Latest news with #PoliticalActionCommittee
CBS News
5 days ago
- Business
- CBS News
Keller: Political ad targets Boston's Mayor Wu over bike lanes, White Stadium
The opinions expressed below are Jon Keller's, not those of WBZ, CBS News or Paramount Global. An independent political action committee supporting Josh Kraft is behind the first TV ad in Boston's mayoral race. Does the ad, which is critical of Mayor Michelle Wu, pass the truth test? What the ad says "Too often, Mayor Wu acts as if she alone has all the answers," said challenger Josh Kraft in his campaign kickoff speech last winter. And the first TV ad of the Boston mayoral race - purchased by an independent political action committee supporting Kraft - picks right up on that theme. "We tried to tell Mayor Wu her ideas would only make things worse, but she ignored us," says the narrator, who rolls out Exhibit A: Wu's acceleration of bike lane installations around the city, in some cases over the vocal objections of neighborhood residents and businesses. In support of that claim, the city's April review of its bike lane policy found "consistent feedback" that "communications and community engagement were seemed predetermined," and "neighborhood feedback was not weighed as heavily as others." The mayor says changes will be made, but Kraft and his allies say it's proof of Wu's arrogance. Wu targeted over traffic, White Stadium The ad continues: "Bike lanes - all we got was worse traffic," citing a recent study of Boston's traffic woes. But that linkage is a stretch. In fact, that traffic study cited in the ad found Boston driver time stuck in traffic actually dropped by 10% last year, and an analyst for the company that did the study credits increased bike usage as a positive factor. More: "White Stadium? Luxury boxes and beer gardens, while Boston Public Schools are closed." The ongoing conversion of a decrepit public stadium in the heart of Franklin Park into a facility shared with a private pro soccer team has been a source of controversy. But linking it to the closure of some city schools is a real reach. Years of declining enrollments are behind the shutdowns, and it's unfair to imply Wu is prioritizing the party needs of soccer fans over the needs of Boston schoolkids. The big finish: "Boston's headed in the wrong direction, and a vote against Mayor Wu is a message she can't ignore." Are voters angry at Wu? That's the key question of this race. Most elections where an incumbent is running for another term wind up being a referendum on that incumbent and their record. Mayor Wu is trying to make it a referendum on Kaft by attacking his plans, experience and allies. Whoever wins the battle over framing the choice will likely win in November.
Yahoo
10-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
‘I think what's important is that I proved myself;' Cox runs for second term as Henderson City Councilwoman
LAS VEGAS (KLAS) – Carrie Cox, the Ward III Henderson City Councilwoman whose first term was marked by occasional public disagreements with the mayor and council, announced her re-election Thursday. Cox gave her first television interview in a wide-ranging conversation with the 8 News Now Investigators. Asked what she learned in her first term, Cox answered: 'Well, I really learned about how to truly serve constituents and what that looks like at the city so I could best help people that needed help. And that's really what it's about. Right – it's about being able to take a problem and being able to resolve it for our residents.' Cox won a contentious campaign against a candidate endorsed by Mayor Michelle Romero in 2022 as an at-large candidate, but won the majority of votes in the ward she currently serves. Cox filed a lawsuit against her previous opponent, Trish Nash, and the Las Vegas Realtor Association, prior to election day for what Cox called 'damage to my reputation.' Henderson City Council candidate files lawsuit against opponent, claiming damage to reputation She claimed that their Political Action Committee released slanderous flyers about her. Nash denied Cox's allegations. In April, Romero, who has sparred with Cox during council meetings and ultimately threatened legal action against her, also announced her re-election for 2026. Romero's and Cox's re-elections are the only two high-level elections in Henderson's 2026 race. Cox denied any wrongdoing with regard to Romero's allegations. The city faces a $10 million budget deficit for the upcoming fiscal year, according to comments Romero made at a public meeting this week. And the application deadline for a new chief of the Henderson Police Department looms after the city manager fired the previous police chief, Hollie Chadwick, in March. 'Make an appointment': Henderson city manager dodges questions about fired police chief The department now seeks to hire its 10th police chief in the past 25 years. Cox lost the support of the city's two police unions in February. Henderson police unions pull support from councilwoman following remarks She had the endorsement of those unions during her 2022 run for office. She discussed this during Friday's interview with the 8 News Now Investigators. 8NN: When you ran your first election and won, you had some endorsements that you no longer have, for whatever reason. Do you think you can go win round two with those endorsements not there? Cox: Well, for one, I don't know that I won't have those endorsements, and I think what's important is that I proved myself. And I haven't done anything wrong to lose any endorsements. And I'll continue to fight for police. I'll continue to fight for fire. And I will go win because it's not, I think, as much about endorsements as the quality of the person sitting in that seat. And so I've had the benefit of being there and doing the things that I need to do to earn that seat, and I believe I'll win.' Cox and Romero both run unopposed at this early stage of their respective 2026 races. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
09-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Are you 'quiet cracking' at work?
