Over half of my working career has been spent in the small business world, either working for a family-owned small business or owning a small business myself.
I have a special affinity for people who have the courage and the work ethic to start and run their own business. And I will be a staunch ally of these people.
How staunch? How about this – while I am mayor, every person or entity that is seeking to open a new small business in San Francisco will be able to easily acquire a special cell phone number that will ring on a special cell phone that I will maintain for this purpose. If these small business people are facing problems or obstacles that are not of their own doing, but are caused by the San Francisco bureaucracy, they can give me a call and I will cheerfully come to their aid.
There will obviously need to be a few details and some fine print surrounding this arrangement. Stay tuned for that. But in general, yes – if you are starting up a new small business here in San Francisco, and you need to talk to the mayor, you will be able to talk to the mayor. Directly to the mayor.
In addition, my support will extend to existing small businesses as well. If you’re a business person who is having problems that are generated by the city, I will have a team in place to come to your aid. Promptly. Like the next day after you contact them.
And if they can’t fix the problem, then they will contact me, and then I will fix the problem.
Unless the problem is just not fixable. Or, if the problem is actually your fault. 😉 Although, even then, I’ll try to be as helpful as I can.
Bottom line – when I’m the mayor small businesses will be supported in a way that they have never been supported before. And our city will be the better for it.