#economic consulting firms chicago

[smith-economics-group]

Smith Economics: Leading Economic Consulting Firm in Chicago

Smith Economics, a leading economic consulting firms chicago, offers unmatched economic insights. Our seasoned specialists use their extensive knowledge to traverse economic situations and deliver clients customized solutions. You may improve your financial performance by relying on Smith Economics for data-driven analysis, creative solutions, and strategic direction.

[msclaritea]

Levi Strauss heir will reportedly challenge London Breed in 2024

SF Mayor London Breed will reportedly face another 2024 challenger: a Levi Strauss heir

Alec Regimbal, SFGATE

Updated: July 18, 2023 10:02 a.m.

"An heir to the Levi Strauss fortune will reportedly challenge San Francisco Mayor London Breed for her seat in next year’s election, according to a report from the San Francisco Standard. 

What to know about the Pier 39 sea lions

The report said Daniel Lurie has yet to formally announce his candidacy or file the paperwork necessary to begin raising money, but several sources who have knowledge of his plans told the Standard that he’s been “hosting gatherings to rally support.” The Standard also reported that Lurie has begun recruiting staff and is being helped by Tyler Law — a political consultant whose firm has assisted in state and national races, including the presidential campaigns of Barack Obama and Pete Buttigieg. 

A San Francisco native, Lurie is the founder of Tipping Point Community, a nonprofit aimed at combating poverty in the Bay Area. Lurie is also the son of Mimi Haas, who married the late philanthropist Peter Haas — the great-grandnephew of Levi Strauss — after her divorce from Brian Lurie, a prominent rabbi. Mimi Haas owns 11% of Levi Strauss & Co. shares, making her the single largest shareholder in a company that’s worth more than $5 billion today.  

Lurie did not reply to a request for comment from SFGATE.  

The news that Lurie is reportedly planning to launch a campaign comes at time when San Francisco voters are largely unhappy with Breed’s performance as mayor. A pair of recently released polls show that voters are concerned primarily about drugs, public safety, homelessness and housing affordability, and generally disapprove of the way Breed is handling those issues. The mayor’s office did not immediately reply to a request for comment from SFGATE about Lurie’s reported plans.

The only prominent challenger to Breed who has formally announced their campaign for mayor is District 11 Supervisor Ahsha Safaí, who told the San Francisco Chronicle in May, “People are very dissatisfied with the current mayor, dissatisfied with the condition of the city, and they’re looking for change.” (The Chronicle and SFGATE are both owned by Hearst but have separate newsrooms.)

Safaí, like Breed, is seen as a moderate Democrat, which sets them apart from the more progressive members of the city’s political arena. A source close to Lurie told the Standard that they believe he can offer a “similar but fresher alternative to the moderate Democratic platform of Breed.” That means, unless a prominent progressive enters the race, voters might be choosing among candidates with similar platforms.

Apart from his work with Tipping Point Community — he stepped down as CEO in 2019 — Lurie is mostly known for his ties to the Levi Strauss fortune. In 2021, he reportedly purchased an estate in Point Dume, a promontory on the coast of Malibu, for $15.5 million.

The Standard reported that Lurie lives in Potrero Hill with his wife Becca Prowda, who works for California Gov. Gavin Newsom, and their two kids."

And Governor Gavin Newsom is a World Economic Forum puppet, having been involved with that totally unregulated, foreign body who become giddy at the thought of running the entire planet. I don't get San Franciscans not understanding what's going on. I looked up Mayor London Breed, and while she's not perfect, Breed has enacted a lot of policy changes to improve the city. The fact that there are so many local 'Progressives' against her, tells me Mayor Breed is actually worth keeping. Note that it's not just Progressives but the Predatory classes, like Musk and his Silicon Valley ilk who are trying to run her out of office. We all saw similar coups go down in New York and Chicago and the jury is still out on Mayor Eric Adams, who recently tried cutting the budget of N.Y. libraries. But Mayor Breed stopped a new private prison from being built. I thought that was something these faketivists wanted.

COVID-19 response

'San Francisco issued a state of emergency because of COVID-19 in February 2020, before the federal government suggested doing so, and San Francisco became one of the first American cities to go into lockdown. On March 2, Breed advised residents, "Prepare for possible disruption from an outbreak". Under the state of emergency, private gyms were required to shut down, but the city government petitioned Cal/OSHA for a waiver to allow various government employees to continue to use gyms in city-owned facilities, which were allowed to continue to operate.

On April 24, 2020, Breed reported that her city's PPE orders had been diverted to other cities and countries. She said, "We’ve had issues of our orders being relocated by our suppliers in China. For example, we had isolation gowns on their way to San Francisco and they were diverted to France. We’ve had situations when things we’ve ordered that have gone through Customs were confiscated by FEMA to be diverted to other locations." Wiki

We never got an investigation into what was going on with the PPE gowns and other equipment during covid. I'm guessing certain parties don't want it brought up because someone has to explain why, if Trump and Kushner were only sending equipment to states that support him, while having their Chinese allies block delivery to cities such as San Francisco, how did Bernie Sanders and Vermont come out on top? There were NO interruptions in their supply.

How much is the Strauss family worth?

