FEATURES
STACY MITCHELL | DEC. 3, 2020
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In this new report, we argue that moving aggressively to rebuild small, independent businesses and reverse the concentration of corporate power would produce faster job growth, lift wages, and lead to a more vigorous and equitable recovery. And we lay out more than 20 policy recommendations — including many steps that the Biden Administration can take on its own, plus legislation that Congress should move. Read the report.
Take action: Please share this with your Members of Congress!
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FEATURES
KENNEDY SMITH | NOV. 30, 2020
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 ILSR Senior Researcher Kennedy Smith talked to the Mayors' Institute on City Design about how to help Main Street businesses survive the pandemic. Kennedy provided a three-tier framework based on her 26 Strategies for Local Leaders report that mayors can use to support independent businesses and main street districts during the pandemic: 1) provide urgent economic relief; 2) help businesses adapt and pivot; and 3) tackle systemic problems that have been laid bare by the pandemic. Watch Kennedy’s talk here.
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WHAT WE’VE BEEN UP TO
- Stacy Mitchell appeared on the Strong Towns podcast, where she discussed how concentrated corporate power is gaining even more ground during the pandemic and the growing pushback. Tune in!
- Equal Times quoted Ron Knox about why Amazon needs to be reigned in. “[Amazon] has a record of mistreating employees...and [there’s] disturbing evidence of Amazon ignoring and flouting safety protocols during the pandemic.”
- Stacy spoke to Axios about Amazon’s acquisition of Whole Foods. It "entrenched Amazon’s power as an online retailer in a number of ways," including giving it "a new cache of data on how a particularly lucrative demographic behaves in an offline shopping environment."
- Ron was also quoted in the Duluth News Tribune about why big chains don’t need subsidies from local communities. "If [Costco executives think] they're going to make money somewhere, then a Costco is going to move there," Knox said. "They do not need a public handout in order to do so."
- Amidst this holiday season, several outlets are re-upping ILSR research on how to help small businesses recover from the pandemic, and why it’s important for communities to shop local.
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NEWS STORIES WE'RE FOLLOWING
- In its continuing quest to buy its way to market power, Amazon is in talks to purchase Wondery, a podcast network with 20 million monthly users.
- House Small Business chair Nydia Velazquez points out that if the Small Business Administration keeps handing out millions to big businesses as newly-released data shows happened, these corporations will “continue to dominate.”
- Residents of Botetourt County, W. Va., will now have to drive 40 miles to pick up a prescription after the last independent pharmacy in the region closed its doors.
- We loved reading this sad, wonderful, beautiful story of the life of an independent local storekeeper in an age of monopoly power.
- The mayor of Paris and some prominent lawmakers have signed a petition for a “Noël Sans Amazon,” asking shoppers to steer clear of Amazon this season.
- When the owner of Heirloom Books unexpectedly died earlier this year, her friends took over the independent Chicago shop, and the business continues to thrive during the pandemic.
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From informing policymakers to shaping media coverage, ILSR's research is
making an impact. Please help us work to create an economy that's more
competitive, equitable, and prosperous by making a donation today.
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