You remember 'quiet quitting' and 'quiet firing', right? Both have been dominant workplace trends over the last five years. Quiet quitting refers to employees who do the bare minimum required by their job descriptions, avoiding extra hours, volunteering, or going beyond their assigned tasks. It gained widespread attention during the pandemic as workers reassessed their relationship with work, seeking better balance and boundaries. Political Action Committee Manager, AVMA, Washington D.C. Director of State Campaigns, American Promise, Concord Senior Policy Specialist, Arnold & Porter, Washington D.C. Senior Education Policy Counsel/Education Policy Advisor, Lawyers' Committee for Civil Rights Under Law, Washington D.C. Government Relations Director, The Heritage Foundation, Washington D.C. Quiet firing, on the other hand, is the employer's counterpart. This is a subtle push to encourage employees to leave by withholding support, excluding them from projects, making their work environment unpleasant, or enforcing strict RTO mandates. Well, we are now in the quiet cracking era. This term describes a state where employees feel stuck, undervalued, and uncertain about their future in an organization, though they still continue to perform their duties. Those who are quiet cracking aren't consciously reducing effort à la quiet quitters, but are disengaged internally. It's quite common too. According to recent research by TalentLMS, over half of American workers (54%) experience some form of quiet cracking, with 20% reporting it as a frequent or constant feeling. Quiet cracking often goes unnoticed by busy managers. Employees may still show up and complete their work, but enthusiasm, creativity, and a willingness to contribute beyond the minimum is absent. It's different for everyone of course, but some of the top factors driving job insecurity are economic uncertainty, heavy workloads, and unclear job expectations. Though 82% of employees feel secure in their current roles, only 62% are confident about their long-term future with their employer. Some 42% of employees say they haven't received any employer-provided training in the past 12 months. And close to 1 in 6 employees (18%) are unsure if they have a long-term future where they are now. Employees experiencing quiet cracking are also 152% more likely to feel unappreciated or undervalued for their contributions. Poor leadership and company direction is the third most-commonly cited concern of employees about their jobs. And those who have not received training in the past year are 140% more likely to feel insecure about their roles. Pathways for progression are not clear. And as the report succinctly puts it: 'In short: no growth, no recognition, no reason to stay.' Additionally, company restructuring and layoffs is a concern for 25% of respondents, as is inadequate compensation and benefits. Managerial disconnect is also a factor; some 20% feel their manager does not listen to their concerns. But for employees who say they are experiencing quiet cracking, this rises to 47%. If you're an employee experiencing quiet cracking, talk to your manager about potential changes that could be introduced in the team, such as changes to workloads, and ask about role or project expectations so they are crystal clear. Provide suggestions for improving morale, such as regular spotlights on good work, and the encouragement of peer-to-peer shoutouts. These can have a significant impact in a short space of time, and you don't even need permission to begin the latter. Also, ask about training and development opportunities. Flag that you don't see a clear pathway for progression within the company, and be proactive about what you'd like to upskill in, and how it will benefit the organization. Lastly, ask if your HR or people team have plans for any anonymous surveys on employee engagement. You can be honest about your own situation, or simply observe that you're seeing a lack of energy in the organization, and are keen to see it addressed before it becomes a bigger issue. If none of that works, and you are still quiet cracking, it could be time to look for something new. And there's no better place than The Hill's Job Board, which is updated with new roles daily. Good luck. Looking for a new opportunity? Browse thousands of jobs on The Hill Job Board Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Former Trump insiders see mental decline in his recent tweets and interviews
President Donald Trump's recent post on Truth Social threatening 100% tariffs on movies produced by foreign countries has a former Trump insider questioning the president's mental health. George Conway, the former husband of Trump advisor Kellyanne Conway, reposted Trump's post on Sunday on X and questioned whether the 47th president would be put into a mental institution. 'So I think it's time for Ladbrokes to start running a line on whether Donald Trump can make it to January 20, 2026 without being committed to a mental institution,' Conway posted. Conway supported Trump in 2016 but has become one of the president's most outspoken critics, according to the Huffington Post. The American lawyer has previously questioned Trump's mental fitness, launching a Political Action Committee in 2024 that targeted Trump's speaking gaffes. In his post on Truth Social on Sunday, Trump claimed that the American film industry is 'dying' and that foreign nations are attracting filmmakers and studios away from the United States talent. 'This is a concerted effort by other Nations and, therefore, a National Security threat. It is, in addition to everything else, messaging and propaganda!' Trump wrote. 'Therefore, I am authorizing the Department of Commerce, and the United States Trade Representative, to immediately begin the process of instituting a 100% Tariff on any and all Movies coming into our Country that are produced in Foreign Lands. WE WANT MOVIES MADE IN AMERICA, AGAIN!' Conway isn't the only one worried about Trump's mental health. On Sunday, Republican former U.S. Rep. Joe Walsh wrote on X that there must be more coverage of what he sees as 'cognitive decline' from Trump. Walsh, a former representative from Illinois, said he voted for Trump in 2016 but has since become a 'Never Trumper, calling the president a 'jackass' and a 'dictator' in 2024, according to WTTW. 'There should be coverage of Trump's cognitive decline,' Walsh wrote on X. 