$4 billion

Their collective net worth is over $4 billion. And revenues are up nearly 30% from 2020. There are also plans in motion to expand and innovate the business by offering a more convenient shopping experience using AI. The company has also acquired the major active wear brand, Beyond Yoga.Apr 1, 2022

[theculturedmarxist]

Last Monday, one of the large number of Washington, D.C. insider trade publications - Politico - called out Biden antitrust policy as the single most problematic area for financiers. “In taking on tech giants and forcing the collapse of lucrative deals,” said Politico Morning Money, “Lina Khan has earned the status of Wall Street nemesis.” It’s true. The torpedoes launched last year - from rule-makings to challenges of Google and Spirit-JetBlue - are now exploding.

In this issue, we’re going to describe how the establishment is hitting back, in ways you don’t see, but which might become a political issue if the consultants and candidates who run campaigns actually notice what’s happening in Congress.

The short story is that big business is using partisanship to try and persuade Congressional Republicans, and some Democrats, to repeal antitrust laws, as well as drag antitrust enforcers before committees and harangue them in public. But among voters, within academia, and even in the conservative legal movement, antitrust is becoming far more relevant.

First, let’s set the context. This week, polling came out again showing Americans oppose monopolies and support antitrust laws, which isn’t a surprise. People dislike junk fees and unfair prices. We’ve all noticed high-profile monopoly-driven problems with episodes like the baby formula shortages, the failure of Ticketmaster’s ability to sell tickets, and ludicrously high prices for EpiPens and asthma inhalers.

This parade of incidents is one reason two-thirds of all Americans support anti-monopoly laws. That holds among both Biden and Trump voters, with more than 70% of both camps agreeing that monopolies are bad for the economy. And only 5% of Americans - across party affiliations - think that antitrust laws should be weakened.

One thing that surprised us is though people generally like technology firms, 46% still think the government should break up big tech, versus just 28% who don’t. What’s also interesting is that 52% of voters have heard little or nothing about the Biden administration’s economic policies, which means few people know what antitrust enforcers are doing. That could change relatively soon. Here’s Montana Senator Jon Tester, running for reelection in a very Trump-friendly state as a Democrat, attacking consolidation in the meat-packing and seed industries as a point of distinction between the parties.

It’s not just certain Democrats making the case. After all, in 2020, it was Donald Trump’s administration which brought the major Google antitrust suit currently being litigated. In academia, today legal scholars and historians are trying to reorient the history of America as one grounded in anti-monopoly thought, as this interesting collection of essays put out by the Tobin Project shows. And in key ways, conservative legal thinkers are ahead of the curve on consolidation. Take the highly influential George Mason law professor Todd Zywicki, who interviewed Biden antitrust chief Jonathan Kanter on the new proposed merger guidelines, calling them a “moderate” way to split the difference between traditional Chicago School conservatives and a newer populist sentiment.

That interview happened at, of all places, the Federalist Society, which is the beating heart of the conservative legal movement, where law professors, high-powered lawyers, circuit court judges and Supreme Court justices spend time networking and learning from each other. Justices Alito, Barrett, Gorsuch, and Kavanagh all attended last Friday’s black tie Federalist Society event.

Indeed, that dinner was part of the organization’s National Lawyer’s Convention, which had multiple discussions of the threats to conservatives by monopolization, as well as originalism and antitrust law. Stephanos Bibas, Third Circuit Judge, was the moderator of the panel on antitrust, and he often expressed surprise and interest in some of the comments by panelists, which included, among others, Deputy Assistant Attorney General of Antitrust Doha Mekki, Michigan professor Daniel Crane, and conservative plaintiff lawyer Ashley Keller. It wasn’t just one panel, the interest was pervasive. Lina Khan, for instance, did a well-attended fireside chat. And the main event on Saturday was a debate between two conservatives over whether social media platforms had sufficient monopoly power that the state could regulate them as common carriers.

And yet, in certain corners of the establishment, the pro-monopoly tradition that started in the 1980s remains dominant. Last week, an appropriations bill in the House - one of the spending bills that keeps government working - was amended multiple times to repeal antitrust laws.

Let’s look at a few of those proposals. There was a pro-junk fee amendment from Rep. Scott Fitzgerald (R-WI), which would “prohibit funding for the FTC to make Unfair Competition rule-makings.” Such wording sounds anodyne. But if you strip away the legalese, Fitzgerald is seeking to do away with the rule-making authority the FTC is using to ban annoying junk fees, which deceive customers into paying higher prices for food, hotels, event tickets, car rentals and more. It’s also the authority the FTC is using to prohibit non-compete agreements, which trap people in their jobs and deprive workers of some $300 billion in wages per year.

There was another amendment which would prevent the FTC from enforcing its unfair methods of competition authority outside the bounds of the Clayton and Sherman Act. This one would effectively end or weaken key parts of the FTC’s case against Amazon, particularly its use of algorithms to raise prices in tacit collusion with other sellers, as well as its actions against pharmacy benefit managers on lower insulin prices and its work against price discrimination towards small and medium size grocers.

Rep. Kat Cammack (R-FL) proposed an amendment to block the finalization of all rules that would affect more than $100 million of activity. This would get rid of things like the FTC’s ‘Click to Cancel’ provision that stops entities from cheating you with subscriptions, or the pre-merger notification requirement rule, which would help stop predatory acquisitions by private equity firms in health care. These are gifts to the Chamber of Commerce, at the expense of hundreds of millions of real people.

