gbacon@observertoday.com
Are the extra payments on unemployment keeping people from returning to the workforce? Some area leaders believe that is at least part of the case.
In an interview, state Assemblyman Andy Goodell noted that there are a number reasons why he believes people haven’t returned. Among them:
¯ Some parents can’t go to work because their schools have not fully reopened. “Businesses are reopening ahead of schools that leaves some parents without childcare,” he said.
¯ Many receiving more in unemployment than they would earn in an entry level job. “You can’t expect people to search for work and rejoin the labor force when it costs them more money for childcare and transportation and they’re going earn less working than they are unemployed,” he said.
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By TODD J. TRANUM
President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce & Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier
As more and more New Yorkers are being vaccinated for COVID-19, the state is loosening some restrictions on public gatherings and preparing to open arts and entertainment venues at limited capacity. However, we all must continue to follow safety protocols if we are to protect our businesses and communities as a whole.
Starting March 22, residential gatherings will be allowed at ten people indoors or 25 people outdoors. Social gatherings will be allowed at 100 people indoors or 200 outdoors.
By TODD J. TRANUM
President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce & Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier
While we await more accessibility to the COVID 19 vaccine it is important that we take this time to prepare. An important part of preparing our community for more widespread availability of the vaccine is to make sure we are informed correct information and that we inform our family, friend, neighbors and co-workers. We live in an era of information overload and with that we are often subjected to disinformation. Identifying whether information, that is often being fed to us based on algorithms, is accurate or inaccurate is challenging. Inaccurate or intentionally false social media driven posts make their way into the public psyche every day. As a result, there are a variety of myths that have emerged about the COVID-19 vaccine. On January 16th we published an article in this column that was our first shot at helping dispel the
By TODD J. TRANUM
President and CEO of the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce & Executive Director of the Manufacturers Association of the Southern Tier
Throughout its two decades, the Chautauqua County Chamber of Commerce has based its membership on the employee count for each business. What we have learned, especially in recent years, is that employee counts don’t tell the full story of how a business participates in the Chamber of Commerce or the value received for the investment. As a result, the Chamber’s Board of Directors has authorized a new investment model now being unveiled for all our member businesses.