March 10, 2025 • 40 mins
There is a new alliance (The Mass Opportunity Alliance) of business leaders in Massachusetts that have formed to make Massachusetts a more competitive state nationally. Christopher Anderson, the President of the MOA, joined us to explain how business organizations from many sectors can work together to improve our economy in MA and help stop the concerning trend of outmigration in the Commonwealth.
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Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ Conston's new radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All Right, moving into the nine o'clock hour here on
a Monday night. It is March tenth. Beautiful day in
New England today, certainly in my part of New England,
and I hope when you're part of New England as well,
and we are going to talk about making it a
beautiful day for the Massachusetts economy. There's a new alliance group,
(00:27):
a new group called the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance of involving
frankly business leaders here in Massachusetts and with us as
the president of the MOA, the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, Chris Anderson.
Chris Anderson, welcome back to night said, how are you sir?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hey Dan, thanks so much for having me. Appreciate being
back with you, and just the correct I'm one of
the founders of mass Opportunity Alliance in my role as
president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Okay, fine, okay, that's fine. I appreciate that correction because
you don't like to be accurate and sometimes I know
has written there. So anyway, no problem. Founder, okay, one
of the founders. So tell us first of all, how
the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance came to be and also describe
(01:21):
to us what its goal is, what are we trying
to do here?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
So Massachusetts has historically had a ton of economic and
quality of life advantages, including high media and income. We've
got great research institutions, academic institutions, and a thriving and
multi sector innovation economy, most notably in the tech and
biotech areas. And that would include also terrific investment capabilities
(01:50):
here that correlates to what's become. We've all become accustomed
to a really top notch quality of life, great healthcare,
top rated edgecation system, rich cultural and other activities, including
the natural beauty of just being in New England, and
a low climb rate a crime rate. But over the
(02:11):
last few years, as pendulums do swing and economics and
political environments shift, we've seen that those are the very
benefits and attributes that are currently at risk as other
states are increasingly going after with great success the types
of jobs, residents, and industry that we have here in Massachusetts.
(02:34):
So organizations like the High Tech Council and others got
together to create the mass Opportunity Alliance, a cross organizational
effort to address these changes, strengthen and defend the business
climate and its correlation on the quality of life here
in the state for everybody before the horses out of.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
The barn, Well, I think everybody knows that we have
what's called then out migration problem in Massachusetts. That there
are more people leaving Massachusetts than staying. And the people
who are leaving are often cases either young people who
are having trouble, you know, maybe finding housing close to
(03:19):
where they work, or they're being wooed away by other states,
or people who have retired and say, look, I can
go to New Hampshire, I can go to Florida, I
go to Tennessee. That's all tax driven for the most part.
So how do we address that what the Mass Opportunity
Alliance suggests can be done.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Well, we certainly know, as you've just stated and COVID
proved that the barriers to exiting high cost states like
Massachusetts that are seeing a decline in the business climate
are lower than ever. And so it is workers, working age,
people with families, in addition to high wealth retirees that
(04:02):
are taking advantage of the opportunity to move. And so
what happens as that trend accelerates, which it has in
the last two years, the state loses access to those
dollars that go to other states turn into philanthropy and
tax revenue in other states. So what we're going to
focus on is engaging greater public awareness around the trends
(04:29):
and the consequences of those trends, and then the actions
that people who listen to your show, who live in
work in Massachusetts can become engaged in in turning this
sort of multi year trend that we're sitting around and
return to a stronger, more robust economy in the years ahead.
(04:50):
So there'll be a direct role for people if they
are better armed with information. And that's what the Mass
Opportunity Alliance is delivering, a narrative communications apparatus that helps
raise awareness among people that they might not think about
issues in ways that affect them. We think they will
(05:10):
when they look at the information on our website and
listen to the data that we're putting out in ways
that they will relate to.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Well. For example, you've done some polling. Now again I'm
assuming you're going out and you're getting accurate information with
your polling companies or else. The information isn't worth much
you find your polling suggest that eighty two percent of
residents believe their taxes are too high. There's a lot
of people at massages who don't pay any taxes, and
(05:43):
I would suspect.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But the ones that do, the ones that do, dan
believe that they're paying way too much.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Okay, okay, And seventy one percent say the state income
taxes their main concern. There's nothing that we can do
about the federal income tax, because whether you live in Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Missouri,
or whatever, any of the state that doesn't give the
letter m you're paying the same federal income tax. And uh,
(06:10):
but state state taxes in Massachusetts, as I say to
my friends, Massachusetts tax is the only thing the government taxes.
Here are two things. Everything that moves, anything that doesn't move.
It just seems that we've got candy tax. We got
more taxes coming at us. We've had the millionaires tax
(06:33):
for those who are lucky to be millionaires, which by
the way, includes a lot of professional athletes, and that
that might make our sports teams a little less competitive,
but we we'll see it will save that. What else
are your surveys showing and when you get eighty two
percent of people thinking that taxes, that's that's pretty big number.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
What else do you know one of them? Yeah. One
of the values of this effort is that we do
get to do polling and focus group testing on a
regular basis to find out what the pulse of the
people really are on the issues and how that pulse
changes when they become more aware about what states like
Florida and New Hampshire are doing and benefiting from what's
(07:21):
going on here. The tax pole, Yeah, seventy one percent
believe that their income taxes are too high, the local
property tax fifty five percent, and then sales tax things
start dropping off. But you know, we did another poll
about why what's pushing people to leave Massachusetts to here
(07:42):
out migration question, and the housing costs are up there
at nearly eighty percent. General costs of living concerns which
would include energy which we've just been hearing about seventy
six percent, and high taxes then come in as part
of that mix at sixty five five percent. Those are
the top three drivers about migration, and those are the
(08:05):
things that Massachusetts can do something about and should be
doing something about as opposed to proposing a whole slate
of new taxes in the current year budget. You mentioned
a few of them, but there are others. So we
think people are going to be responding to air their views,
(08:25):
and hopefully the folks in the legislature, and there are
some in the legislature that are sensitive to these issues,
will be able to benefit from a crescendo of their
constituents and a majority of other voters who are expressing
their views on these things before they take action.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
My guest is Christopher Anderson, Chris Anderson. He's a founder
of a newly organized group. It's only been around since,
I guess last September. The Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance is a
coalition of several business leaders and we're going to open
up phone lines. If you'd like to ask Chris a
(09:05):
question or challenge him, we can have a polite conversation
here at nightside. We do that every night of the
week six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six
one seven, nine, three, one ten thirty. We'll get you
in queue and get some phone calls and get some
conversation going. If you think that taxes are just perfect
in Massachusetts and you want to try to persuade Chris
(09:28):
to your point of view, You're more than welcome on
to do that as well. Uh, there's some other issues
we want to talk about, one of which is I
was surprised today Chris mentioned to me that sixty four
percent of the voters in Massachusetts are now neither neither
Republican nor Democrat. They make up the largest group of
(09:50):
voters in Massachusetts. Technically they're called unenrolled. I guess you
could call them independent as well. We'll get to some
of those questions in your phone call six one seven
tw ten thirty six point seven nine three one ten thirty.
Coming back on Nightside with Chris Anderson of the Massachusetts
Opportunity Alliance right after this quick commercial break.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio with me.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
It's Chris Anderson. He's one of the founders of the
Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance. Sixty four percent of Massachusetts registered voters
choose neither to have a D or an R after
their name. They preferred to be unenrolled or what used
to be called independent. What what does that number? That's
a number that that's not a poll number, that's that's
(10:40):
a number that you present to me as a fact number.
