☆ Business expert hopeful for Mahan’s mayoral tenure, wants more open plans

Asian Industry B2B president Marc Ang turns his gaze from SoCal politics to analyze new SJ Mayor Mahan’s Business Journal interview. Impressed with Mahan’s campaigning approach and straightforward acknowledgement of the City’s weaknesses, Ang requests the mayor give more details about his affordable housing/homelessness solutions. An Opp Now exclusive.

Overall, I’m very impressed with Mahan’s interview; I like a lot of his points.

Something that strikes me is the way he campaigned, hosting 350+ backyard parties. For years, I’ve been saying that you have to “do your time” as a politician and hear concerns from people you will represent. And you can’t do that just hanging around political circles.

Also, I appreciate how forthcoming Mahan is about the local Chamber of Commerce. SJ’s a big city. And these big cities’ Chamber of Commerces often become crony operatives of big corporate interests at the end of the day—or a bunch of people that have no business sense running around like low-level professionals.

I’m a bit more hesitant on the affordable housing and homelessness pieces. Ultimately, I’d like more clarity on what Mahan and his team’s actions will be to solve these problems.

For instance, regarding the former: Will the mayor search for complex, nuanced solutions (that, by nature, may barely dent the issue as a whole) rather than trying to check off the “affordable housing” box? And I would’ve liked to know, who are the specific partners that you trust to get the job done and well? Historically, that’s been a question big cities have to face. Additionally, I’ve seen similar organizational attempts to create affordable housing become bloated and devolve into arms of the Democratic Party. So I hope Mahan is considering these potential issues on the community side.

Then, regarding the latter crisis of homelessness, I question the wisdom of creating task forces. Unless he really vets the people he selects (ensuring they’re action oriented, not just seeking to collect a title), Mahan would just be adding more to the government bureaucracy. I’d like more specificity from him (then I can be more confident): Who will be appointed to these forces?

At the end of the day, Mahan’s interview is an interview. Politicians are always talking a good game at the beginning, coming in with the best of intentions. What matters is this: What are the results in the end?

I like what I’ve heard from Mahan thus far, though there are areas about which I want more detail. I’ll be watching to see how this plays out: to see him in action as mayor, effect the changes he has planned, and then we can talk. SJ’s a big city; the verdict’s still out.

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Photo by Adrien Olichon