How to Become a Neighborhood Corporate Watchdog

PTVPA’s “Know Your Republic” series is all about empowering citizens by providing tools and information to help have hard conversations about difficult topics. You don’t need to be an activist or have leadership skills to create change. You just need to listen, learn and care about your community.

And our local communities are in the thick of it right now! Each year, as much as $90 billion is given to corporations by state and local governments in the form of economic development subsidies, with little to no public oversight. We are also seeing a meteoric rise in the demand for local data centers, corporate warehouses and even in some cases, ICE facilities. It is imperative that we, as local community members, understand how corporate interests impact our way of life. Are they offering good-paying, permanent jobs? Do they have a history of treating their workers well? Does their presence shift the tax burden onto small businesses and working families or contribute to cutbacks in public services and resources?

It sounds like a lot to take on but have no fear! Our best watchdog is the community itself and we’re here to give you the tools you need to help play a role in the vital efforts necessary to create a fair and people-centered economy where you live.

Our guest, Arlene Martínez is the Deputy Executive Director of Good Jobs First, a national policy resource center that promotes corporate and government accountability in economic development. Since 1998, it has fought for reforms to increase transparency around the use of public money used in the name of economic development, and has revealed the numerous ways corporations – many of whom receive subsidies – violate civil and criminal regulations and laws.