Jobs & Economy

Mayor Pat Morris' 10-point plan to promote
investment and create jobs in San Bernardino
Paid for by the Committee to Re-Elect Mayor Pat Morris 2009 - ID #1278701
Our economic development strategy must be focused on putting people back to work, on creating jobs. Every
investment we make as a city should be measured by its “job multiplier effect” – how many jobs it creates in
our city. To deploy this strategy, I have outlined the 10-point local stimulus plan I have been leading for the
last several years. We must continue to follow this strategy to successfully rebuild our local economy, and to
make it robust and sustainable for decades to come.

(1) Safe, Clean & Business Friendly City. First and foremost, we must continue driving down crime in
San Bernardino to make our city safe and attractive for existing businesses and to promote private
investment in San Bernardino. This has been my number one priority and it will remain my number one
priority until crime, blight and graffiti are no longer a concern. While we have driven down crime by
double-digits over the past four years, and 0ur efforts have been recognized by the White House, this is not
enough. I will continue to aggressively fight violent crime and redouble our efforts on quality-of-life crimes,
like graffiti and blight, until our city’s image and reputation have been transformed. When I am finished after
another four years, I want everyone to know San Bernardino as a safe, clean, and business-friendly city.

(2) Build Infrastructure. Economic development dollars must be spent, whenever possible, on
infrastructure. Over the past four years I have aggressively pursued infrastructure projects for our city. As a
result, we will likely see over $1½ billion in infrastructure completed in San Bernardino during the next 3 to
5 years. Investment in strategic infrastructure provides the greatest attraction for private investment. Most
importantly, its a double benefit in terms of a job creation. First, the infrastructure projects themselves
create high-paying jobs. Second, the new infrastructure creates a better and lower-cost business
environment that attracts and promotes private investment, which results in additional job creation. We
successfully followed this strategy recently by obtaining approval from regional, state, and federal officials to
direct all of our region’s $128 million in federal stimulus transportation dollars to complete the 215 Freeway
reconstruction. Our city now has the largest federal stimulus public works project in California.

(3) Leverage Our Locational and Transportation Advantages. We must continue to create
infrastructure that capitalizes on our natural competitive advantage of being a transportation cross-roads for
Southern California. San Bernardino is located at a critical intersection of Southern California freeways, with
the 215, 210, and 10 freeways encircling the city. San Bernardino is also at the beginning and terminus of the
busiest intercity passenger rail service in Southern California – the San Bernardino-Los Angeles Metrolink
line. And we are creating a top-notch airport facility for passenger, corporate, and cargo service at San
Bernardino International Airport.
In 2007, we opened the 210 Freeway connection into San Bernardino. Now we must finish rebuilding
the 215 Freeway to make it accessible and inclusive for all of San Bernardino. The 215 Freeway project
will also beautify this gateway to our city, promoting private investment and opportunity along the
entire freeway corridor, thereby bringing in new jobs.

We must bring our Metrolink passenger rail line into downtown San Bernardino at a new transit center
at Rialto and E Streets. This will make downtown San Bernardino one of the only downtowns in all of
Southern California that is directly connected to intercity passenger rail service – a huge incentive and
attraction for private investment that brings new jobs.

We must complete the sbX rapid transit service that will connect three critical economic engines for
our city, Cal State San Bernardino, downtown San Bernardino, and Hospitality Lane. This first-of-kind
transportation system will greatly promote residents and visitors spending their income in San
Bernardino because access to critical business and retail areas will be greatly enhanced. Also, as has
been shown in other cities with similar transit systems, construction of the sbX system will attract
significant new development all along this transit corridor that runs thorugh our entire city.

We must continue investing in the San Bernardino International Airport (SBIA). The airport has
already paid great dividends, and it is poised to deliver critical economic stimulus for many years to
come. Million Air, a national fixed base operator, will be opening a $23 million corporate jet facility by
the end of the year, with three tenants already pre-signed. Several heavy aircraft maintenance
companies are operating at SBIA, employing hundreds of skilled laborers. The airport passenger
facilities have been completely renovated, including a new passenger terminal, gates, fuel farm, tower
and runway, in preparation for upcoming commercial airline service. Launching the airport will over
time attract significant new private investment to our city and thousands new jobs.
(4) Focus on Airport and Logistics Areas. The Inland Valley Development Agency (IVDA) must
continue stimulating the tremendous job-creation opportunities in and around the San Bernardino
International Airport and other logistics centers in our city. Through the IVDA, and its partnerships with
Hillwood, Stater Bros, and others, we have created well-over 3,500 new jobs in these job centers. We must
continue to focus on these strategic areas because of their great potential for creating good-paying jobs.
Resources from IVDA cannot be diverted or wasted on non-job producing activities.

