Swalwell: California Has a Lot of Economic Problems, Dodges on if Cost Problems Are Dems' Fault
In a recent CNN interview, California gubernatorial candidate Rep. Eric Swalwell addressed the state's critical economic challenges, including high costs of living, unemployment, and a lack of business creation, while refraining from assigning blame to Democrats for these issues. He emphasized his plans to revitalize California's economy by proposing tax holidays for new small businesses, declaring a housing emergency to expedite housing project approvals, and implementing reforms to environmental regulations. Swalwell aims to position California as a business-friendly environment, particularly for small businesses and the film industry, while also tackling homelessness and energy policy. Moving forward, he seeks to digitize state services and foster public-private partnerships to address these pressing concerns.
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California currently faces the highest housing costs and gas prices in the nation, coupled with significant unemployment and low rates of new small business starts, making the economic situation particularly challenging.
Swalwell plans to grant a three-year tax holiday for new small businesses to stimulate job creation and support existing businesses in increasing their revenues.
He intends to declare a statewide housing emergency on his first day in office, which would require state agencies to decide on pending housing projects within 90 days, while also proposing to reform the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) regulations.
To enhance the film industry, Swalwell advocates for an above-the-line credit for film and television productions, aiming to make California a more attractive location for filming.
Swalwell's broader energy policy aims for an all-of-the-above approach to keep oil refineries in California, while he also emphasizes the need to address homelessness through expanded rights for family members and public-private partnerships.
He has highlighted the importance of digitizing the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) to improve efficiency and service delivery.