Advocates for guaranteed basic income gathered at the WBUR CitySpace on Wednesday for a United Way-sponsored event to discuss pilot programs across the Greater Boston area, the challenges in implementing them, and what the future holds.
Economy
Political Notebook: Worcester envy turns to relief | Another Mariano missile | Doughty off to Argentina
Fifteen years ago, Worcester looked at Boston with jealousy as cranes dotted the capital city’s skyline, adding new office towers. But now, with more and more people working from home post-pandemic, jealousy has given way to relief.
Amid talk of hiking commercial tax rates, should Boston also be tightening its belt?
Boston is seeking state approval to raise tax rates on commercial property, the assessed values of which are expected to drop. Some say the city should also rein in spending if it’s going to ask more of property owners who already struggling with high vacancy rates.
Boston’s effort to head off an ‘urban doom loop,’ explained
Boston has seen office vacancy rates spike since the pandemic. That is leading to lowered assessed values for buildings. With fears that lowered tax payments could create budget woes, Mayor Michelle Wu wants authority to raise commercial tax rates as a potential fix.
On Everett soccer stadium, Boston says it wants a conversation
As state lawmakers weigh whether to fast track an Everett soccer stadium on the Mystic River, Boston officials across the waterway are casting a wary eye, raising concerns about congestion that the venue, with little to no parking, could bring to an area just off I-93 on the northern edge of the city.
Surprise — not enough skilled workers to fill AI jobs
According to the IBM Global AI Adoption Index 2023, conducted by Morning Consult on behalf of IBM, the top barrier hindering successful AI adoption at enterprises exploring or deploying the technology is “limited AI skills and expertise.”
$15 minimum wage in hand, advocates look to $20
As the “Fight for $15” crossed the country over the last decade, Massachusetts joined states like Oregon, New York, California, and Connecticut in reaching or exceeding a $15 hourly wage. Areas with higher costs of living have gone even further, like New York City’s $16 hourly wage and Washington, DC, with the country’s highest minimum hourly wage at $17.
Healey agenda aims to address 242,000 unfilled jobs
The agenda identifies four key industries where the workforce is particularly lacking: manufacturing, healthcare, life sciences, and clean energy.
Nonprofit led by Californian behind tipped wage ballot question
One Fair Wage is organizing in more than a dozen states to eliminate what it calls the sub-minimum wage. The organization’s website says its members include nearly 300,000 restaurant and service workers and nearly 3,000 restaurant employers.
Afterschool programs can help clean energy sector meet workforce needs
Afterschool programs can help address equity and the climate change crisis by helping young people from marginalized communities get access to training for clean tech jobs,