In this section of the underlying bill, Republican appropriators even included a provision to let auto dealers cheat customers with undisclosed added fees.

But this isn’t about Republicans, who in many ways are just being partisan and/or exercising muscle memory from the 1990s. In a separate appropriations bill, Rep.’s Massie (R-KY) and Democrat Lou Correa (D-CA) led a bi-partisan amendment to strip the Department of Transportation of its authority to investigate airline mergers. JetBlue, in other words, is doing a lot of lobbying, and is trying to win - through spreading around cash in Congress - what it can’t win in the JetBlue-Spirit merger proceeding. As a reminder, internal documents say this merger raises airfares by up to 40% overnight, so Correa and Massie are working hard to raise airline ticket prices.

The Massie-Correa amendment failed, with mostly Democrats against it. But a handful of Democrats who did vote for it - in addition to Correa, Rep.’s Lofgren (D-CA), Meeks (D-NY), Morelle (D-NY), and Panetta (D-CA) also voted to promote airline concentration - should have to answer for why. Correa is a particularly odd case and has attracted a lot of scrutiny for parroting big tech talking points, despite his district being near Los Angeles. Lofgren, from Silicon Valley, is also important, since she could take over the leading slot on the Democratic side of the Judiciary Committee if the current chair, Jerry Nadler, retires.

In other words, most, though not all, House Republicans seem out of touch with their own base on antitrust and monopoly issues. A whopping 206 House Republicans, many of whom represent “flyover states” most harmed by airline concentration, voted to block the Department of Transportation from investigating higher airfares and worsening airline service. So, even though 70% of the Republican base wants monopolies to be held accountable, only 13 House R’s - including Rep. Matt Gaetz (R-FL) and outgoing Rep. Ken Buck (R-CO) - want the federal government to keep doing so.

But it’s not just these amendments that matter. Tomorrow at 10am, there’s an antitrust oversight hearing in the Judiciary Committee, which is the main part of the House of Representatives that controls antitrust law. The Chair of that committee, Jim Jordan, is hostile to the anti-monopoly project, and the main witness is Antitrust Division chief Jonathan Kanter, who Jordan wants to rake over the coals for his aggressive attempts to go after big tech. I got a copy of the memo that Jordan’s staff prepared, and it reads a lot like it was written by lawyers for big business.

Under Kanter, it reads, antitrust enforcers have “pursued costly policy changes that harm American businesses and empower foreign governments.” This memo attacks the proposed merger guidelines that conservative Zywicki praised, and generally argues that antitrust enforcers are both losers who can’t do anything right, and also all powerful policymakers who block too much economic activity. Basically, it’s the old Yiddish joke about a restaurant. The food is terrible, and the portions are too small!

How much does this Congressional noise matter? Well the hope is this stuff is just a lagging indicator, and that House Republicans will catch up to their voters. It’s worth highlighting that none of the amendments will make it into law. The underlying funding bills were never brought to the House floor because of disarray among Republicans. And even if they did pass the House, the Senate would likely reject most of these amendments, with the possible exception of the auto dealer one. After all, there’s substantial support in many parts of Congress for stronger antitrust action.

However, there’s a catch. These proposals are a possible indication of what monopolists hope they can get done next Congress, if the elections go the way they want. I think that’s unlikely, since there are important Republicans in the Senate who are supportive of antitrust, but it’s possible.

Perhaps more importantly, these amendments and hearings are also an indication that members of Congress do not think voters will notice their choices that affect their constituents. All that said, the juxtaposition of very popular antitrust with ham-fisted efforts to weaken antitrust provides fertile terrain for doing some brute politics.

Another way to think about this is that establishment politicians like Rep. Fitzgerald are out of touch with actual voters. Fitzgerald is from a pretty red district in Wisconsin, a state that narrowly voted for Biden in 2020. Given where most Republican and Trump voters are on issues of corporate power, the attack ads write themselves: Establishment Republicans want you to pay more for groceries, healthcare, and travel, and are perfectly fine letting monopoly corporations make decisions about your daily life.

That kind of ad could be done in a Republican primary, or a general election. They could also be used in Democratic primaries, or general elections. It really does not matter. The point is, right now, lower prices are the top priority for over two-thirds of voters. Yet, most voters haven’t heard about what antitrust enforcers are doing. So while it sounds politically insane to propose knee-capping rules that would bring prices down, it will only be problematic if voters hear about it. As we saw above, Senator Jon Tester thinks it’s politically salient enough to bring up. It won’t take much more for big business to be on the ballot in 2024.

The pro-monopoly world is hoping that doesn’t happen, and they can keep these conflicts as quiet as possible. Unfortunately for them, people really do like complaining about Ticketmaster.

[aaronmorrisaaron]

With over 15 years of experience in compensation and people analytics, I am passionate about designing, implementing, and managing compensation programs that align with the business strategy, goals, and culture of the organization. I have a Bachelor of Commerce degree in Business Economics and Administration, and a WSET Level 1 and 2 certification in wine and spirit education. I am currently a Compensation Consultant at Parallel Equity Partners, a private equity firm that invests in growth-oriented companies across various sectors.

[molsons112000]

High Speed Rail Between Chicago and Indianapolis - U.S. City Pair Invest...