'Massive coverage. Because it's an issue. A huge issue.' Trump also wrote on Sunday that he was directing the reopening of Alcatraz to house criminals. The prison in California closed in 1963 as it was too expensive to operate, according to the Federal Bureau of Prisons. 'For too long, America has been plagued by vicious, violent and repeat Criminal Offenders, the dregs of society, who will never contribute anything other than Misery and Suffering,' Trump wrote. 'When we were a more serious Nation, in times past, we did not hesitate to lock up the most dangerous criminals, and keep them far away from anyone they could harm. That's the way it's supposed to be.' During an interview with Kristen Welker on NBC's Meet The Press, Trump said he did not know whether if everyone in the United States was entitled to due process — a right ensured by the Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments of the U.S. Constitution. 'I don't know. It seems — it might say that, but if you're talking about that, then we'd have to have a million or 2 million or 3 million trials,' Trump said. 'We have thousands of people that are some murderers and some drug dealers and some of the worst people on Earth." When asked whether he needs to uphold the Constitution, Trump again responded, 'I don't know.' 'I have to respond by saying, again, I have brilliant lawyers that work for me, and they are going to obviously follow what the Supreme Court said. What you said is not what I heard the Supreme Court said. They have a different interpretation.' Funding for the T could derail Mass. budget debate. Here's how | Bay State Briefing Former VP Mike Pence to receive Profile in Courage Award in Boston on Sunday night Michelle Obama voices fears regarding Trump's second term Poll: Americans see more overreach from Trump than the courts Mass. lawmakers eye lesser charge to deter animal cruelty Read the original article on MassLive.
Yahoo
02-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Laid-off federal workers are struggling to get rehired
As mass layoffs continue to sweep through the federal workforce, thousands of former employees are looking to state and local governments for their next career move. And while some of these organizations have rolled out the red carpet, many highly-qualified, displaced federal job seekers are struggling to find a suitable replacement role. According to research conducted by Oxford Economics, the federal workforce is expected to shrink by 200,000 positions by the end of 2025. While this won't have a huge impact nationally, those based in or near Washington DC will fear the pinch most acutely. Political Action Committee Manager, AVMA, Washington Director of State Campaigns, American Promise, Concord Policy Manager, Government Affairs, American Cleaning Institute, Washington Regulatory Policy Director, Interstate Natural Gas Association of America, Washington Federal Government Affairs Manager, BP Energy, US Couple this with the fact that many state governments are grappling with hiring freezes, budget constraints, and outdated recruitment processes, and you can start to see why the hiring process is taking longer than expected. Public-sector hiring has always tended to move slower than the pace of the private-sector, thanks to red tape, clearance protocols, and administrative approvals. Data from 2020 highlights that it typically takes 130 days to fill a local government job and 96 days to fill a stage government job, compared to just 36 days in the private sector. However, some state and local governments are accelerating efforts to hire displaced federal workers. For example, as of March, New York State had conducted over 100 interviews and hired 28 new employees thanks to its 'New York Wants You' ad campaign. Additionally, over 250 job seekers signed up to attend a career webinar or receive career resources. In Maryland, the state with the highest concentration of federal workers after Washington DC, Governor Wes Moore announced support resources to help Marylanders who have been impacted by federal layoffs. These include a public servants resource website, to serve as a central location for information and resources to assist impacted workers and their families. Additionally, the Maryland Department of Labor resources webpage for federal workers and contractors provides information on unemployment insurance benefits, career guidance, and reemployment support, and has been accessed by more than 50,000 web visitors to date. To put these figures into context, Maryland has lost 3,500 public sector jobs in March 2025, driven by the loss of 2,700 federal government jobs, and has recently passed a budget cutting $2 billion in spending. The reality is that success stories remain the exception rather than the norm and the overall picture is more complicated. While budget constraints and fiscal instability are an ongoing concern, overwhelmed HR departments that may be unable to process high volumes of applications in a fast and efficient manner are exacerbating the problem. One solution lies in embracing technology, particularly AI, to streamline the recruiting process and ensure talent doesn't slip through the cracks. One example of how AI is reshaping recruitment is Amply's conversational tool, Robin, which acts as a talent engagement agent. Built to interpret the subtleties of human communication, Robin engages with job seekers in real time, helping them navigate listings and understand roles more clearly. It reflects a growing shift toward more personalized and responsive digital experiences in the job search process. Additionally, there's Dash, an AI-driven application and assessment agent which acts as a data-driven co-pilot to help HR professionals and recruitment specialists find and hire the best talent. Dash saves the hours typically spent on the tedious task of manually sorting applications by automating and intelligently sorting candidates. Despite the many challenges former federal workers face, many remain hopeful that government at the state and local level can absorb a significant share of the federal workforce until the future looks more certain. And whether that hope turns into reality will depend as much on political will and budget flexibility as on the qualifications of the workers themselves. Until then, laid-off federal employees remain in limbo. Waiting, applying, and hoping. Looking for a new opportunity? Browse thousands of jobs on The Hill Job Board Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