What does that say about the voters in Massachusetts.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Well, it underscores the independent decision making that voters have
in Massachusetts, and given their given an opportunity, it's our
best chance at addressing some of the issues that we
see as challenging to our quality life and our economy.
If a voter realizes that housing costs are high or
(11:13):
that they can't downsize because the cost of downsize is
basically a lateral we'll probably get their attention. And with
greater awareness and armed with information and the proliferation of
balot questions that seem to be coming down the pike
every two years for voter approval via direct democracy, we
(11:36):
can begin getting their engagement in turning things around here.
So if they think taxes are too high, or the
cost of business is too high, or that the outmigration
is causing more pressure to tax them, we may be
able to frame some of these issues a little differently
and get some better outcomes. So sixty four percent of
(11:57):
registered voters here are really a great target for us.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah, that's two thirds, So I'm assuming your focus of
this group, Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance is focused on the economy.
The social issues are not issues that you folks are
going to deal with, whether it be whether we should
bring that capital punishment or what's the deal on abortion
(12:22):
or whatever, or crime and punishment, all of those issues
which might contribute to the quality of life, particularly crime
and punishment and things like that. You're not going to
even go there. You want to deal with the cold
hard numbers of why people are leaving and what should
our tax structure be that makes this the opportunities in
(12:45):
Massachusetts more readily available to everyone across the board.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, at the end of the day, regardless of what
you think a quality of life priority is for you,
and it may be social, if we're not generating state
tax revenue in Massachusetts to fund government the way we
are to do and to invest in things that people have
shared priorities around, then those other things really don't matter.
People are going to be heading out the doors faster
(13:13):
than they are today. We believe we have a terrific
asset mix to regenerate a robust economy that for the
last ten years was generating billion dollar state budget surpluses
in Massachusetts. Without raising taxes, and then what happened in
twenty twenty two, a series of tax proposals, the big
(13:35):
one on the ballot that put a tax in the
state constitution like no other state has began to tip
that scale in the opposite direction. And mass Opportunity is
in part a response to what should be a more
coordinated and unified effort among business leaders and residents who
still want to call Massachusetts to work collaboratively to make
(14:00):
sure that we don't see Massachusetts go the way of
Connecticut ten or fifteen years ago, or the way of
Illinois California where New York are going today. We're we're
on the tip of that road, but we believe we
have an opportunity with the resource mix we have in
terms of economic research and highly skilled workers and an
(14:22):
independent stay resident mix that will be actively helpful in
this effort.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
All right, let's I don't want to short change any
of the callers at this point. We have several calls waiting,
so I'm going to ask Steve, Jack and John to
hold on through the newscast at the bottom of the hour,
so I don't short change any of you. We got
one line open at six one seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty and one line at six one, seven, nine,
(14:50):
three ten thirty. Let me just ask you, Chris, a
final question for me, and hopefully the rest of the
questions will come from the callers. U. Is there a
specific task that you believe is first and foremost to
be done here to sort of lay the foundation or
(15:10):
do you feel the foundation for your work is already
laid by just creating this organization the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Well, creating mass Opportunity Alliance is at first and the
commonwealth success story, and we've seen terrific impact already with
our ability to respond quickly with fact checking when misleading
information is provided by advocates that we don't believe are
helping the state business climate. We also are growing the
(15:41):
ability to reach people through those who sign up at
our website Massopportunity dot org, where they can find all
kinds of data and communications videos on what's going on
in the state and why they should be engaged. And
then the process of really looks down the road over
the next two to say how can MA drive proactive
(16:03):
policy changes rather than playing defense, which a lot of
business groups have done in the last few years. But
let's be proactive in advancing programs and policies that we
hope the legislature and the governor will be supportive of.
But if they're not, we know we would expect that
a majority of voters may be down the road at
some point. And so that's really the phase that we're
(16:26):
in is continuing to build our communications infrastructure, raise awareness
among people that care about their state and their job
and their families and quality life, and will present a
proactive agenda for them to get engaged in.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Okay, I assume as a dad or you're a five
oh one C three, which means you're not going to
be in the business of endorsing candidates. You're going to
deal with issues as opposed to candidates.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Yeah, we're a five oh one C six, which is close,
but still we're not going to be where so we
can lobby, we can, but we we will not be
supporting endorsing candidates, either by endorsement or financially. So this
is really all about a core mission focused on business climate.
We're politically agnostic. We will work with any and all
(17:20):
partners who want to strength in Massachusetts and provide the
best future possible for people that live in work in Massachusetts,
and especially those that we're creating economic and social mobility
options for. If we have a strong economy people in
the inner cities through a strength and education pipeline that's
(17:40):
better aligned toward our skill requirements in this economy, we'll
have a path meaningful long term employment. And I think that's,
you know, one of the one of the core benefits
of this collaborated effort.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
I know the difference between the five and one C
three and is five O one C four?
Speaker 4 (17:59):
What is?
Speaker 2 (18:00):
What? What makes five or one C six? AM unfamiliar
with exactly what how that is? It's three or four?
Speaker 3 (18:09):
UH. Three is a charitable organization and is limited in
what it can raise and spend money for. A C
six is a business organization, just like many chambers of
commerce or business groups like the mass Site Tech Council.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Okay, uh, And and a four does give some flexibility
for for groups to form.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Political Yeah, it's it's similar to a C six.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Okay, we'll take a quick break. My guest is Chris Anderson,
founder of the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance. UH. Their website is
mass Opportunity dot org. We'll get to as many callers
as we can. First up, we got we got Steven Cambridge,
Jack and Winter John uh Is on the line as well,
and then we'll we'll take some more callers. The only
(18:58):
line that's open right now is six one, seven, nine thirty.
Back on Night Side right after.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
This, It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
We're talking with Chris Anderson, a founder of the Massachusetts
Opportunity Alliance, an organization that has only been around for
a few months. Basically, they are concerned about improving the
business climate here in Massachusetts because, from their point of view,
an improved business climate, a more friendly business climate, we'll
(19:31):
keep people in Massachusetts, particularly businesses in Massachusetts, and lead
to a better quality of life for everyone residing in
the Bay State. Let's go to the call is going
to go first to Steve and Cambridge. Steve, I'll warn you, Chris,
one of my best callers, Steven Cambridge, never do.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Good evening, Chris, good evening.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Dan.
Speaker 5 (19:54):
I don't mean to be too political, but do you
you see reducing the state bureaucracy, reducing or making the
regulatory climate a little bit more friendly for business? And
when I say the state bureaucracy, particularly in the mass
(20:19):
University of Massachusetts, the number of administrators, et cetera. So
are these areas you're going to go after.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Well. State administration and state costs in general are certainly
a big topic generally and in a number of states
these days, and I think most voters would agree that
there is. It's worth taking a look at how Massachusetts
spends its money in a more transparent way and how
(20:50):
it sets its budget and why. For example, we have
nearly fifty percent of the state budget or forty to
forty five percent of the state budget dedicated to mandatory
spending in three areas unfunded pension liability, debt service, and
state healthcare costs. The University of Massachusetts system has some
terrific contributions that it makes directly to our economy, but
(21:14):
I'm not going to pretend that it, like any other
part of state government, doesn't have areas where that could
be run more efficiently. So you know, what we're planning
on doing at the Mass Opportunity Alliance, Steve is assess
where we can help move a majority of the voters
(21:37):
who are interested in different policy topics that will help
reduce the pressure to tax them, and in the current budget.
