Tyler Konkal: Public Policy and the Public Sector
After my first three weeks at the San Jose Office of Economic Development (SJOED), I’ve realized how crucial a well-rounded understanding of public policy is to streamlining business operations – especially in the real estate industry. From the entitlement process to construction permitting, the real estate development process requires a fair amount of transparency when it comes to reporting to municipalities. Various phone calls concerning this very topic occur around me as I sit at my desk in city hall. Developers call our office to ask for clarity on certain issues or for an update on a lengthy approval process. I’ve learned from these interactions that a clear understanding of public policy is extremely beneficial.
Public policy benefits, not only the employees at SJOED, as it sets guidelines for how we can operate as a government agency, but also business people in the greater San Jose area. If knowledgeable about certain files, codes, and requirements, businesses can anticipate how long their timeline might be and proactively seek out SJOED’s help ahead of time to avoid any unnecessary delays. Additionally, there are certain public policies that the private sector can utilize to benefit beyond shortening timelines.
For example, a major portion of what I’ve been researching are opportunity zones – census tracts designated by the federal government that incentivize investment. Apart from what I already know, I’d like to see to what extent these public policy measures actually incentivize positive economic growth. Moreover, is the federal government in tune with its constituents? Is there opportunity for municipalities to have a closer role in developing federal policy?
Ultimately, my reflections touch upon one point – I’m learning and thinking a great deal more than ever about how local government supports its community. Each day, my colleagues make a conscious effort to instill positive change in San Jose. This is definitely a new concept for me, as I’ve mostly worked corporate jobs in the past. I hope to learn more about what role public policy plays in real estate development while continuing my experiences in the public sector this year.