Business

WASHINGTON - In the weeks since the Republican-controlled Legislature in the state of Georgia passed a law making it more difficult for many citizens to vote in its elections — a move that is expected to disproportionately affect African Americans and other minority groups — hundreds of business leaders have signed open letters deploring efforts to restrict access to the ballot box. The movement has attracted companies associated with the new information-era economy, such as Facebook and Twitter, as well as stalwarts of the old guard of American business, such as General Motors and IBM. All four were among the hundreds of companies and business leaders who signed an open letter in support of voting rights that spanned two pages in The New York Times last week. Seeking shared values Historically, most businesses have tried to avoid taking stands on issues outside the realm of their corporate interests. But as a younger generation of business leaders and consumers gains … [Read more...] about US Businesses Increasingly Taking Stands on Political Issues

The Coalition for a Democratic Workplace (CDW) released a statement Monday criticizing Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) for his decision to co-sponsor the Protecting the Right to Organize (PRO) Act. The CDW, which is composed of hundreds of organizations representing millions of businesses that employ tens of millions of workers nationwide in nearly every industry, described Manchin’s decision as “very disappointing.” “It is very disappointing that Senator Manchin has chosen to side with union bosses over West Virginia’s workers and small businesses, especially during a time of economic turmoil,” CDW Chair Kristen Swearingen said in the statement. “We hope Manchin will reconsider co-sponsoring this legislation as his legacy of bipartisanship will be irrevocably tainted if he supports anti-worker legislation that invades employees’ privacy and will kill West Virginia jobs, while taking the hard-earned income away from small businesses and employees to boost the coffers of organized … [Read more...] about Business Leaders Lambast Joe Manchin Decision to Co-Sponsor PRO Act

Left-wing activist Kim Brown, who hosts “Burn it Down with Kim Brown” on YouTube, said she supports the looting of American business in the name of racial justice: BLM Activist: “I support the looting of Dollar tree. I support the looting of Advanced auto parts. I support all that shit… Because blk people could loot every store in this fuckin’ country for 200 years and it would not even come close to what America owes us.” pic.twitter.com/ZoyFwnrMlx — V. James (@GamerElefent) April 19, 2021 “I support all that shit,” Brown says in the video. “I support them looting … Dollar Tree. I support the looting of … Advanced Auto Parts. I remember last year they looted Target. I support all that shit.” “Loot all that shit,” Brown says. Do you know why? Black people and marginalized and oppressed people could loot every store in this whole fucking country for 200 fucking years — it would not even come close to the debt that America owes us.” The Real News Network, which … [Read more...] about WATCH: Activist Supports Looting Businesses: ‘Not Even Close to the Debt America Owes Us’

Ryan Grim , the Washington, D.C., bureau chief for The Intercept, along with commercial mortgage-backed securities expert John Flynn, warn that widespread inflation on the value of commercial business when applying for loans could cause a repeat of the 2008 financial crisis spurred by the implosion of the housing market. In a Tuesday interview on Hill.TV’s “Rising,” Grim outlined his recent piece that included findings from Flynn and other researchers that some banks issuing loans have inflated the value of businesses, including Dollar General, in exchange for lower interest rates. Flynn said Tuesday that lenders are the ones overstating the income, and that businesses applying for loans may be unaware of the inflated incomes reported for their properties. Nevertheless, Grim pointed out that what is happening is “very similar” to what Wall Street saw in 2008 with the residential mortgage-backed securities based on loans for homes. “There’s almost nobody around … [Read more...] about Ryan Grim, Wall Street whistleblower warn of bad loans in commercial business market

OAKLAND (KPIX) — Among the businesses facing a significant cleanup on Saturday in downtown Oakland were several car dealerships, a Target store and a number of businesses on Broadway. For months, downtown Oakland has been a fortress of boarded-up buildings. Those that were not protected on Friday night were vulnerable when the vandalism started. “Fireworks,” said Judith, who lives nearby. Then I heard a couple things that sounded like those sound booms, you know?” READ MORE: BREAKING: Verdict Reached In Derek Chauvin Trial “A lot of the people that were out — and I was watching videos, I was watching on Twitter — when the incident happened here, when the car was on fire, they were mainly white people,” observed Gina Madrid. Madrid says Friday night was a bit unexpected, in one respect. “I’m very connected with the organizers here in the community and I was actually surprised. I didn’t really know about this protest,” she explained. READ MORE: COVID Reopening: Marin … [Read more...] about After a Night of Protest Vandalism, Oakland Businesses Pick Up the Pieces