There was a budget that's been proposed today this week
last week, the state proposing spending another seven percent more
than last year on a revenue growth rate of four percent.
(21:58):
You can't do that in a sustain way so indefinitely,
because you'll run out of you'll run into additional gaps
and have to raise raise taxes somewhere. So I think
there's an efficiency taxpayer bill of rights, uh, you know,
limit on state government spending that if it were done properly,
would require a re evaluation of how many agencies are
(22:21):
spending funds and where the efficiencies could be had. I
wouldn't single out the UMass system over or above any
other part of state government.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
And this is in a state where we're obligated. We
cannot run a debt, we cannot run a definite. We're
obligated to balance the pushet. With that obligation, the spending continues.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
But this is.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
A lot of attention is in terms of housing. Uh,
there's been a lot of talk about how regulation has
over regulation, let's say, has added to the cost of housing.
Is that something that you will look at.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Yeah, So reducing the cost of housing has two sides.
You can either increase supply, which would reduce the cost.
We have demand for it. I don't think we're going
to reduce demand unless we out migrate a ton of people.
So there are two ways to approach that topic. One
is you mandate that cities and towns in certain MBTA districts,
(23:25):
let's say, make them required change as well. You know,
we have home rule and not everybody wants to be
told what to do in Massachusetts by the state. The
other thing you could do, Steve, is you could incentivize
homeowners and reward them exempt them from capital gain on
the sale of their home if they own the home
for more than ten years. You could do the same
(23:46):
thing with the essay tax. So there are ways to
reduce the cost of housing. Maybe not to get in,
but certainly overall it would minimize the squeeze on homeowners
that we seem to be seeing on a regular basis
here and Paul as the top reason why people would
think about leaving the state.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Thank you very much gentlemen this organization.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Thanks date, appreciate your call. Tochi's a good call. Let
me go next to Jack and Winthrop. Jackie're next on
nice with Chris Anderson founded the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Go ahead, Jack, Hey, thanks Dan, and hey Chris, just
a few quick questions too, kind of twofold. You mentioned
states like Connecticut, New York, Illinois. I'm curious what Massachusetts
can learn from other states that have successfully retained businesses
and workers despite high costs. And then I have a quote,
(24:42):
but sure, sure, thanks Jack.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
The Actually, Florida and New Hampshire are the two states
that are the recipients of most of the people that
are leaving Massachusetts, taking their jobs or their retirement income
and leaving the Bay State behind. Those states have no
personal income tax, no short term capital gains tax, and
(25:06):
no estate tax. Those are three key areas that align
with the tax challenge that we have here in Massachusetts.
And they also have from a business climate perspective, their
state government is a partner with helping businesses set up, expand,
(25:28):
and rapidly be prepared to accommodate employee growth in their state.
As you might have heard me just say a minute ago,
Massachusetts has home rules, so three hundred and fifty one
cities and towns get to set their own regulatory zoning
and other requirements, which makes it a challenge for companies
(25:48):
to expand or grow or do something a little different
with their operation than some of these other states. In fact,
New Hampshire during the last Scubernator election, Kelly Ayott was
seizing on the Massachusetts environment, basically saying, come on up here,
(26:08):
we'll take care of you. But in the election, don't
mass up New Hampshire. So you know, we ought to
be paying attention to what other governors are saying about
us and improve our business climate because, as I said earlier,
that will generate a resource capacity that supports great quality
life for people who live and work here.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
I got it, Thank you. I had one other quick question.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Go ahead, Jack, I wasn't sure if you were still
with us.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Go ahead, Yeah, I just had one one quick one.
I was just curious what every day residence of Massachusetts
kind of like myself. I'm a thirty year old independent.
I know you mentioned the independent vote, but I'm a
thirty year old Independent and I'm curious what everyday residents
can do to help make sure Massachusetts can remain a
(26:59):
place where we can build our careers, we can raise families.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Yeah, well, hopefully what we can do, Jack, is we
can help you help us. And what I mean by
that is you and you and your friends, your neighbors
who are looking or concerned about any of these issues
should be better armed with information that now people get
(27:26):
from all sorts of social media, and not everything is
accurate that you pick up on TikTok or Instagram, for example.
If you go to our website, Massopportunity dot org will
be a constantly replenished resource of information about what these
(27:48):
trends that we're seeing are and how they relate to you.
And we're doing it in ways that you, as a
thirty year old thirty year old will find appealing and understandable.
So we're talking to different sectors of our commonwealth, different
economic sectors, different age sectors, different demographic sectors in different ways,
(28:11):
and we think when it comes time for you to
step up and be part of a decision making process,
whether that's at the ballot box electing your state representator
or governor, or participating in direct democracy, which is voting
yes or no on any proposed ballot question, that you'll
be better informed and make an informed choice, hopefully with
(28:32):
the majority of folks that help set Massachusetts on a
solid track to return to the robust economy that we've
had for the past fifteen years or so. Good question.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
The other thing, Jack that I think folks of your vintage,
your young age, get involved in politics. Whatever side of
the equation you're on. There are a lot of folks
who are in positions. Again, is a thirty year old
young lawyer right out of law school or a twenty
five year old young lawyer out of law school. One
(29:05):
of the best ways to get your name out there.
You know, if you're going to go to one of
the major firms and be ensconced there for you know,
thirty or forty or fifty years, good luck to you.
You know, if you were number one out of Harvard
or whatever, out of Harvard law school. But get out
and run for office and get involved in the political
process at the lowest level. The most important election that's
(29:29):
going to affect you, if you're married and have kids,
it's going to be the school committee in your community.
And that's not a bad stepping stone to get involved
in the school committee. I got to tell you that
you live in a small town or you live in
a big city, those school committee races, oftentimes people are
(29:51):
running unopposed get involved in that city council, those you know.
And just in terms of your vote, I mean you
vote in a presidential election, I think, wow, I got
to vote for the President of the United States, which
is great. Well, you in about one hundred and eighty
million other Americans that are whatever the number is these days,
one hundred and seventy million, So that's one over one
hundred and seventy million. If you're voting in local elections,
(30:14):
there might be two thousand, three thousand people deciding who
sits in the school committee, who sits on the Board
of Selectment, of the Board of Aldermen. Those involvements, of
those involvements are really important too.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
Yeah, well, thank you to a good question. Thank you, Chris,
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Thanks Jack, great questions. Take quick break. I got a
couple of lines at six one, seven, two, five, four
to ten thirty and one at six one, seven, nine, three,
one ten thirty. I got John coming up, uh and
Rob in Medford and we got a room for a
couple more calls. If you want to jump on board.
My guest Chris Patterson, one of the founders of the
new group, the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, that wants to focus
(30:51):
on economic issues here in Massachusetts and the impact that
they might have for everyone from a positive PERSPECTI it's
back on Nightside after this.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
My guest Chris Peterson from the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, joined
now by John Hurst, who's with the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.
John has been a caller on this program before and
has fought in the trenches here of Massachusetts for better
economics for retailers who he represents. Hey, John, how are
you tonight?
