Social justice and “good” jobs are equally important. Investment in community development enables economic development by providing the skilled workforce, social safety nets and quality-of-life infrastructure needed for attracting and ensuring the success of new businesses. There was much concern at the listening sessions about people in our community who might be a burden on our city because they lack the skills, training and support to contribute meaningfully. If we include “investing in people” as a part of our economic development strategy, people become a valuable resource instead of a perceived burden.

An economic development plan must create good jobs. Good jobs pay at least a living wage indexed to inflation. They also offer a career path and must be coupled with support mechanisms and training to allow for advancement. If we focus on creating “any” jobs instead of “good” jobs, we will hamper our economic development efforts and generate more crime, additional burdens on schools, housing, and social services, and a larger economically disadvantaged population. The key in creating jobs should be on quality.

Growth for growth’s sake gets us nowhere. Unbridled economic development simply to raise the tax base and to “grow” the economy can have hidden costs that make it undesirable, increasing population without providing accompanying public and social infrastructure. Who is going to pay for new roads, new schools, public works, public safety, and health and social services when the new jobs are marginal ones? Who will pay for the long-term protection of the natural resources—especially water, and farmland? The issue is not economic development vs. economic stagnation, doing something or doing nothing. We have to ask the tough questions about what kind of economic development do we want and be willing to set high standards.

Progressive Dane is an active participant in this discussion. Our members have been attending Economic Development Commission meetings (and a PD member serves on this Commission) and we have been submitting comments and ideas. Anyone who is inclined to believe the rhetoric bandied about by the Wisconsin State Journal and some others about Progressive Dane being anti-business and not interested in supporting quality economic development efforts should read and listen to our comments and talk to us in person, instead of believing what they read in the cartoons.

See Input for City

Progressive Dane members
Mary Anglim
Jim Kellerman
Rick Richards