So here's the way to reduce the cost of high speed rail!!!

High Speed Rail Alliance

https://www.hsrail.org › events › g...

Webinar: Global Best Practices for Cutting the Cost of Building High- ...

We will discuss best practices for changing the dynamic and enabling public agencies to build rail projects at a lower cost and fast timeline

Here are some innovations and methods that can reduce the cost of building high-speed rail:

Construction methods

New construction methods like modular construction, standardization, and advanced tunneling machinery can reduce the time and cost of building high-speed rail. 

Energy-efficient design

Energy-efficient trains can reduce operational costs. For example, the Siemens Velaro Novo train reduces energy consumption by 30% compared to previous designs. 

Regenerative braking

Regenerative braking maximizes energy efficiency by returning power to the electricity network. 

Prefabricated arches

Prefabricated arches can save time, costs, and carbon when constructing tunnels. 

7-day work weeks

Construction firms can work seven-day weeks to finish projects faster. 

Corridor ID

The Corridor ID program creates a pipeline of projects that are ready to be built when funding is available. It also establishes a process for evaluating the priority and value of passenger-rail projects. 

Other factors that can contribute to the success of high-speed rail include:

Speed and efficiency

Connecting cities and regions

Stimulating job creation and economic growth

Creating social value

Better urban planning outcomes

Increased affordable housing 

US high-speed rail projects: The latest news - Smart Cities Dive

Jul 9, 2024 — Rail construction evolving While many of these elements are out of builders' hands, some are within their control. In fact, 79% of respondents are ex...

Smart Cities Dive

LinkedIn

https://www.linkedin.com › pulse

The Future of Rail Stations: Design Trends and Innovations ...

Jun 25, 2024 — In this blog, we will explore the latest design trends and innovations transforming rail stations in England, Europe, and the US.

Boston Consulting Group

https://www.bcg.com › publications

Maximizing Value in the Rail Industry with Strategic Cost ...

Feb 8, 2024 — Automation and Technology. Rail companies are leveraging automation and technological innovations to cut overhead costs

So Gary Indiana's airport, is expanding and connecting it to Chicago via high-speed rail makes sense...

Then taking the high-speed rail to Indianapolis with a stop in Lafayette makes sense as well..

[ivankahasbeentreatedsounfairly]

By Thomas B. Edsall

In the world of political fund-raising, there is hard money, soft money, dark money — and Leonard Leo money.

Political advocacy and charitable groups controlled by Leo now have far more assets than the combined total cash on hand of the Republican and Democratic National, Congressional and Senatorial committees: $440.9 million.

Leo is a 58-year-old graduate of Cornell Law School, a Catholic with ties to Opus Dei — the most conservative “personal prelature” in the church hierarchy — chief strategist of the Federalist Society for more than a quarter century and a crucial force behind the confirmations of John Roberts, Samuel Alito, Neil Gorsuch, Brett Kavanaugh and Amy Coney Barrett. He has emerged over the past five years as the dominant fund-raiser on the right.

As Leo has risen to this pinnacle of influence, he has become rich, profiting from the organizations he has created and from the consulting fees paid by the conservative advocacy and lobbying groups he funds.

Leo has an overarching agenda. In a 2022 speech he made upon receiving the John Paul II New Evangelization Award at the Catholic Information Center, he warned fellow Catholics: “Catholic evangelization faces extraordinary threats and hurdles. Our culture is more hateful and intolerant of Catholicism than at any other point in our lives. It despises who we are, what we profess and how we act.”

Leo describes the adversaries of Catholicism as “these barbarians, secularists and bigots” who “have been growing more numerous over the past few years. They control and use many levers of power.” He is determined to wrest the levers of power from “the grasp of liberals” and place them, permanently if possible, with those he sees as their rightful owner: social and economic conservatives.

Leo has most famously used his network and personal influence not only to establish a 6-3 conservative majority on the Supreme Court but also to secure appointment of deeply conservative justices throughout the federal and state court systems.

At the same time, Leo has provided essential support to the full gamut of right-wing advocacy and lobbying organizations, including the Federalist Society, Susan B. Anthony Pro-life America and the Faith and Freedom Coalition.

The millions of dollars Leo has raised through his tax-exempt nonprofits have, in turn, flowed to profit-making consulting companies owned, in part or wholly, by him. In 2016, he created the BH Group, a for-profit consulting firm that is now defunct, whichreceived at least $6.9 million from tax- exempt donor nonprofits run by him.

Four years later, Leo formed CRC Advisors, also a profit-making consulting firm. Since then, two of his tax-exempt donor organizations, the 85 Fund and the Concord Fund, have paid CRC Advisors more than $77 million, according to reports filed with the I.R.S.

Leo is a prodigious fund-raiser whose organizations take in and hand out hundreds of millions annually. For example, the 85 Fund, according to the I.R.S., raised $317.9 million from 2020 to 2022 and gave out grants totaling $147.4 million. During that same period, the 85 Fund paid CRC Advisors — of which Leo is chairman — fees totaling $55.2 million, according to I.R.S. filings and research by Accountable.us and ProPublica.

Similarly, the Concord Fund raised $150.7 million from 2020 to 2023 and awarded grants totaling $96.8 million, according to the I.R.S., and the Concord Fund paid CRC Advisors a total of $21.9 million.