Speaker 3 (31:29):
I'm great, Dan, and I just really wanted to call
and congratulate Chris and do a allowed me too. I
think what Chris Anderson and others are doing with the
mass Opportunity Alliance is just a long time coming. It's
so important because you know, look, Dan, I represent four
thousand small businesses and I'm frankly a bit concerned about
(31:53):
them about their futures. There were living under a twin
towers of frankly being and really the highest cost state
for our consumers, highest cost of living state, and also
the highest cost of doing business states. So that's really
what that ends up doing dan the small businesses that
(32:13):
primarily exists to serve consumers and our residents. You know,
they're seeing their residents, our residents are consumers spending bus
dollars because they're strapped at the end of the month
because of health insurance and energy and taxes. And then
the small businesses themselves had the very same cost problems.
So the small businesses are seeing flat to lower sales
(32:35):
get much higher cost of operations, and that's what's leading
to these dark stoffronts on our main streets.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
How many small businesses approximately john are there in Massachusetts?
Has there ever been a survey done? And again that
would would involve literally from mom and pop stores to diners.
I saw today the Twin Donuts, a breakfast diner donus
(33:01):
place in Allston, which has been there for seventy five years,
is closing up shop later this month. I mean, I
don't know what's going to replace it, but certainly that's
going to have an impact on that community. You got
any how many people are employed by by small businesses
in Massachusetts?
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Yeah, we're probably talking around seventy thousand locations. You know,
each each employee, on average about ten people.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
Each If seventy thousand, that's enough to fill Fenway Park twice,
just to that's right, every one of those businesses in
the seated Fenway Park twice. That's an amazing number.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
And yeah, and small bills many have am making money today.
And John Giant represents a group that really is the
foundation bedrock of our employment tax space. It's huge. And
the point I wanted to make, in addition to congratulating
John for his ongoing work with many of us in
(34:00):
the trenches along with the mass Restaurant Association and the
National Federation of Independent Business, is that remote work is
generally not an option for his members, and so we
have to make sure that Massachusetts has retained this a
bit capacity to keep our business climate healthy, keep the
(34:22):
people that rely and use these small businesses retail, restaurant
in business, because they're the ones that, as John said,
probably are under the sword of damicles if we can't,
if we can't keep this economy robust.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
John, thank you for what you do for for you know,
retailers here in Massachusetts. In any time that that that
you need to be on this program and talk about
any problem you know, how you have our number.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Okay, okay, I'm sure we'll be talking this spring. Thanks again, Dan,
and thank you Chris John.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Thank you the Massachusetts Real Tails Association of MESSAG. Let's
keep rolling. You're going to go to Rob in Medford.
There's a Robin Medford who answers the phones. This is
my producer. This is a different Rob in Medford. I Rob,
how are you?
Speaker 6 (35:09):
I'm well? Thank you for asking, gentlemen. I'm I hope
this isn't appropriate. Topics that I want to bring is
that how can I run a business in Massachusetts? Uh,
with the taxes as they are and politicians refuse to
even tell Congress where, well, how much is spent and
(35:32):
on what? I mean? This should be public knowledge. My taxes,
I pay them, my people pay them. Where does the
money go? We should this Freedom of Information Act? How
can MA'AMU stand up there in front of Congress and say,
I'm not going to tell you how much is spent
on this. I'm not going to tell you how much
is spent on that? And I think the money would
(35:55):
be intera.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Was I think what she was saying was and I
could be wrong here, but I think she was saying
she didn't keep track of that meaning that they were
not keeping accounts. She was asked, I think by Congress
what Boston had spent on people who were here illegally,
and I think that she said, they just didn't track
that question. They didn't know.
Speaker 6 (36:18):
That's too irresponsible an answer to Congress, Are you kidding me?
You're telling me that if.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
By what I said, John, rather, excuse me, rub All
I'm trying to do is just explain to you what
she said. Now, Governor heally knows what she has spent
because it's the state which has sheltered folks for a
couple of years now in Massachusetts in terms of housing
(36:44):
and food and all of the amenities of life, has
spent about two billion dollars on the needs of people
who have come into the state illegally.
Speaker 6 (36:54):
And how much could have been spent on helping these
small businesses that are going on to trying to make
a living. This money is all being misspent, and they
won't even tell us where or how much and on whom.
It's ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
Okay, fair enough. Again, I don't know that Chris has
much more to add to that, but but I appreciate
your point of view. Rob Good.
Speaker 6 (37:16):
The freedom of information act push that at all or
could so? I mean, I would feel about it, don't know.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
I don't think that they keep what I was trying
to say was in Boston. I can tell you what
the number is in the state, which I've just told you,
but they don't keep a track of that in Boston.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
But Rob's point, Rob's point about transparency. Oh, Rob's point
about transparency is actually a good point, because you know,
we just had three two and a half years ago,
the so called tax on incomes over a millionaire went
into effect, and it's supposed to go to supplement and
add additively increase spending and transportation and education. We're not
(37:58):
sure that that's exactly how that money is being spent,
and so having a transparent and defensible way to audit
that money, I think is extremely important. That's one example.
But you across you know a number of state agents.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
I'm not suggesting that Rob's point isn't a good one
at all. It is a good one. But I just
want to explain that he was focusing on Mayor Woozy
this morning last week, Robin Medford, I'm flat out of time,
so I got to let you on. But I appreciate
you calling and please continue to listen and call.
Speaker 6 (38:31):
Okay the answer, Thank you sir, You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Thank you Chris again. Mass Opportunity Alliance give us the
website where people can get more information or join the cause.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
It's mass Opportunity dot org. You can see our mass
in a minute series. We have a number of Pulse questions,
we have blogs and Opportunity Report cargo. We measure Massachusetts
on a number or key areas. We do that and
update that on a regular basis. So this is the
(39:05):
front end of a commitment that we're making over the
long term. Organizations that have been in Massachusetts for forty
thirty years now working collaboratively together with retailers, restaurants, small
business chambers, building and trade entities that are jumping in
and becoming members. We are hoping that we raise awareness
(39:29):
to the point where an engaged army of citizens participate
more fully and actively and effectively in shaping our commonwealth's future,
and one that respond to the very things you've heard
people call in about tonight.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Yeah, that's a noble goal and I wish you best
of luck in Let's keep keeping contact as the days
come off the calendar. Thank you so much, Chris, I
appreciate it. Massopportunity dot org. When we get back, we
will talk about the stock market today, which took a
big dive. We'll be back right after the ten o'clock
(40:05):
news on Nightside
It's Night Side with Dan Ray on WBZ Conston's new radio.
Speaker 2 (00:07):
All Right, moving into the nine o'clock hour here on
a Monday night. It is March tenth. Beautiful day in
New England today, certainly in my part of New England,
and I hope when you're part of New England as well,
and we are going to talk about making it a
beautiful day for the Massachusetts economy. There's a new alliance group,
(00:27):
a new group called the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance of involving
frankly business leaders here in Massachusetts and with us as
the president of the MOA, the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, Chris Anderson.
Chris Anderson, welcome back to night said, how are you sir?
Speaker 3 (00:45):
Hey Dan, thanks so much for having me. Appreciate being
back with you, and just the correct I'm one of
the founders of mass Opportunity Alliance in my role as
president of the Massachusetts High Technology Council.
Speaker 2 (00:58):
Okay, fine, okay, that's fine. I appreciate that correction because
you don't like to be accurate and sometimes I know
has written there. So anyway, no problem. Founder, okay, one
of the founders. So tell us first of all, how
the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance came to be and also describe
(01:21):
to us what its goal is, what are we trying
to do here?
