According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, newly elected Atlanta Mayor Kasim Reed “said he wants to create what he described as an “economic development czar” who reports directly to him. That person will work to create and retain jobs for businesses in the city as well as assisting them. The mayor said it will differ from the Atlanta Development Authority because the new position “gives speed to decision-making, speed to input and speed to what problems are out there.” (ajc.com)
My recommendation to the mayor is to first study and learn what he perceives the problems are regarding economic development before costing the taxpayers needless expenses. And possibly the concerns he has are issues related to the planning, zoning and permitting process. However, since he nor his the chief operating officer have any municipal government experience, how can he define the problem issues without knowledge.
Several years ago, Tony Musto ran for the Hallandale Beach Florida City Commission. Two of his major campaign themes were controlling the budget and economic development. Typical generic issues used by not previously elected candidates. These issues sound good to the public and candidates are rarely confronted to be accountable for their comments. When he was elected, at the first meeting where he was sworn into office one of his first comments was the city should think out-of-the-box in regards to economic development. As city manager, I wondered what he knew about the city’s efforts in regard to economic development because he had never discussed the matter with me, nor to the best of my knowledge with anyone else employed by the city. Furthermore, he was an attorney and although he held a position as an Assistant County Attorney for a short period, I any knowledge he had of government was simply from a legal standpoint. He most certainly did not have any management experience.
It seems that many times, new commissioners and elected officials speak before they have knowledge and background considering any given subject. Such was the case with Mr. Musto. The city in the previous two years before his election, had increased its assessable taxable value the equivalent to the previous eleven years. Although economic development enhanced the city’s higher assessable value, by no means was it the catalyst for the resurgence of development.
The city was 95 percent built-out with relatively few recently constructed buildings. Planning and zoning restrictions virtually eliminated any incentive to redevelop or to renew the municipality. Economic development and redevelopment only occurred after numerous changes were made to the comprehensive plan and zoning codes. The plan provided incentives, including in some cases monetary to redevelop or improve outdated property.
Atlanta is facing a similar dilemma in regard to economic development. An extremely old housing base, and dilapidated buildings in the lower income neighborhoods. This also includes the coommercial structures. The code needs to be reevaluated and updated to provide incentives for redevelopment and renewal. No economic development czar as Atlanta Mayor Reed refers to the position, will make a positive impact without first defining the problems preventing development. I realize, the mayor is beating the political drum because he has certainly no knowledge of the problem. Too bad for the taxpayers of Atlanta.
PS: Within four months of my retirement from the city of Hallandale Beach, they inserted an Economic Development Coordinator into the 2002/2003 budget. I had rejected Commissioner Musto’s suggestion for the previous year’s budget. During the period the individual was employed, no new economic development entered the city as a result of his efforts. I have confirmed this with several parties. But the taxpayers paid nearly a quarter million dollars over the next few years to fund the position and related expenses. The position was eventually eliminated from the budget for the lack of progress. How much needless money will of the taxpayers of Atlanta dole out as a result of the mayor’s ignorance?
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