In effect, Leo has created for himself and his for-profit partners at CRC Advisors a lucrative business model.

In 2021, Leo was the recipient of what is believed to be the single largest contribution to a politically oriented advocacy group: $1.6 billion from Barre Seid, an obscure but very wealthy Chicago electronics manufacturer. Leo used the money to create the Marble Freedom Trust, which had assets of more than $1 billion in April 2023, according to its most recent I.R.S. filing. That report shows that it gave $153.8 million to Schwab Charitable, $55.5 million to Leo’s Concord Fund and $7.6 million to the Knights of Columbus Charitable Fund.

The vast sums under Leo’s command have elevated him to the highest echelons of conservative influence and power.

Tracking payments to CRC Advisors from groups supported by Leo’s three major charities is particularly difficult because of his deliberate secretiveness. For a majority of grants, Leo uses specific “donor-advised funds,” or pass-throughs — vehicles designed to prevent the public from knowing who the beneficiaries of his largess are. Over the three years covered in the most recent I.R.S. reports, Leo’s charities channeled a total of $325.5 million through Schwab Charitable and $216.7 million through Donors Trust.

Leo or his designated representative can direct Schwab or Donors Trust to make contributions to specific groups, but those groups remain largely out of public view.

Here is how Donors Trust describes its services:

In today’s polarized climate, many conservative and libertarian donors worry about being able to manage their charitable giving in a way that aligns with their values. We help donors like you to have a positive, principled impact with your giving in a private, tax-friendly way. We are a charitable partner that not only understands your commitment to liberty but shares it, too.

The Donor Trust lists the grants it makes without identifying the source of the money. A quick scan of the groups receiving money from the Donor Trust in 2021 and 2022 includes many entities that Leo has publicly supported, including the Competitive Enterprise Institute, $1.3 million; the Constitutional Defense Fund, $7.4 million; the Foundation for Government Accountability, $2.5 million; the State Policy Network, $17.4 million; the Federalist Society, $3.7 million; and Teneo Network, $6 million.

A second factor contributing to the opacity of financial transactions involving Leo’s donor organizations and the groups they fund is that they are not required to file timely reports. Instead, many tax-exempt groups file reports with the I.R.S. in November for the previous year. So the most recent filings for many of these organizations is November 2023 for information on activities in 2022, now nearly two years out of date.

By email, I asked Leo a series of questions about his financial transactions, including:

Can you explain what CRC Advisors did for the $6,058,832 in 2023, the $3,757,454 paid in 2022, the $7,679,331 in 2021 by the Concord Fund? What did CRC Advisors do for the 85 Fund after receiving payments of $21,360,985 in 2022, $21,715,382 in 2021, and $12,117,335 in 2020? Do these payments from 501(c)(3) and 501(c)(4) charities, which are controlled by you, to CRC Advisors — a for-profit consulting firm that you chair — amount to self-dealing, in violation of tax law? If not, what justifies these payments? I know you have dismissed these concerns as baseless, but could you explain how they are baseless? In addition to the payments to CRC Advisors from the Leo-Leonard-run donor groups, many of the groups that have received payments from the 85 Fund, the Concord Fund and the Marble Trust have hired CRC Advisors. What services do you provide these groups? Do you assist them in making grant applications to your donor groups?

In his emailed reply, Leo argued that all payments were legitimate and based on the quality of the product clients received:

CRC Advisors is a firm that employs over 100 best-in-class professionals who provide an unsurpassed level of value and impact through an all-encompassing suite of services, including program and events management, content creation, research, and all aspects of public affairs. Our fees and services are based on a rigorous compliance system that is established and managed by leading legal counsel, accountants, and management and compensation consultants. We are paid less for more than our progressive rivals, and the nonprofit clients we work with are governed by independent boards. We are happy to have these standards judged against the progressives’ Arabellaand Tides networks, or any other enterprise that is similar to us.

In May 2019, Leo told The Washington Post: “I don’t waste my time on stories that involve money and politics because what I care about is ideas.”

Despite the disclosure limitations surrounding the money flowing through the donor-advised funds, Leo’s charities do list some of their grantees, and some of those grantees, in turn, disclose payments to CRC Advisors on their reports to the I.R.S.

The tax filings from 2020 to 2023 show, for example, that Leo’s donor groups gave Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America at least $12 million. In its most recent tax filing, the Anthony group reported that it paid CRC Advisors $543,821 for “public relations consulting.”

Leo’s charities have given the Foundation for Government Accountability at least $2 million. From 2020 to 2022, the accountability foundation told the I.R.S. that it paid CRC Advisors $640,000 for “public relations.”

Or take the Federalist Society, the conservative legal think tank. Leo was formerly the vice president and is now a co-chairman of its board. His donor nonprofits have given it at least $15.5 million during the 2020s, according to tax records. In its most recent filingswith the I.R.S., the Federalist Society reported paying CRC Advisors $4.78 million from 2020 to 2022.

Last week, Hans Nichols, a reporter at Axios, published a letterLeo wrote to the recipients of grants from the 85 Fund. It said in part:

“Conservative philanthropy is too heavily weighted in the direction of ‘ideation’ — the development of and education about conservative ideas and policies. In contrast, vastly insufficient funds are going toward operationalizing and weaponizing those ideas and policies to crush liberal dominance at the choke points of influence and power in our society.”

