additionally, I will set up Collaborative Solutions workshops as I have done in the past bringing together community, businesses, government and nonprofits to determine the best solutions for Richmond.

What does job retention mean to you? 

Job retention means that workers have a stable income and businesses have experienced workers contributing to the growth of their companies. With stable incomes workers can live in the community where they work. If people can live where they work, they will not to travel great distances to and from work each day. Job retention means stable neighborhoods and communities. Job retention decreases the specter of gentrification if people have good jobs workers can afford to live in the same neighborhood for years to come.

Thank you for the opportunity to be of service. I ask for your vote on November 6, 2018.

Dave Schoenthal 

510-710-4621

david@schoenthalforrichmond.com

For more info on my campaign or to make a contribution go to www.schoenthalforrichmond.com

David Schoenthal for Richmond City Council 2018 – ID #1401123