Enfield Should Let Cannabis Compete
The Enfield Town Council's proposed ban on cannabis establishments misses the mark. Cannabis is a fast-growing commercial sector that can coexist well with our residential neighborhoods. Tax revenue from cannabis companies can help pay for the roads, schools, and parks we all love. Our town should be attracting innovative new businesses, not forbidding a booming economic sector without giving it much thought.
Cannabis’ economic potential far outpaces that of alcohol in Connecticut ($73.2 million in sales last year). In Virginia, which has about twice the population of CT, it is estimated that legal cannabis will net $274 million in tax revenue. Colorado, whose population is more similar to Connecticut’s, generated $2.19 billion in cannabis sales last year. That’s billion with a ‘B.’
Cannabis jobs are stable and comparatively high paying. Accountants, lab workers, marketers, and tax experts comprise more than half of cannabis industry positions. The industry as a whole has a median annual salary of $59,000 (11% higher than the national median salary). Enfield’s proposed ordinance doesn’t just outlaw these careers, but also cannabis producers, cultivators, retailers, dispensary facilities, food and beverage manufacturers, and product packagers. These are good jobs we may be letting slip right through our fingers.
We should not turn away potential business partners without due consideration, whether they offer for sale alcohol, tobacco, hamburgers, or cannabis. Flagging property tax income and job growth among Enfield’s largest employers threaten permanent decline in our town. In 2008, Enfield’s principal property taxpayers contributed $338k (around 10% of the town’s total tax revenue). This amount is now only $281k. Over the same period the number of employees for many of Enfield’s top employers has also nose-dived. In 2008, the top four employers were as follows: Mass Mutual Insurance (1900) Hallmark Cards (803), Precision Camera (400), and CUNO Inc. (400). Today, Mass Mutual employs approximately 1538 people in Enfield and the previously listed companies all employ less than 100 folks each.
Enfield needs new sources of jobs and tax revenue to thrive. Cannabis presents an opportunity for both. Our town should not shut itself off from this flourishing industry without at least giving it a fair shot.
(Sources)
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/alcohol-sales-continue-to-surge-amidst-pandemic/2393813/
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/05/virginia-gets-close-to-legalizing-recreational-weed-as-other-states-eye-cannabis-tax-windfalls.html https://cdor.colorado.gov/data-and-reports/marijuana-data/marijuana-sales-reports
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinmurphy/2019/05/20/cannabis-is-becoming-a-huge-job-creator/?sh=51a3836b49bf
https://www.enfield-ct.gov/234/Annual-Audit-Reports
Cannabis’ economic potential far outpaces that of alcohol in Connecticut ($73.2 million in sales last year). In Virginia, which has about twice the population of CT, it is estimated that legal cannabis will net $274 million in tax revenue. Colorado, whose population is more similar to Connecticut’s, generated $2.19 billion in cannabis sales last year. That’s billion with a ‘B.’
Cannabis jobs are stable and comparatively high paying. Accountants, lab workers, marketers, and tax experts comprise more than half of cannabis industry positions. The industry as a whole has a median annual salary of $59,000 (11% higher than the national median salary). Enfield’s proposed ordinance doesn’t just outlaw these careers, but also cannabis producers, cultivators, retailers, dispensary facilities, food and beverage manufacturers, and product packagers. These are good jobs we may be letting slip right through our fingers.
We should not turn away potential business partners without due consideration, whether they offer for sale alcohol, tobacco, hamburgers, or cannabis. Flagging property tax income and job growth among Enfield’s largest employers threaten permanent decline in our town. In 2008, Enfield’s principal property taxpayers contributed $338k (around 10% of the town’s total tax revenue). This amount is now only $281k. Over the same period the number of employees for many of Enfield’s top employers has also nose-dived. In 2008, the top four employers were as follows: Mass Mutual Insurance (1900) Hallmark Cards (803), Precision Camera (400), and CUNO Inc. (400). Today, Mass Mutual employs approximately 1538 people in Enfield and the previously listed companies all employ less than 100 folks each.
