Sales taxes are the #1 source of SB's revenue. SB's main commercial areas have thrift shops and vacanies. A partnership must be created between business, centers for business innovation at Cal State, SB and SB's Redevelopment Agency to create a winning revitalization strategy.
The 40th Street and Highland Avenue shopping districts are both in or near the 7th Ward, and both are visibly declining in attractiveness and shopping selection. This retail stagnation is indicative of retail underperformance across SB, e.g. Hospitality Lane and the Inland Center Mall have vacancies and few attractive retailers. In California, sales taxes are the key source of city finances -- without a solid retail base, more service cut-backs and/or budget deficits should be anticipated. SB has nothing to compete with Citrus Plaza or Victoria Gardens and, if nothing is done, fewer shoppers will frequent SB's shopping area. And it's not just the economy -- does anyone see vacancies or thrift stores at Citrus Plaza or Victoria Gardens? Because a solid retail base is a necessity, I will bring the retail businesses together in partnership with innovative centers for business development at Cal State, SB and SB's Redevelopment's Center for Business Development to develop a winner strategy to improve SB's retail opportunities and create a solid fiscal base for SB.
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