Speaker 3 (01:26):
So Massachusetts has historically had a ton of economic and
quality of life advantages, including high media and income. We've
got great research institutions, academic institutions, and a thriving and
multi sector innovation economy, most notably in the tech and
biotech areas. And that would include also terrific investment capabilities
(01:50):
here that correlates to what's become. We've all become accustomed
to a really top notch quality of life, great healthcare,
top rated edgecation system, rich cultural and other activities, including
the natural beauty of just being in New England, and
a low climb rate a crime rate. But over the
(02:11):
last few years, as pendulums do swing and economics and
political environments shift, we've seen that those are the very
benefits and attributes that are currently at risk as other
states are increasingly going after with great success the types
of jobs, residents, and industry that we have here in Massachusetts.
(02:34):
So organizations like the High Tech Council and others got
together to create the mass Opportunity Alliance, a cross organizational
effort to address these changes, strengthen and defend the business
climate and its correlation on the quality of life here
in the state for everybody before the horses out of.
Speaker 2 (02:56):
The barn, Well, I think everybody knows that we have
what's called then out migration problem in Massachusetts. That there
are more people leaving Massachusetts than staying. And the people
who are leaving are often cases either young people who
are having trouble, you know, maybe finding housing close to
(03:19):
where they work, or they're being wooed away by other states,
or people who have retired and say, look, I can
go to New Hampshire, I can go to Florida, I
go to Tennessee. That's all tax driven for the most part.
So how do we address that what the Mass Opportunity
Alliance suggests can be done.
Speaker 3 (03:41):
Well, we certainly know, as you've just stated and COVID
proved that the barriers to exiting high cost states like
Massachusetts that are seeing a decline in the business climate
are lower than ever. And so it is workers, working age,
people with families, in addition to high wealth retirees that
(04:02):
are taking advantage of the opportunity to move. And so
what happens as that trend accelerates, which it has in
the last two years, the state loses access to those
dollars that go to other states turn into philanthropy and
tax revenue in other states. So what we're going to
focus on is engaging greater public awareness around the trends
(04:29):
and the consequences of those trends, and then the actions
that people who listen to your show, who live in
work in Massachusetts can become engaged in in turning this
sort of multi year trend that we're sitting around and
return to a stronger, more robust economy in the years ahead.
(04:50):
So there'll be a direct role for people if they
are better armed with information. And that's what the Mass
Opportunity Alliance is delivering, a narrative communications apparatus that helps
raise awareness among people that they might not think about
issues in ways that affect them. We think they will
(05:10):
when they look at the information on our website and
listen to the data that we're putting out in ways
that they will relate to.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
Well. For example, you've done some polling. Now again I'm
assuming you're going out and you're getting accurate information with
your polling companies or else. The information isn't worth much
you find your polling suggest that eighty two percent of
residents believe their taxes are too high. There's a lot
of people at massages who don't pay any taxes, and
(05:43):
I would suspect.
Speaker 3 (05:44):
But the ones that do, the ones that do, dan
believe that they're paying way too much.
Speaker 2 (05:49):
Okay, okay, And seventy one percent say the state income
taxes their main concern. There's nothing that we can do
about the federal income tax, because whether you live in Massachusetts, Michigan, Mississippi, Montana, Missouri,
or whatever, any of the state that doesn't give the
letter m you're paying the same federal income tax. And uh,
(06:10):
but state state taxes in Massachusetts, as I say to
my friends, Massachusetts tax is the only thing the government taxes.
Here are two things. Everything that moves, anything that doesn't move.
It just seems that we've got candy tax. We got
more taxes coming at us. We've had the millionaires tax
(06:33):
for those who are lucky to be millionaires, which by
the way, includes a lot of professional athletes, and that
that might make our sports teams a little less competitive,
but we we'll see it will save that. What else
are your surveys showing and when you get eighty two
percent of people thinking that taxes, that's that's pretty big number.
Speaker 3 (06:58):
What else do you know one of them? Yeah. One
of the values of this effort is that we do
get to do polling and focus group testing on a
regular basis to find out what the pulse of the
people really are on the issues and how that pulse
changes when they become more aware about what states like
Florida and New Hampshire are doing and benefiting from what's
(07:21):
going on here. The tax pole, Yeah, seventy one percent
believe that their income taxes are too high, the local
property tax fifty five percent, and then sales tax things
start dropping off. But you know, we did another poll
about why what's pushing people to leave Massachusetts to here
(07:42):
out migration question, and the housing costs are up there
at nearly eighty percent. General costs of living concerns which
would include energy which we've just been hearing about seventy
six percent, and high taxes then come in as part
of that mix at sixty five five percent. Those are
the top three drivers about migration, and those are the
(08:05):
things that Massachusetts can do something about and should be
doing something about as opposed to proposing a whole slate
of new taxes in the current year budget. You mentioned
a few of them, but there are others. So we
think people are going to be responding to air their views,
(08:25):
and hopefully the folks in the legislature, and there are
some in the legislature that are sensitive to these issues,
will be able to benefit from a crescendo of their
constituents and a majority of other voters who are expressing
their views on these things before they take action.
Speaker 2 (08:44):
My guest is Christopher Anderson, Chris Anderson. He's a founder
of a newly organized group. It's only been around since,
I guess last September. The Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance is a
coalition of several business leaders and we're going to open
up phone lines. If you'd like to ask Chris a
(09:05):
question or challenge him, we can have a polite conversation
here at nightside. We do that every night of the
week six one, seven, two, five, four ten thirty six
one seven, nine, three, one ten thirty. We'll get you
in queue and get some phone calls and get some
conversation going. If you think that taxes are just perfect
in Massachusetts and you want to try to persuade Chris
(09:28):
to your point of view, You're more than welcome on
to do that as well. Uh, there's some other issues
we want to talk about, one of which is I
was surprised today Chris mentioned to me that sixty four
percent of the voters in Massachusetts are now neither neither
Republican nor Democrat. They make up the largest group of
(09:50):
voters in Massachusetts. Technically they're called unenrolled. I guess you
could call them independent as well. We'll get to some
of those questions in your phone call six one seven
tw ten thirty six point seven nine three one ten thirty.
Coming back on Nightside with Chris Anderson of the Massachusetts
Opportunity Alliance right after this quick commercial break.
Speaker 1 (10:10):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
Nightside Studios on WBZ News Radio with me.
Speaker 2 (10:18):
It's Chris Anderson. He's one of the founders of the
Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance. Sixty four percent of Massachusetts registered voters
choose neither to have a D or an R after
their name. They preferred to be unenrolled or what used
to be called independent. What what does that number? That's
a number that that's not a poll number, that's that's
(10:40):
a number that you present to me as a fact number.
What does that say about the voters in Massachusetts.
Speaker 3 (10:48):
Well, it underscores the independent decision making that voters have
in Massachusetts, and given their given an opportunity, it's our
best chance at addressing some of the issues that we
see as challenging to our quality life and our economy.
If a voter realizes that housing costs are high or
(11:13):
that they can't downsize because the cost of downsize is
basically a lateral we'll probably get their attention. And with
greater awareness and armed with information and the proliferation of
balot questions that seem to be coming down the pike
every two years for voter approval via direct democracy, we
(11:36):
can begin getting their engagement in turning things around here.
