spedmunki t1_ivw8s82 wrote on November 11, 2022 at 1:50 AM

Boston officials: let’s throw up every obstacle possible to businesses opening and operating in the city.

Also Boston officials: you aren’t allowed to close for business reasons because we need businesses

They are so concerned about investments in these communities, but make viable businesses spend millions in legal costs and years in pointless hearings that either completely neuter their operations or turn them away from the start.

dirtshell t1_ivyvppl wrote on November 11, 2022 at 5:14 PM

Walgreens and CVS's are closing and consolidating across the country, this has nothing to do with boston officials making it difficult to run and open businesses and everything to do with irresponsible growth backed by the expectation that even if the store itself fails, the property it is on will maintain its value. Its a natural consequence of a loose monetary policy.

I promise you, when Walgreens execs get the numbers saying that there is money to be made in these neighborhoods, no amount of made up "anti-business" policies will stop them. They have entire teams of people dedicated to setting up these stores.

spedmunki t1_ivzfkht wrote on November 11, 2022 at 7:26 PM

I understand why Walgreens and CVS are closing, my comment is more around investment in the neighborhoods these councilors are allegedly concerned about.

There’s maybe 1(?) liquor license in all of Mattapan. And there haven’t been any of the community beer and wine licenses awarded. There’s also constant hand wringing about crime, traffic, and other hypothetical boogey men when businesses try to open or expand.

dirtshell t1_iw01oe0 wrote on November 11, 2022 at 9:59 PM

Oh, I 100% agree. Startup costs and licenses in Boston make starting up a business as an individual impossible without experience doing it before or hiring outside counsel. Should be easier, and its only made more difficult by understaffed local bureaucracy.