To counter this misallocation of right-wing money, Leo told the grantees, “If others are not going to devote funding to operationalize or weaponize the conservative vision, then the 85 Fund needs to weight its support much more heavily in that direction and much less in the direction of research, policy and general education.”

The 85 Fund, Leo continued, “intends to gap-fill by placing much, much greater emphasis on projects and leaders that operationalize or weaponize ideas and policies.”

For beneficiaries of Leo’s grant-making organization struggling to figure out how to “operationalize or weaponize” ideas and policies, what better place is there than CRC Advisors to get guidance?

Leo’s financial activities have been subject to repeated investigations by such liberal groups as True North Research, which has released several studies; Accountable.us, which has also put Leo under the magnifying glass; and the Campaign for Accountability.

In April 2023, the Campaign for Accountability filed a complaintwith the I.R.S. seeking an investigation into seven Leo-affiliated organizations in order to determine

whether the Leo-affiliated nonprofits have diverted substantial portions of their income and assets, directly or indirectly, to the personal benefit of Leonard Leo. Most of these entities have either made substantial independent contractor payments to one or more of his for-profit business entities or made major contributions to other Leo-affiliated nonprofits that made such payments. Such payments were generally listed as made in exchange for alleged consulting, research, public relations, or similar services; however, CFA has reasonable questions about whether those alleged services were actually rendered at all or, if services were rendered, whether the payments made were substantially in excess of the fair market value of those services.

The Campaign for Accountability, in its complaint, cited investigative reporting by Heidi Przybyla of Politico about Leo’s growing affluence: “Beginning in 2016, coinciding with the multimillion-dollar payments paid to BH Group, Leonard Leo began living more lavishly. In 2017, Leonard Leo pledged to donate $1 million to Vatican initiatives worldwide.”

I asked Philip Hackney, a former I.R.S. expert in the law governing tax-exempt groups who is now a law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, about Leo’s involvement with tax-exempt and for-profit groups.

In a phone interview, Hackney said the crucial issue when examining situations like Leo’s is whether the fees paid to his for-profit firms are “a fair amount for the services he is rendering.” The $77 million paid to CRC Advisors by Leo’s charitable funds “seems like a lot,” Hackney said.

Hackney noted, however, that when the I.R.S. seeks remedies in such cases, “it’s a hard battle to win” because the judgment of a fair price is subject to so many different interpretations, many of them subjective.

Marcus Owens, a former director of the I.R.S. Exempt Organizations Division — who is now a co-chair for nonprofits and tax-exempt organizations at the Washington law firm Loeb & Loeb — wrote by email:

There are, indeed, federal tax rules that govern related party transactions, particularly when the transactions involve a “disqualified person,” the phrase Congress used when it enacted section 4958 of the Internal Revenue Code back in 1986 to refer to an insider with the ability to wield influence over an organization that is exempt from federal income tax under either section 501(c)(3) or section 501(c)(4). For example, the Marble Trust and the Concord Fund are exempt under section 501(c)(4), while the 85 Fund is exempt under section 501(c)(3). Insider transactions that result in the insider receiving an excessive return, i.e., one that is greater than what fair market terms and conditions would provide, can lead to loss of tax-exempt status or the imposition of a penalty excise tax on the insider of 25 percent of the excessive amount, or both. Fair market terms and conditions are defined as what similar organizations would pay for similar goods or services under similar circumstances, a standard that encourages creative expression by attorneys and accountants.

While Leo has reached a pinnacle of power, he still has a lot riding on the outcome not only of the presidential election but also of the battle for control of the Senate.

Capturing the presidency is important to Leo not only for policy and ideological reasons, but also because, if Donald Trump is elected, he will appoint the next I.R.S. commissioner. It would be very unlikely that such an appointee would pursue an investigation into Leo’s finances.

Control of the Senate is also crucial because the Democratic-controlled Judiciary Committee last year subpoenaed Leo to talk about whether he was involved in gifts to members of the Supreme Court by prominent Republican donors.

In April, Leo declared that he was refusing to comply with the subpoena. “I am not capitulating,” he told reporters, to “Senator Sheldon Whitehouse and the left’s dark money effort to silence and cancel political opposition.”

Since then, the Senate Democratic leadership has been reluctant to try to enforce the subpoena — a virtually impossible task since it would require overcoming a filibuster. If Democrats retain control after the coming elections, they will be under considerable pressure to change the filibuster rules, raising the possibility that Leo could be forced to testify under oath about his activities.

The chances of that happening are, however, slim at best. The most likely outcome of the controversies surrounding Leo is that he will continue, unabated, in his drive to make America great again by devoting vast sums, relentless pressure and every kind of imaginable financial ingenuity to alter the balance of power and push America ever further to the right.

[lboogie1906]

David Surmier Cunningham, Jr. (June 24, 1935 - November 15, 2017) business executive, city official, and civil rights activist was born in Chicago to Reverend David S. Cunningham, Sr. and Eula Mae Lawson Cunningham. His family moved to Decatur, Illinois, in 1943. He received musical instruction at Millikin University. He graduated from Sumner High School in St. Louis. He received an AA from Stowe Teachers College. He joined the Air Force and served as a cartographer, working with the Lockheed U-2 high-altitude spy plane.

