BY DAN CAMPANA
One day before the final meeting of Aurora's mayoral candidates, Alderman Richard Irvin has released his economic plan.
For Immediate Release
March 17, 2009
Mayoral Candidate Richard Irvin Unveils Economic Plan
Alderman-at-Large Richard Irvin - "My Economic Blueprint for Aurora will create jobs, cut taxes, eliminate wasteful spending, and grow our economy."
(Aurora, IL) - Today Alderman-at-Large Richard Irvin, candidate for Mayor of Aurora, unveiled his economic plan. "My Economic Blueprint for Aurora will create jobs, cut taxes, eliminate wasteful spending, and grow our economy," said Irvin. "Unlike the current Mayor I don't believe that all businesses fail because they deserve to. As a small business owner myself, I understand that often high taxes, overly-burdensome bureaucratic red tape, and other government obstacles can prevent good businesses from succeeding."
"Creating new, good-paying jobs should be the over-arching goal of any long term economic plan," continued Irvin. "To create new jobs for Aurora we need to attract existing businesses to move to Aurora, assist businesses currently in Aurora to help them succeed and we need to encourage new businesses to choose Aurora as their home."
"My Economic Blueprint for Aurora focuses on cutting taxes to create a pro-growth climate; re-invigorating downtown Aurora; emphasizing local preference in city contracting; and recognizing the importance of a high-quality education in workforce development," said Irvin.
"By cutting taxes we can create a pro-growth climate that will work to create new jobs and increase revenues to the city by expanding our tax base," continued Irvin. "I will repeal the Weisner tax increases - it is simply unfair that Aurorans are asked to pay nearly three times as much in property taxes as our neighbors in Naperville."
"Downtown revitalization is a key component of my Economic Blueprint," said Irvin. "We must do everything we can to make downtown Aurora an attractive place to open a business. I will institute a temporary sales tax moratorium for downtown businesses to jump-start our efforts to revitalize downtown Aurora."
"Aurora tax dollars should be used to create more jobs for Aurorans, which is why I will create a local preference program in city contracting," continued Irvin. "Whenever possible we should work to ensure that city contracts are given to Aurora employers and should incentivize the use of local sub-contractors."
"Finally, no plan for Aurora's economic future would be complete without a fundamental commitment to education. High-quality education is the key to workforce development," said Irvin. "I will explore magnet and charter schools, work with our local community colleges and universities to pair employers with qualified employees, and aggressively lobby the state to ensure that their share of education funding is paid in full and on time."
"I believe in Aurora and its potential because I believe in the people of Aurora. Now is the time for our city government to stop being an obstacle to success and to start being a partner in securing Aurora's future. When I am Mayor, I will work day and night to grow our economy and create jobs," concluded Irvin.
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Irvin for Aurora, P.O. Box 4433, Aurora, IL 60507. For more information on Alderman Irvin visit our website at www.oneaurora.com
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A BLUEPRINT FOR ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT IN AURORA
We need to attract existing businesses to move to Aurora, assist businesses currently in Aurora to help them succeed and we need to encourage new businesses to choose Aurora as their home.
To accomplish this we must focus on cutting taxes to create a pro-growth climate; re-invigorating downtown Aurora; emphasizing local preference in city contracting; and recognizing the importance of a high-quality education in workforce development.
CUTTING TAXES TO CREATE A PRO-GROWTH CLIMATE
• Repeal the Weisner tax increases - Aurorans pay almost three times as much in property taxes as our neighbors in Naperville.
• Institute a pilot sales tax moratorium in downtown Aurora - if the program is successful in helping to keep existing business and attract new business the program could be expanded to other parts of the city.
• Aggressively look for ways to decrease the tax burden on individuals, families and businesses in Aurora - cutting taxes creates jobs, which in turns expands our tax base and leads to increased revenue for the city.
• Cut wasteful and inefficient spending in city government - rather than looking to over-stretched taxpayers to foot the bill for spending, the city government should instead work to eliminate wasteful and inefficient spending.
REINVIGORATING DOWNTOWN AURORA
• Institute a pilot sales tax moratorium in downtown Aurora.
• Create a comprehensive parking plan - a comprehensive plan for parking will help to encourage foot traffic.
• Streamline the permit process for building and renovation.
• Full utilization of Community Block Grants - $4 million in CBGs remain unused.
• Create a volunteer Cultural Commission to help generate ideas on downtown revitalization.
LOCAL PREFERENCE - INVESTING AURORA DOLLARS HERE AT HOME
• A local preference program should be instituted to insure that preference in city contracting is giving to Aurora businesses.
• Provide incentives for out of town contractors to use local sub-contractors.
• Work with the local Chambers of Commerce to actively identify and recruit local businesses to bid on city contracts.
HIGH QUALITY EDUCATION - THE KEY TO WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT
• High quality education will insure that Aurora has a workforce that can compete with any other in the 21st century global economy.
• Public schools must be improved and the state should be aggressively lobbied to pay its share in educational costs in full and on time.
• We should explore magnet and charter schools.
• We should work closely with our local community colleges and local universities on workforce development issues.
Richard Irvin's economic plan makes sense! In a time where it seems all politicians want to do is raise taxes and fees on businesses and regular people (which only increases the appetite for government to spend our money, not do anything of value), it is refreshing to have a candidate for Aurora Mayor cut taxes, attract businesses to relocate, and spur activity in areas of the city that have been desolate for far too long.
Couple that with the pay to play cronyism of the Weisner administration, and you know what? I'm willing to give Richard Irvin a chance and see what he can do in 4 years. Tom Weisner has had 4 years: Taxes have gone up, our police officers aren't impressed, and the number of vacant spaces downtown is sad.
I believe Irvin can help steer the city out of its problems. As voters, can we all agree to give him a chance?
He's speech sounds like so many others. I am willing to bet my house that if he gets elected the so called-- local preference program in city contracting-- will be people he knows.
His catch phrases have been used so many times by so many politicians, that they are getting painful to hear over and over again.
He said he would like to repeal some of Wiesner's tax increases?
WHY ????? Aurora can use the money. We have gotten used to paying the tax already. A better thought would be to not increase the taxes.
As for downtown revitalization--- Forget it--- Downtown is basically dead!! The #1 reason is NO PARKING. If anyone wants downtown to live again let it breathe-- Aurora needs to knock down about 1/2 of the buildings and bring in parking and new structured stores. The Mom and Pop stores don't work anymore, because there is so much vehicle traffic and not foot traffic. It's not the 1940's anymore Mr. Irvin.
Magnet and charter schools? Whos going to pay for them ? I would really like to see his plans on this one. Who's going to build them, Or are does he plan to convert another old building into a school? We have enough so called Churches doing that now,
it's an eyesore.
I have had enough of Mr. Wiesner, he has cost my family a great deal hardship and pain during his term
Mr.Irvin, Your plan makes no sense at all. You want to cut this and build that! Here's a catch phrase - SHOW ME THE MONEY!!!!
You Sir, I also will not vote for.