So if they think taxes are too high, or the
cost of business is too high, or that the outmigration
is causing more pressure to tax them, we may be
able to frame some of these issues a little differently
and get some better outcomes. So sixty four percent of
(11:57):
registered voters here are really a great target for us.
Speaker 2 (12:01):
Yeah, that's two thirds, So I'm assuming your focus of
this group, Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance is focused on the economy.
The social issues are not issues that you folks are
going to deal with, whether it be whether we should
bring that capital punishment or what's the deal on abortion
(12:22):
or whatever, or crime and punishment, all of those issues
which might contribute to the quality of life, particularly crime
and punishment and things like that. You're not going to
even go there. You want to deal with the cold
hard numbers of why people are leaving and what should
our tax structure be that makes this the opportunities in
(12:45):
Massachusetts more readily available to everyone across the board.
Speaker 3 (12:50):
Yeah, at the end of the day, regardless of what
you think a quality of life priority is for you,
and it may be social, if we're not generating state
tax revenue in Massachusetts to fund government the way we
are to do and to invest in things that people have
shared priorities around, then those other things really don't matter.
People are going to be heading out the doors faster
(13:13):
than they are today. We believe we have a terrific
asset mix to regenerate a robust economy that for the
last ten years was generating billion dollar state budget surpluses
in Massachusetts. Without raising taxes, and then what happened in
twenty twenty two, a series of tax proposals, the big
(13:35):
one on the ballot that put a tax in the
state constitution like no other state has began to tip
that scale in the opposite direction. And mass Opportunity is
in part a response to what should be a more
coordinated and unified effort among business leaders and residents who
still want to call Massachusetts to work collaboratively to make
(14:00):
sure that we don't see Massachusetts go the way of
Connecticut ten or fifteen years ago, or the way of
Illinois California where New York are going today. We're we're
on the tip of that road, but we believe we
have an opportunity with the resource mix we have in
terms of economic research and highly skilled workers and an
(14:22):
independent stay resident mix that will be actively helpful in
this effort.
Speaker 2 (14:28):
All right, let's I don't want to short change any
of the callers at this point. We have several calls waiting,
so I'm going to ask Steve, Jack and John to
hold on through the newscast at the bottom of the hour,
so I don't short change any of you. We got
one line open at six one seven, two, five, four,
ten thirty and one line at six one, seven, nine,
(14:50):
three ten thirty. Let me just ask you, Chris, a
final question for me, and hopefully the rest of the
questions will come from the callers. U. Is there a
specific task that you believe is first and foremost to
be done here to sort of lay the foundation or
(15:10):
do you feel the foundation for your work is already
laid by just creating this organization the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance.
Speaker 3 (15:20):
Well, creating mass Opportunity Alliance is at first and the
commonwealth success story, and we've seen terrific impact already with
our ability to respond quickly with fact checking when misleading
information is provided by advocates that we don't believe are
helping the state business climate. We also are growing the
(15:41):
ability to reach people through those who sign up at
our website Massopportunity dot org, where they can find all
kinds of data and communications videos on what's going on
in the state and why they should be engaged. And
then the process of really looks down the road over
the next two to say how can MA drive proactive
(16:03):
policy changes rather than playing defense, which a lot of
business groups have done in the last few years. But
let's be proactive in advancing programs and policies that we
hope the legislature and the governor will be supportive of.
But if they're not, we know we would expect that
a majority of voters may be down the road at
some point. And so that's really the phase that we're
(16:26):
in is continuing to build our communications infrastructure, raise awareness
among people that care about their state and their job
and their families and quality life, and will present a
proactive agenda for them to get engaged in.
Speaker 2 (16:42):
Okay, I assume as a dad or you're a five
oh one C three, which means you're not going to
be in the business of endorsing candidates. You're going to
deal with issues as opposed to candidates.
Speaker 3 (16:54):
Yeah, we're a five oh one C six, which is close,
but still we're not going to be where so we
can lobby, we can, but we we will not be
supporting endorsing candidates, either by endorsement or financially. So this
is really all about a core mission focused on business climate.
We're politically agnostic. We will work with any and all
(17:20):
partners who want to strength in Massachusetts and provide the
best future possible for people that live in work in Massachusetts,
and especially those that we're creating economic and social mobility
options for. If we have a strong economy people in
the inner cities through a strength and education pipeline that's
(17:40):
better aligned toward our skill requirements in this economy, we'll
have a path meaningful long term employment. And I think that's,
you know, one of the one of the core benefits
of this collaborated effort.
Speaker 2 (17:56):
I know the difference between the five and one C
three and is five O one C four?
Speaker 4 (17:59):
What is?
Speaker 2 (18:00):
What? What makes five or one C six? AM unfamiliar
with exactly what how that is? It's three or four?
Speaker 3 (18:09):
UH. Three is a charitable organization and is limited in
what it can raise and spend money for. A C
six is a business organization, just like many chambers of
commerce or business groups like the mass Site Tech Council.
Speaker 2 (18:24):
Okay, uh, And and a four does give some flexibility
for for groups to form.
Speaker 3 (18:31):
Political Yeah, it's it's similar to a C six.
Speaker 2 (18:36):
Okay, we'll take a quick break. My guest is Chris Anderson,
founder of the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance. UH. Their website is
mass Opportunity dot org. We'll get to as many callers
as we can. First up, we got we got Steven Cambridge,
Jack and Winter John uh Is on the line as well,
and then we'll we'll take some more callers. The only
(18:58):
line that's open right now is six one, seven, nine thirty.
Back on Night Side right after.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
This, It's Night Side with Dan Ray on Boston's news radio.
Speaker 2 (19:10):
We're talking with Chris Anderson, a founder of the Massachusetts
Opportunity Alliance, an organization that has only been around for
a few months. Basically, they are concerned about improving the
business climate here in Massachusetts because, from their point of view,
an improved business climate, a more friendly business climate, we'll
(19:31):
keep people in Massachusetts, particularly businesses in Massachusetts, and lead
to a better quality of life for everyone residing in
the Bay State. Let's go to the call is going
to go first to Steve and Cambridge. Steve, I'll warn you, Chris,
one of my best callers, Steven Cambridge, never do.
Speaker 5 (19:50):
Good evening, Chris, good evening.
Speaker 3 (19:52):
Dan.
Speaker 5 (19:54):
I don't mean to be too political, but do you
you see reducing the state bureaucracy, reducing or making the
regulatory climate a little bit more friendly for business? And
when I say the state bureaucracy, particularly in the mass
(20:19):
University of Massachusetts, the number of administrators, et cetera. So
are these areas you're going to go after.
Speaker 3 (20:30):
Well. State administration and state costs in general are certainly
a big topic generally and in a number of states
these days, and I think most voters would agree that
there is. It's worth taking a look at how Massachusetts
spends its money in a more transparent way and how
(20:50):
it sets its budget and why. For example, we have
nearly fifty percent of the state budget or forty to
forty five percent of the state budget dedicated to mandatory
spending in three areas unfunded pension liability, debt service, and
state healthcare costs. The University of Massachusetts system has some
terrific contributions that it makes directly to our economy, but
(21:14):
I'm not going to pretend that it, like any other
part of state government, doesn't have areas where that could
be run more efficiently. So you know, what we're planning
on doing at the Mass Opportunity Alliance, Steve is assess
where we can help move a majority of the voters
(21:37):
who are interested in different policy topics that will help
reduce the pressure to tax them, and in the current budget.