By the early 1960s, he had relocated to Southern California. He earned a BA in Economics and Political Science from UC Riverside. He moved to Lagos and worked as the West African regional director for an electronics company. He joined the Hughes Aircraft Company, where he co-managed the Hughes Active Citizenship Program. He established Cunningham, Short, Berryman & Associates, a management consulting firm for small businesses and government.

He received an MA in Urban Planning from Occidental College. He conducted a successful campaign for a seat on the Los Angeles City Council. Representing a West Los Angeles district that included African Americans, Asian Americans, Jewish Americans, and other minority groups, he pushed for funding of low- and moderate-income housing. He encouraged minority hiring at investment banks that sought work with the city. He received the Southern California Fair Housing Award.

He became Vice President of Public Finance at Cranston/Prescott. He established Dave Cunningham and Associates, a public affairs consultant firm. He served as senior vice president of the Community Housing Equity Corporation.

He joined an acting troupe that led to his appearances on 227 and CB4. He served on the board of directors of the UC Riverside Alumni Association and was president of the Association.

He is survived by his wife, Sylvia, and six children. #africanhistory365 #africanexcellence

[mariacallous]

Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed his former economic advisor, Andrei Belousov, as defense minister on Sunday in the latest sign that the country’s economy is being placed on a war footing in anticipation of a drawn-out fight in Ukraine. 

Belousov, who most recently served as first deputy prime minister, replaces longtime Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu, who was appointed secretary of Russia’s Security Council amid a cabinet reshuffle following Putin’s inauguration to a fifth term in office last week. 

Belousov takes the helm of the country’s Defense Ministry amid record military expenditure; spending on the war is set to account for almost one-third of the state’s budget this year. 

Putin’s decision to tap an economist with no military background to lead the closely scrutinized Defense Ministry in wartime came as a surprise to many analysts, who noted that the 65-year-old is not part of Putin’s inner circle of security hawks. His appointment speaks to the Kremlin’s thinking about the future of the war in Ukraine as it grinds into its third year, said Mark Galeotti, an expert on the Russian security services and the director of the consultancy firm Mayak Intelligence. 

“There is clearly a sense that Putin’s Russia is digging in,” he said. “It’s going to be an attritional conflict, and to that end, national resources have to be concentrated.” As first deputy prime minister, Belousov oversaw efforts to ramp up Russia’s domestic production of unmanned drones, which have plagued Ukrainian forces on the battlefield. 

Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said Putin opted to tap a civilian economist for the role in the hope of better integrating defense spending with the wider economy and fueling innovation. “Today on the battlefield, the winner is the one who is more open to innovation,” Peskov said. “Therefore, it is natural that at the current stage, the president decided that the Russian Ministry of Defense should be headed by a civilian.”

During wartime, the Russian defense minister’s role is to ensure that the generals have the resources they need to press ahead in the war—a cross between “comptroller and political advocate,” Galeotti said. “These are roles that Belousov can absolutely fill.”

Analysts broadly divide the Russian elite into two camps: the hawks, drawn from the country’s security services, and the technocrats who have helped keep the country’s economy afloat amid increasing international isolation and punishing financial sanctions. 

Belousov, a Soviet-educated economist who supported the annexation of Crimea in 2014, is seen as straddling the two worlds as a skilled technocrat and statist who sees the government as having a large role in managing economic affairs. 

“He has always been a sort of a strange combination,” said Konstantin Sonin, an economist at the University of Chicago who has known Belousov for 20 years. “He was old school ideologically, but he was basically modern methodologically.”

In 2000, Belousov founded the Center for Macroeconomic Analysis and Short-Term Forecasting, Russia’s first homegrown macroeconomic think tank, Sonin said. Having held a range of roles in government since 2006, including as minister of economic development, Belousov is known and trusted by Putin, but his otherwise low profile and lack of a power base pose little challenge to the Russian president’s grip on power. “Putin is extremely careful about not elevating anyone who could be seen as any kind of successor,” Sonin said.

With extravagant corruption rife among Russia’s political elite, Belousov is regarded to be relatively clean “by Moscow standards,” Sonin said, something that will likely be welcomed by Russia’s patriotic military bloggers who have long accused the Defense Ministry of being hamstrung by corruption.

“The appointment of a figure trusted by the president from a different agency will disrupt the rigid system of corrupt ties inside the Defense Ministry,” the nationalist blogger Dmitry Seleznev wrote. “It’s obvious that this reshuffling is being done for the purpose of strengthening the economic component of the military bloc.”

A tax on windfall profits of large corporations, proposed by Belousov and signed into law by Putin last year, succeeded in raising $3 billion for the country’s war-strained economy.

Shoigu, a shrewd political operator who had served in the role since 2012, was routinely singled out for scathing criticism by former Russian mercenary boss Yevgeny Prigozhin, who incited a short-lived military rebellion last year before dying in a plane crash in August. 

The dramatic arrest of Shoigu’s deputy and close ally Timur Ivanov in late April was widely interpreted as a shot across the bow at Shoigu ahead of the government reshuffle. 