(5) Downtown Revitalization. If we want a sustainable economy for the 21st century, we must have a
vibrant downtown that is attractive as a business, government, entertainment, and urban residential center
for the Inland Empire. There is tremendous growth potential for downtown because of its strategic
transportation location, we must invest and capitalize on this asset.
First on the list for downtown must be re-opening the movie theater complex as quickly as possible.
The movie theater must be upgraded to a first class facility that attracts patrons from throughout the
region. Maya Cinemas is proposing an entire renovation with all digital theaters, an IMAX cinema, and
shops and restaurants in front of the theater. We cannot and will not accept a second-rate movie
theater in San Bernardino. Our residents deserve the best, and the city must deliver.

Progress is also underway on implementating the Downtown Vision and Action Plan. Design and
engineering underway on the new 12-story 36 courtroom state courthouse at 3rd and Arrowhead,
vibrant new concerts and arts are occurring at the California Theater, and the city and county are
moving aggressively on discussions for a potential new downtown civic center.
(6) Work with San Manuel Tribe on Investment Opportunities in San Bernardino. We must
continue working closely with the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians on business investment opportunities
in San Bernardino. During my administration, we have fostered a cooperative inter-governmental relationship
with the San Manuel Tribe. One of the results of that relationship was the Tribe’s purchase of the old JC
Penny building at the Carousel Mall. A primary motivation for the Tribe’s investment is their understanding
and belief of the development opportunities in downtown San Bernardino, and their desire to be a part of
facilitating that renaissance through strategic business investments.

(7) Support Expansion of Hospitality Industry. We must continue to support and facilitate expansion
of our city’s successful hospitality industry. Over the past three years, two new hotels have opened (Fairfield
and Residence Inn), a new Hilton Garden Inn is just about to open, and two other Hilton hotels are in the
pre-development phase. Despite the nationwide recession, our hospitality industry remains a very bright
spot, and it has a multiplier effect of supporting new restaurants and shops, and bringing critical transient
occupancy tax to the city. Our successful hospitality sector also provides a key foundation that allows the city
to pursue and attract major economic development opportunities that bring thousands of visitors to San
Bernardino like our regional soccer complex and Western Regional Little League.

(8) Revitalize Historic Commerical Areas to Support Small Business. We must continue creating
strategic public-private partnerships to revitalize historic business areas and support small businesses in San
Bernardino.
The San Bernardino Enterprise Zone was officially launched this spring, encompassing thousands of
businesses in San Bernardino, with the capability injecting $3.6 million into our local economy over the
next five years. We must aggressively promote and assist our local businesses in taking advantage of
this very important program that incentivizes them to retain and create jobs in San Bernardino.

The first Business Improvement District (BID) west of Los Angeles was recently created at the San
Bernardino Auto Center, in an attempt to revitalize and reposition that critical economic asset. We
must expand this initial success and create other BIDs in strategic locations along Highland Avenue,
Mt. Vernon, University Parkway, 40th Street, and other historic commercial areas.
(9) Resort Development at Arrowhead Springs. We must work with Campus Crusade to successfully
redevelop the historic Arrowhead Springs Hotel property into a resort area with high-end housing and
boutique commercial areas. Before the nationwide recession hit, there was significant interest in this property.
When the economy rebounds, developers will again be looking, and we must be ready to ensure the
development creates the upscale resort and residential community our city deserves. We only get one chance
to get this right.

(10) Keep State Politicians from Stealing Our Money. Finally, we must do everything to fight and
prevent Sacramento politicians from taking our precious economic development funds to balance their state
budget problems. It’s illegal and just the opposite of what’s needed. Sacramento should be partnering with
local governments to leverage our economic development investments, not stealing the money so they can
avoid making tough budget decisions.