Enfield needs new sources of jobs and tax revenue to thrive. Cannabis presents an opportunity for both. Our town should not shut itself off from this flourishing industry without at least giving it a fair shot.
(Sources)
https://www.nbcconnecticut.com/news/local/alcohol-sales-continue-to-surge-amidst-pandemic/2393813/
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/03/05/virginia-gets-close-to-legalizing-recreational-weed-as-other-states-eye-cannabis-tax-windfalls.html https://cdor.colorado.gov/data-and-reports/marijuana-data/marijuana-sales-reports
https://www.forbes.com/sites/kevinmurphy/2019/05/20/cannabis-is-becoming-a-huge-job-creator/?sh=51a3836b49bf
https://www.enfield-ct.gov/234/Annual-Audit-Reports
Supporting Enfield Teachers
I express my support and gratitude for our town’s amazing teachers, staff, and administrators. This past school year posed many incredible challenges for Enfield schools. Our educators handled themselves with resolve and grace. Many of these challenges persist into this school year. As a community, we need to come together to lift up students, staff, and families.
I am very concerned to see politicized narratives designed to cast doubt on the rock-solid commitment our teachers have to educate our kids to the best of their ability. The Sept. 28th Board of Education meeting demonstrated that the Board’s Republican majority seeks to manufacture suspicion toward Enfield teachers. We condemn their attempts to micro-manage our educators by auditing individual assignments and all comments that suggest teachers should not be trusted.
We must trust our teachers to do what they are trained to do, and what they do every single school day. They teach children fundamentals about the world around them and about respecting themselves and their fellow community members. I believe that teachers are an integral part of our community and we will continue to fight for them.
I am very concerned to see politicized narratives designed to cast doubt on the rock-solid commitment our teachers have to educate our kids to the best of their ability. The Sept. 28th Board of Education meeting demonstrated that the Board’s Republican majority seeks to manufacture suspicion toward Enfield teachers. We condemn their attempts to micro-manage our educators by auditing individual assignments and all comments that suggest teachers should not be trusted.
We must trust our teachers to do what they are trained to do, and what they do every single school day. They teach children fundamentals about the world around them and about respecting themselves and their fellow community members. I believe that teachers are an integral part of our community and we will continue to fight for them.
Daycares Are Vital to Enfield
I share the concerns that many Enfield families have about obtaining childcare. Making sure that children are cared for should be a top priority for our town. Good daycare options mean that parents can go to work knowing that their children are well taken care of. Parents being able to do their jobs benefits our town, state, and national economies.
Daycare is a vital part of our nation’s infrastructure and must be treated that way. Daycares, like many small businesses, are hurting right now. Some are to unable able to retain employees. Others are unable to hire more workers to meet the ever-growing need for childcare. This poses a big problem for our community and American the economy at-large; parents can’t rejoin the workforce because they have no other option but to stay home to care for their children.
I think that Enfield should recognize the importance of daycare and follow our words with action. If I am elected into the majority this November, I pledge to vote to exempt childcare services from paying Connecticut personal property taxes to the full extent of the law. This will take some pressure off of daycares and will help them find solid footing again. I believe this will benefit the many children and families who need childcare in Enfield.
Daycare is a vital part of our nation’s infrastructure and must be treated that way. Daycares, like many small businesses, are hurting right now. Some are to unable able to retain employees. Others are unable to hire more workers to meet the ever-growing need for childcare. This poses a big problem for our community and American the economy at-large; parents can’t rejoin the workforce because they have no other option but to stay home to care for their children.
I think that Enfield should recognize the importance of daycare and follow our words with action. If I am elected into the majority this November, I pledge to vote to exempt childcare services from paying Connecticut personal property taxes to the full extent of the law. This will take some pressure off of daycares and will help them find solid footing again. I believe this will benefit the many children and families who need childcare in Enfield.