Worcester Business Journal

wbjournal.com | October 24, 2016 | Worcester Business Journal 29 W On the ballot: yea for slots, nay for marijuana and charter schools The Worcester Business Journal welcomes letters to the editor and commentary submissions. Please send submissions to Brad Kane, editor, at bkane@wbjournal.com. W orcester has secured its place in history as part of the women's rights movement, beginning with the first National Women's Rights Convention held here in 1850. That tradition continues more than 260 years later, as Girls Inc. of Worcester marks its centennial anniversary, as one of the oldest girl-serving organizations in our city. Over the past 100 years, what was once the Worcester Girls Club, Girls Inc. has served as a home away from home for many girls – and those alumni have become women leaders, many of whom have made significant contributions in our community. Researching the history for our centennial has reinforced two truths: 1) Although the types of pro- grams and faces of the girls have changed, the Girls Inc. mission has stayed the same, and 2) The organization has been sustainable and relevant because of outstanding women pioneers and leaders who believed each girl should be given the opportunity to thrive and be successful regardless of economic status or academic ability. Just as the founding fathers of our country who scribed the Bill of Rights, our founding mothers had the same wisdom and foresight to create "The Girls Bill of Rights" in 1936. It proclaimed rights that were relevant at that time such as, "Girls have the right to find some- where in her community, wise and understanding guid- ance by friendly adults." Today's version reflects empow- ering statements such as "Girls have the right to take risks, to strive freely and to take pride in success." What remains consistent is the foundation to invest and empower girls and young women. We owe our history to trailblazers such as Emma D. Harris, who donated her home on Lincoln Street to serve as a clubhouse for the working girls in 1916. She made this generous offer contingent on a small but mighty group of women coming together to raise $60,000 in just two months for renovations. All in an effort to provide ethical, educational and social advantages to girls from low-income families. As a result, the Worcester Girls Club was born, and Harris's legacy and place in history was forever marked as a philanthropist, community organizer and visionary leader. Outstanding women leaders, understand their respon- sibility to build the next generation of leaders. That effective leadership includes using the greatness in oth- ers and honoring the trailblazers who came before us. For the past 100 years, Girls Inc. of Worcester has car- ried on the traditions of each of these women, providing girls the opportunity to overcome obstacles to improve their well-being and success. In this issue, Worcester Business Journal will once again recognize the achievements of a select group of strong, talented and remarkable women who are making their mark on the Central Massachusetts business com- munity. How these women progress on the path to this point may be different for each, the one common thread is their passion to pay it forward and contribute to their communities. They are truly examples of women who have the right to take risks, to strive freely, and to take pride in their success. Victoria Waterman is CEO of Girls Inc. of Worcester, who also serves as tri-chair of Investing in Girls Alliance, executive leader of YouthConnect and is a member of the Women's Initiative of United Way of Central Massachusetts. Women must continue to mentor, take risks N ot just two weeks from now, Massachusetts voters will head to the polls to decide the future direction of their communities, their state and their country. While we're not in the business of endors- ing candidates, we have taken a closer look at a few of the ballot questions through the lens of impact on local businesses Regardless of where you stand on these issues or the candidates for local, state and federal office - we expect that our business leaders will do their civic duty and vote on Nov. 8. On Question 1: Yes for an additional slots parlors. This initiative isn't without its deep-seated flaws, especially since this call to add a second slots-parlor license on top of the one already awarded to Plainville will only benefit the Suffolk Downs race track in East Boston and the one devel- oper eying the area. While we did not support the expansion of casino gambling in the state, now that it is here, a little more competition in the Greater Boston market will do little harm and bring a facili- ty to a location that has been looking for a rebirth for many years. Central Massachusetts was thank- fully left out when the proposed casino facility in Leominster lost out to Plainville. There is no question that over-saturation of the market, not just in the state, but across New England will lead to reduced income for casino operators and their state partners who are in on the deal. Yet, a small dose of slots-parlor competition for the larger Winn casino in Everett can't do much harm and will help a site where gambling is wel- come by a majority of neighbors. Regarding Question 2: No on more charter schools. We get it; this initiative to allow the state to open up 12 new charter schools every year is a win for parents and students looking for more choice in the state system. The arguments for it are compelling, and as we stated with the slots parlor question, choice is a good thing. The problem is secondary education isn't a business, and this ini- tiative doesn't benefit overall secondary education in the state. Voting down Question 2 will clearly put the pressure back on the public schools, teach- ers unions, etc. to up their game and deliver a bet- ter product, especially in some of the chronically lower-rated urban school systems. Ultimately, it is hard to argue against the fact that charter school siphon off students and funding from traditional schools. While students and par- ents would get more choice, too many low-per- forming school districts still wouldn't get better. Many charter schools have done very good work and have delivered positive results, but not all char- ter schools score as winners, with first-time curricu- lum approaches falling short or being run with too much focus on the bottom line. A difficult call, but the math to us says that too many students would fall through the cracks, and public education needs to be about raising the bar for the entire state. Pass on Question 4: No on recreational mar- ijuana. Pot is an over-criminalized drug and doesn't deserve to rated as a Schedule 1 substance along with heroin and cocaine. The issue is this ballot measure will create an entirely new industry that leaves a lot of questions, and a full step to legaliza- tion feels premature and unnecessary at this time. From a consumer standpoint, almost every adult in Massachusetts can get access to marijuana one way or another, including the relatively new medi- cal marijuana laws. The current legal penalty for possessing a small amount of recreational pot is so small that it is essentially decriminalized. The only real beneficiaries are those wishing to sell large amounts of recreational marijuana. Pressing, concerns over where these dispensaries would get their supply, where they would be locat- ed, and how edibles are regulated are questions that should be answered before this initiative moves for- ward. In addition, the opioid crisis creates grave concerns about marijuana as an entry drug leading to more serious addictions. Other states with legal recreational marijuana have seen unintended side effects, requireing further study. Massachusetts is a national leader in many year, but this is one where it is prudent not to be on the leading edge. V I E W P O I N T E D I T O R I A L W O R D F R O M T H E W E B BY VICTORIA WATERMAN Special to the Worcester Business Journal Victoria Waterman Comment of the issue "Better treatment of women in our society starts in the home. If the men of the house treat women as equals or in a caring way rather than as property, the children will grow up with that understanding." - Jack Reiff, president of Wet-Tech & The Ozone People, Oct. 11, on a WBJ poll on whether governments and business need to do more to foster an inclusive work environment Tweet of the week "What a tremendous stat via @WBJournal and @MarlboroughEDC: Marlborough #unemployment falls 44% in four years." - The DAVIS Companies (@TheDavisCos), Oct. 10, about a WBJ online article regarding MetroWest employment Facebook feedback "So exciting!! I wish we could get flights to JFK too!' -John Trobaugh, Oct. 15, on Rectrix Aviation announcing plans for direct flights from Worcester to Washington D.C. W WBJ W

• Cover