The San Diego wildfires have destroyed homes, some businesses, and a number of lives. But the regional chamber of commerce remains confident the region will rebound quickly. KPBS Reporter Kenny Goldberg has more.
The entire world saw the frightening pictures of the wildfires. Everyone who lives here knows the reality was even worse. Scott Alevy is vice president of public policy with the San Diego Regional Chamber of Commerce. Alevy prefers to look on the bright side.
Alevy: San Diego is still open for business. We basically had a slowdown, shutdown, for three or four days. Things are getting quickly, for most of us, back to normal.
To be sure, damages from the fires are significant. But despite the losses, economists predict the wildfires will actually be a stimulus for the County. Alevy lists a number of likely beneficiaries.
Alevy: I think you will find a bump economically in the retail, soft goods, construction, certainly home purchasing. So you could see actually a bump in new and resale home sales.
That industry could use a boost. September home sales in the County were at their lowest levels since January 2006. With tourism, biotech, and a host of other industries, San Diego's economy is diversified. Scott Alevy says the wildfires were horrendous…but we're still standing.
Alevy: I really don't see a long term, negative impact at all on our community. What it does, though, is draw people together, and that's a positive.
Kenny Goldberg, KPBS News.
