RSS Feed
Add a Comment
Stay Connected
What's Hot
American Apparel ad featuring California farmer sparks controversy
Silicon Valley venture capital firm subject of gender discrimination lawsuit
Solano County won’t review 300 more autopsies
After 2 years, SF's solar projects still on hold
Warriors confirm move to SF
San Jose to Twitter: We're Right Here, Sans Payroll Tax!
Like that dude who suddenly makes himself the third wheel when a relationship looks like it's on the rocks, San Jose is now creepin' in on San Francisco's protracted — and increasingly painful — dance to keep Twitter in the city.
On the day that the San Francisco supervisors are set to vote on a controversial payroll tax exemption sought by Twitter as a condition of staying within city limits, the South Bay city offered the company the municipal equivalent of a shoulder to cry on.
To wit: "Today, while San Francisco Supervisors are looking at options for payroll tax breaks that would keep tech companies like Twitter from leaving the city, the City of San José’s doors are open, with no payroll tax, free parking, and easy permitting processes that cater to the business community," the San Jose government said in a press release issued Tuesday.
And then, of course, come the whispers:
"Meanwhile," the release continued. "San Francisco is one of the only cities in the nation that has a payroll tax. Additionally, San Francisco’s Tax Code counts stock options as part of payroll, concerning many newer companies considering a public offering. This is a hit for employers and employees."
Companies who move into a 12-square-mile enterprise zone in San Jose also qualify for a "wide range of special tax credits, exemptions and deductions that can significantly reduce business-operating costs," the press release noted. (Much of downtown San Francisco, including the locations of Twitter's current and prospective headquarters, is also covered by an enterprise zone.)
Related
Gerry Shih covers government and politics for The Bay Citizen. He previously worked at The New York Times. He was born in Palo Alto, caused mischief at Henry Haight Elementary in Alameda and finagled an ...
View Profile
About Us
Reporting Staff
Stay In Touch
- About Us
- Events
- Support Us
- Careers
- Corrections
- Letters to the Editor
- Privacy Policy By accessing this site, you accept our Terms of Use. Please read them.
© The Bay Citizen, 2012
- Katharine MieszkowskiEnvironment and Health
- Reyhan HarmanciArts, culture, nonprofits
- Zusha ElinsonTransportation
- Shoshana WalterCrime and punishment
- Jennifer GollanRegional government
- Aaron GlantzHousing, real estate, development
- Trey BundyEducation
- Matt SmithSF politics and government
- Andy WrightNews and engagement specialist
- Marie McIntoshPublic engagement manager
- Adithya SambamurthyVideo and Photography
h. brown
Let em go,
Cultivate schools that last, like the 90 year old Academy of Art University that Calvin Welch and Brad Paul want to instead saddle with an 18 million dollar tax. When I asked why he was trying to get a payoff from the AAU while letting Warren Hellman's Art Institute of California slide, Welch told me: "AAU isn't a real school.". Hmmm, 90 successful years and not real?
So, the idea is to strong-arm the home grown sustainable businesses and give your youngest daughter to the stranger in town?
Y'all read the reports on how many people actually use Twitter? About a tenth of what they claim? Their IPO prospects are not so bright now.
Giants down 3-1 and home plate umpire is a crook!
h.
Hope Johnson
"Companies who move into a 12-square-mile enterprise zone in San Jose also qualify for a "wide range of special tax credits, exemptions and deductions that can significantly reduce business-operating costs," the press release noted."
Keep in mind the reason San Jose is recruiting for this 12 mile area is because some years ago San Jose gave tax breaks to "growing" companies in an attempt to create a tech business area. After the city of San Jose paid to build the infrastructure and then realized they would have to ask those companies to help pay for the sewers, streets, police, and other infrastructure those very companies were dependent on to do business, those companies just moved to whichever new area would give them the next tax break. Get a clue, San Jose's empty buildings in its enterprise area should not be seen as a threat but as an example of how these tax breaks are bad policy.