San Diego port commissioner Bob Nelson appeared at the Economic Development and Strategies Committee's first meeting on Monday to offer ideas on boosting the region's foundering economy. Nelson also took the opportunity to shoot down any proposals to build a new stadium near the Tenth Avenue Terminal, like the one described in a January 22 UT-San Diego editorial.
Nelson, a former representative on the U.S. Competitiveness Policy Council under president Bill Clinton and a member of the City of San Diego Revenue Review and Economic Competitiveness Commission, provided ideas for workforce development and ways to expand global trade at the port.
Nelson believes the city should use Community Development Block Grants to make high-speed internet available to children to lower-income families and for internship for high-school students to help pay for that and internship programs.
Most importantly, said Nelson, the city should scrap any future proposals to build a new stadium on or near the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.
"Port of San Diego's marine terminals offer tremendous opportunities for growth in employment and economic contribution to our community," Nelson told the committee.
"The Port District opposes incompatible land uses, including a stadium or sports arena that would limit the growth of maritime shipping. This industry helps drive a vibrant high-paying standard of living for workers and financial incentives for their employees; incompatible land uses, such as the stadium, undermine more than 50 years of public investment.
"We need to encourage more business investment in plant equipment and employment and threats of disruption at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal erode confidence among the local maritime business community and will degrade...our region's competitiveness.
"We hope you will join the port in opposing any development that will threaten marine industrial operations or otherwise impinge on the port's role in efficient and environmentally responsible regional and national global goods movement."
Artist's rendering of proposed stadium: UT-San Diego January 22
San Diego port commissioner Bob Nelson appeared at the Economic Development and Strategies Committee's first meeting on Monday to offer ideas on boosting the region's foundering economy. Nelson also took the opportunity to shoot down any proposals to build a new stadium near the Tenth Avenue Terminal, like the one described in a January 22 UT-San Diego editorial.
Nelson, a former representative on the U.S. Competitiveness Policy Council under president Bill Clinton and a member of the City of San Diego Revenue Review and Economic Competitiveness Commission, provided ideas for workforce development and ways to expand global trade at the port.
Nelson believes the city should use Community Development Block Grants to make high-speed internet available to children to lower-income families and for internship for high-school students to help pay for that and internship programs.
Most importantly, said Nelson, the city should scrap any future proposals to build a new stadium on or near the Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal.
"Port of San Diego's marine terminals offer tremendous opportunities for growth in employment and economic contribution to our community," Nelson told the committee.
"The Port District opposes incompatible land uses, including a stadium or sports arena that would limit the growth of maritime shipping. This industry helps drive a vibrant high-paying standard of living for workers and financial incentives for their employees; incompatible land uses, such as the stadium, undermine more than 50 years of public investment.
"We need to encourage more business investment in plant equipment and employment and threats of disruption at Tenth Avenue Marine Terminal erode confidence among the local maritime business community and will degrade...our region's competitiveness.
"We hope you will join the port in opposing any development that will threaten marine industrial operations or otherwise impinge on the port's role in efficient and environmentally responsible regional and national global goods movement."
Artist's rendering of proposed stadium: UT-San Diego January 22