Worcester Business Journal

28 Worcester Business Journal • March 28, 2016 www.wbjournal.com Join the WBJ's LinkedIn discussion group by scanning the code to the left on your smartphone. To scan the code, you need the NeoReader. Visit get.neoreader.com to download it onto your phone. Want to participate in the conversation? F L A S H P O L L T A L K B A C K HOLY CROSS IN NCAA TOURNAMENT The Holy Cross Crusaders competed in the NCAA tournament and in the process brought attention and more than $1 million in tourney payouts to the school. "College of the Holy Cross has made all of Worcester and Massachusetts proud. #HC." Facebook commenter Fitchburg Art Museum TUITION RATES DEEP DIVE Massachusetts continued a freeze on tuition rates at state colleges and universities. "The tuition fee freeze is all but meaningless … What are the fees at [Quinsigamond Community College], and at UMass Amherst, or [Framingham State University]? Why are fees so high and tuition so low?" WBJournal.com commenter Pat C. Would you take your company public? Central Mass. business leaders want to run private companies S pring Bank Pharmaceuticals is planning to make an initial public offering expected to yield $40 million. Despite the potential financial rewards, the overwhelming majority of Worcester Business Journal readers say they would not want to take their companies public. COMMENTS: No. You lose too much control to shareholders. 18% A medical marijuana dispensary will open in Worcester's canal district, following a non-opposition letter from the city manager. The move comes years after the 2012 vote to legalize medical marijuana in the state and months before a recreational legalization vote this November. When asked, the majority of WBJ readers said the move is good for the city. Medical marijuana good for city "Fighting it is pointless; embrace and control." Is allowing a medical marijuana dispensary a wise move for the city? Yes. It's the ultimate point you can take a company. COMMENTS: "Yes, but enforce all laws and regulations so that it operates like a CVS or a Walgreens." Yes. It is a great source of financing. 12% No. The regulations and required public disclosures aren't worth it. 58% Yes. The taxpayers voted and the city should comply with the law. 42% Yes. It will be a good revenue stream for the city. 22% No. This dispensary will drag down a growing area of the city. 23% "One must focus too much on profits, often at the adverse effect of the mission, core values and company culture." 12% 13% "The government should not second guess or override the voters. We are a society of local government rules and laws, and majority rules. Let's not lose sight of that, otherwise we may lose the right and privilege to vote at all." No. City officials shouldn't support a business still illegal on the federal level.

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