There was a budget that's been proposed today this week
last week, the state proposing spending another seven percent more
than last year on a revenue growth rate of four percent.
(21:58):
You can't do that in a sustain way so indefinitely,
because you'll run out of you'll run into additional gaps
and have to raise raise taxes somewhere. So I think
there's an efficiency taxpayer bill of rights, uh, you know,
limit on state government spending that if it were done properly,
would require a re evaluation of how many agencies are
(22:21):
spending funds and where the efficiencies could be had. I
wouldn't single out the UMass system over or above any
other part of state government.
Speaker 2 (22:31):
And this is in a state where we're obligated. We
cannot run a debt, we cannot run a definite. We're
obligated to balance the pushet. With that obligation, the spending continues.
Speaker 4 (22:44):
But this is.
Speaker 5 (22:47):
A lot of attention is in terms of housing. Uh,
there's been a lot of talk about how regulation has
over regulation, let's say, has added to the cost of housing.
Is that something that you will look at.
Speaker 3 (23:04):
Yeah, So reducing the cost of housing has two sides.
You can either increase supply, which would reduce the cost.
We have demand for it. I don't think we're going
to reduce demand unless we out migrate a ton of people.
So there are two ways to approach that topic. One
is you mandate that cities and towns in certain MBTA districts,
(23:25):
let's say, make them required change as well. You know,
we have home rule and not everybody wants to be
told what to do in Massachusetts by the state. The
other thing you could do, Steve, is you could incentivize
homeowners and reward them exempt them from capital gain on
the sale of their home if they own the home
for more than ten years. You could do the same
(23:46):
thing with the essay tax. So there are ways to
reduce the cost of housing. Maybe not to get in,
but certainly overall it would minimize the squeeze on homeowners
that we seem to be seeing on a regular basis
here and Paul as the top reason why people would
think about leaving the state.
Speaker 5 (24:08):
Thank you very much gentlemen this organization.
Speaker 2 (24:11):
Thanks date, appreciate your call. Tochi's a good call. Let
me go next to Jack and Winthrop. Jackie're next on
nice with Chris Anderson founded the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance.
Speaker 4 (24:20):
Go ahead, Jack, Hey, thanks Dan, and hey Chris, just
a few quick questions too, kind of twofold. You mentioned
states like Connecticut, New York, Illinois. I'm curious what Massachusetts
can learn from other states that have successfully retained businesses
and workers despite high costs. And then I have a quote,
(24:42):
but sure, sure, thanks Jack.
Speaker 3 (24:45):
The Actually, Florida and New Hampshire are the two states
that are the recipients of most of the people that
are leaving Massachusetts, taking their jobs or their retirement income
and leaving the Bay State behind. Those states have no
personal income tax, no short term capital gains tax, and
(25:06):
no estate tax. Those are three key areas that align
with the tax challenge that we have here in Massachusetts.
And they also have from a business climate perspective, their
state government is a partner with helping businesses set up, expand,
(25:28):
and rapidly be prepared to accommodate employee growth in their state.
As you might have heard me just say a minute ago,
Massachusetts has home rules, so three hundred and fifty one
cities and towns get to set their own regulatory zoning
and other requirements, which makes it a challenge for companies
(25:48):
to expand or grow or do something a little different
with their operation than some of these other states. In fact,
New Hampshire during the last Scubernator election, Kelly Ayott was
seizing on the Massachusetts environment, basically saying, come on up here,
(26:08):
we'll take care of you. But in the election, don't
mass up New Hampshire. So you know, we ought to
be paying attention to what other governors are saying about
us and improve our business climate because, as I said earlier,
that will generate a resource capacity that supports great quality
life for people who live and work here.
Speaker 4 (26:32):
I got it, Thank you. I had one other quick question.
Speaker 2 (26:36):
Go ahead, Jack, I wasn't sure if you were still
with us.
Speaker 4 (26:37):
Go ahead, Yeah, I just had one one quick one.
I was just curious what every day residence of Massachusetts
kind of like myself. I'm a thirty year old independent.
I know you mentioned the independent vote, but I'm a
thirty year old Independent and I'm curious what everyday residents
can do to help make sure Massachusetts can remain a
(26:59):
place where we can build our careers, we can raise families.
Speaker 3 (27:05):
Yeah, well, hopefully what we can do, Jack, is we
can help you help us. And what I mean by
that is you and you and your friends, your neighbors
who are looking or concerned about any of these issues
should be better armed with information that now people get
(27:26):
from all sorts of social media, and not everything is
accurate that you pick up on TikTok or Instagram, for example.
If you go to our website, Massopportunity dot org will
be a constantly replenished resource of information about what these
(27:48):
trends that we're seeing are and how they relate to you.
And we're doing it in ways that you, as a
thirty year old thirty year old will find appealing and understandable.
So we're talking to different sectors of our commonwealth, different
economic sectors, different age sectors, different demographic sectors in different ways,
(28:11):
and we think when it comes time for you to
step up and be part of a decision making process,
whether that's at the ballot box electing your state representator
or governor, or participating in direct democracy, which is voting
yes or no on any proposed ballot question, that you'll
be better informed and make an informed choice, hopefully with
(28:32):
the majority of folks that help set Massachusetts on a
solid track to return to the robust economy that we've
had for the past fifteen years or so. Good question.
Speaker 2 (28:44):
The other thing, Jack that I think folks of your vintage,
your young age, get involved in politics. Whatever side of
the equation you're on. There are a lot of folks
who are in positions. Again, is a thirty year old
young lawyer right out of law school or a twenty
five year old young lawyer out of law school. One
(29:05):
of the best ways to get your name out there.
You know, if you're going to go to one of
the major firms and be ensconced there for you know,
thirty or forty or fifty years, good luck to you.
You know, if you were number one out of Harvard
or whatever, out of Harvard law school. But get out
and run for office and get involved in the political
process at the lowest level. The most important election that's
(29:29):
going to affect you, if you're married and have kids,
it's going to be the school committee in your community.
And that's not a bad stepping stone to get involved
in the school committee. I got to tell you that
you live in a small town or you live in
a big city, those school committee races, oftentimes people are
(29:51):
running unopposed get involved in that city council, those you know.
And just in terms of your vote, I mean you
vote in a presidential election, I think, wow, I got
to vote for the President of the United States, which
is great. Well, you in about one hundred and eighty
million other Americans that are whatever the number is these days,
one hundred and seventy million, So that's one over one
hundred and seventy million. If you're voting in local elections,
(30:14):
there might be two thousand, three thousand people deciding who
sits in the school committee, who sits on the Board
of Selectment, of the Board of Aldermen. Those involvements, of
those involvements are really important too.
Speaker 4 (30:26):
Yeah, well, thank you to a good question. Thank you, Chris,
I appreciate it.
Speaker 2 (30:29):
Thanks Jack, great questions. Take quick break. I got a
couple of lines at six one, seven, two, five, four
to ten thirty and one at six one, seven, nine, three,
one ten thirty. I got John coming up, uh and
Rob in Medford and we got a room for a
couple more calls. If you want to jump on board.
My guest Chris Patterson, one of the founders of the
new group, the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, that wants to focus
(30:51):
on economic issues here in Massachusetts and the impact that
they might have for everyone from a positive PERSPECTI it's
back on Nightside after this.
Speaker 1 (31:03):
Now back to Dan Ray live from the Window World
night Side Studios on WBZ News Radio.
Speaker 2 (31:11):
My guest Chris Peterson from the Massachusetts Opportunity Alliance, joined
now by John Hurst, who's with the Retailers Association of Massachusetts.
John has been a caller on this program before and
has fought in the trenches here of Massachusetts for better
economics for retailers who he represents. Hey, John, how are
you tonight?
Speaker 3 (31:29):
I'm great, Dan, and I just really wanted to call
and congratulate Chris and do a allowed me too. I
think what Chris Anderson and others are doing with the
mass Opportunity Alliance is just a long time coming. It's
so important because you know, look, Dan, I represent four
thousand small businesses and I'm frankly a bit concerned about
(31:53):
them about their futures. There were living under a twin
towers of frankly being and really the highest cost state
for our consumers, highest cost of living state, and also
the highest cost of doing business states. So that's really
what that ends up doing dan the small businesses that
(32:13):
primarily exists to serve consumers and our residents. You know,
they're seeing their residents, our residents are consumers spending bus
dollars because they're strapped at the end of the month
because of health insurance and energy and taxes. And then
the small businesses themselves had the very same cost problems.
So the small businesses are seeing flat to lower sales
(32:35):
get much higher cost of operations, and that's what's leading
to these dark stoffronts on our main streets.
Speaker 2 (32:40):
How many small businesses approximately john are there in Massachusetts?
Has there ever been a survey done? And again that
would would involve literally from mom and pop stores to diners.
I saw today the Twin Donuts, a breakfast diner donus
(33:01):
place in Allston, which has been there for seventy five years,
is closing up shop later this month. I mean, I
don't know what's going to replace it, but certainly that's
going to have an impact on that community. You got
any how many people are employed by by small businesses
in Massachusetts?
Speaker 3 (33:18):
Yeah, we're probably talking around seventy thousand locations. You know,
each each employee, on average about ten people.
Speaker 2 (33:30):
Each If seventy thousand, that's enough to fill Fenway Park twice,
just to that's right, every one of those businesses in
the seated Fenway Park twice. That's an amazing number.
Speaker 3 (33:39):
And yeah, and small bills many have am making money today.
And John Giant represents a group that really is the
foundation bedrock of our employment tax space. It's huge. And
the point I wanted to make, in addition to congratulating
John for his ongoing work with many of us in
(34:00):
the trenches along with the mass Restaurant Association and the
National Federation of Independent Business, is that remote work is
generally not an option for his members, and so we
have to make sure that Massachusetts has retained this a
bit capacity to keep our business climate healthy, keep the
(34:22):
people that rely and use these small businesses retail, restaurant
in business, because they're the ones that, as John said,
probably are under the sword of damicles if we can't,
if we can't keep this economy robust.
Speaker 2 (34:37):
John, thank you for what you do for for you know,
retailers here in Massachusetts. In any time that that that
you need to be on this program and talk about
any problem you know, how you have our number.
Speaker 3 (34:49):
Okay, okay, I'm sure we'll be talking this spring. Thanks again, Dan,
and thank you Chris John.
Speaker 2 (34:56):
Thank you the Massachusetts Real Tails Association of MESSAG. Let's
keep rolling. You're going to go to Rob in Medford.
There's a Robin Medford who answers the phones. This is
my producer. This is a different Rob in Medford. I Rob,
how are you?
Speaker 6 (35:09):
I'm well? Thank you for asking, gentlemen. I'm I hope
this isn't appropriate. Topics that I want to bring is
that how can I run a business in Massachusetts? Uh,
with the taxes as they are and politicians refuse to
even tell Congress where, well, how much is spent and
(35:32):
on what? I mean? This should be public knowledge. My taxes,
I pay them, my people pay them. Where does the
money go? We should this Freedom of Information Act? How
can MA'AMU stand up there in front of Congress and say,
I'm not going to tell you how much is spent
on this. I'm not going to tell you how much
is spent on that? And I think the money would
(35:55):
be intera.
Speaker 2 (35:57):
Was I think what she was saying was and I
could be wrong here, but I think she was saying
she didn't keep track of that meaning that they were
not keeping accounts. She was asked, I think by Congress
what Boston had spent on people who were here illegally,
and I think that she said, they just didn't track
that question. They didn't know.
Speaker 6 (36:18):
That's too irresponsible an answer to Congress, Are you kidding me?
You're telling me that if.
Speaker 2 (36:23):
By what I said, John, rather, excuse me, rub All
I'm trying to do is just explain to you what
she said. Now, Governor heally knows what she has spent
because it's the state which has sheltered folks for a
couple of years now in Massachusetts in terms of housing
(36:44):
and food and all of the amenities of life, has
spent about two billion dollars on the needs of people
who have come into the state illegally.
Speaker 6 (36:54):
And how much could have been spent on helping these
small businesses that are going on to trying to make
a living. This money is all being misspent, and they
won't even tell us where or how much and on whom.
It's ridiculous.
Speaker 2 (37:08):
Okay, fair enough. Again, I don't know that Chris has
much more to add to that, but but I appreciate
your point of view. Rob Good.
Speaker 6 (37:16):
The freedom of information act push that at all or
could so? I mean, I would feel about it, don't know.
Speaker 2 (37:22):
I don't think that they keep what I was trying
to say was in Boston. I can tell you what
the number is in the state, which I've just told you,
but they don't keep a track of that in Boston.
Speaker 3 (37:33):
But Rob's point, Rob's point about transparency. Oh, Rob's point
about transparency is actually a good point, because you know,
we just had three two and a half years ago,
the so called tax on incomes over a millionaire went
into effect, and it's supposed to go to supplement and
add additively increase spending and transportation and education. We're not
(37:58):
sure that that's exactly how that money is being spent,
and so having a transparent and defensible way to audit
that money, I think is extremely important. That's one example.
But you across you know a number of state agents.
Speaker 2 (38:17):
I'm not suggesting that Rob's point isn't a good one
at all. It is a good one. But I just
want to explain that he was focusing on Mayor Woozy
this morning last week, Robin Medford, I'm flat out of time,
so I got to let you on. But I appreciate
you calling and please continue to listen and call.
Speaker 6 (38:31):
Okay the answer, Thank you sir, You're welcome.
Speaker 2 (38:35):
Thank you Chris again. Mass Opportunity Alliance give us the
website where people can get more information or join the cause.
Speaker 3 (38:45):
It's mass Opportunity dot org. You can see our mass
in a minute series. We have a number of Pulse questions,
we have blogs and Opportunity Report cargo. We measure Massachusetts
on a number or key areas. We do that and
update that on a regular basis. So this is the
(39:05):
front end of a commitment that we're making over the
long term. Organizations that have been in Massachusetts for forty
thirty years now working collaboratively together with retailers, restaurants, small
business chambers, building and trade entities that are jumping in
and becoming members. We are hoping that we raise awareness
(39:29):
to the point where an engaged army of citizens participate
more fully and actively and effectively in shaping our commonwealth's future,
and one that respond to the very things you've heard
people call in about tonight.
Speaker 2 (39:43):
Yeah, that's a noble goal and I wish you best
of luck in Let's keep keeping contact as the days
come off the calendar. Thank you so much, Chris, I
appreciate it. Massopportunity dot org. When we get back, we
will talk about the stock market today, which took a
big dive. We'll be back right after the ten o'clock
(40:05):
news on Nightside
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