Shoigu’s appointment as head of the Security Council speaks to Putin’s desire to remove Shoigu from the scene while preserving his dignity, Russian analyst Tatiana Stanovaya wrote in a post on Telegram. “Not because he is a friend but because it is safer for Putin himself,” she wrote, noting that the Security Council has become a place to park former political heavyweights who “have nowhere to settle but cannot be thrown out.” 

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev has served as deputy chair of the council since 2020.

The secretary position had been held since 2008 by one of Putin’s closest friends, the ultra-hawkish Nikolai Patrushev, who forged the role into a hybrid of national security advisor and director of national intelligence, Galeotti said.

Peskov, the Kremlin spokesperson, said Patrushev would be appointed to a new role set to be announced this week.

[jcmarchi]

Expert Tony Sabaj on Managed Security Service Providers - CyberTalk

New Post has been published on https://thedigitalinsider.com/expert-tony-sabaj-on-managed-security-service-providers-cybertalk/

Expert Tony Sabaj on Managed Security Service Providers - CyberTalk

Anthony (Tony) Sabaj is currently the Head of Channel Security Engineering for the Americas at Check Point, with over 25 years of experience in the Cyber/Information/Network security. Tony has been at Check Point since 2002 in a variety of sales and technical roles. Prior to joining Check Point, Tony was a Senior Product Manager at Telenisus, a startup MSSP/VAR in Chicago. In 2001, the MSSP business of Telenisus was sold to Verisign to start their MSSP business and the VAR business was sold to Forsythe to start their security practice. Tony joined Forsythe shortly after that acquisition as a Security Consultant and Certified Check Point trainer. Tony started his career with Arthur Andersen/Andersen Consulting, building their worldwide IP network, designing the security controls for the firm and helping to build their external security consulting practice.

In this interview, Tony Sabaj discusses the adoption of Managed Security Service Providers (MSSPs). From selecting an MSSP provider, to the opportunities and challenges that come with relying on MSSPs, this interview provides in-depth cyber security insights.

These days, what types of organizations are newly seeking out managed security service providers (MSSPs)?

Organization are taking advantage of MSSP for a variety of reasons, including economies of scale, access to experts and tools that are otherwise out of reach for many organizations.  With the rise of As-a-Service offerings, especially cloud consumption, MSSPs can more easily accommodate fluctuating demand that most organizations cannot economically accommodate. An MSSP can allow an organization to consume services and solutions on an as-needed or pay as to go basis, alleviating the need for the organization to build capacity for their peaks and allowing them to consume what services are needed based on demand at any point in time.

Broadly speaking, what should organizations look for in MSSP offerings?

The first thing organizations should look for is to make sure they are working with an MSSP and not an MSP (Managed Service Provider). The basic difference is that an MSP will manage devices or applications for uptime, health, and directed move/add/changes. Whereas an MSSP is providing the security expertise As-a-service, creating security policy, security monitoring and response to security incidents. Secondly, organizations should look for expertise in their specific field/vertical. There are security controls that are universal for almost all organizations, but —especially when it comes to compliance and governance— the security controls differ based on industry. Make sure that an MSSP is taking into account regulations or frameworks that an organization needs to adhere to, including ISO 27001, HIPAA, PCI, GDPR, and NERC, just to name a few.

Where can MSSPs assist organizations in saving on security costs?

MSSPs have the ability to be more efficient with the utilization of resources; human resources, technology resources and processes are delivered and utilized with efficiency that is unmatched by most organizations. Because an MSSP delivers As-a-service, there are fewer upfront costs for an organization, freeing up capital to be invested in other areas of the organization.

How can managed security relieve the strain on IT resources?

Seventy-six percent of organizations report a cyber security skills gap. Obviously, there is a shortage of qualified cyber security professionals. MSSPs can bridge that gap by providing an in-demand skill set at an economy of scale that is difficult for most organizations to match.

Also, utilizing the right MSSP can allow an organization to focus their resources on the products and services of that particular organization. Further, since most security incidents require quick and agile response, an MSSP will have the capacity on-hand to adequately respond, in collaboration with a group of experts, something that most businesses cannot otherwise afford.

Is working with an MSSP always a magic bullet type of solution?

It is never a magic bullet for any organization. Utilizing an MSSP has many advantages, but also comes with challenges.

Opportunities?

Besides the aforementioned benefits, an MSSP will have broader knowledge of the cyber security space, access to the latest security tools, and will understand unknown security concerns, at least in relation to the client. Working with an MSSP allows an organization to pivot or migrate to other solutions faster than they would be able to in-house. Organizations that purchased, implemented, and trained staff with particular controls that no longer suit their needs are pretty much required to start over, to maintain multiple systems and to incur the upfront costs of a newer solution. By utilizing an MSSP, an organization can choose different solutions offerings from the MSSP or even switch MSSPs more quickly and more cost-efficiently.

Challenges?

In most cases, utilizing an MSSP does not transfer liability. The organization still needs to be vigilant and abreast of the cyber security posture of their organization. Ultimately, the organization is responsible for ensuring adequate protections are in place. With the recently passed U.S.-based legislation concerning reporting of material cybersecurity incidents, the responsibility lies with the organization to comply with governmental regulations, regardless of their usage of an MSSP.

Lastly, organizations need to inspect and ensure that a given MSSP offers clear reporting and metrics in relation to the services that they are providing.

                                    Did you find this interview informative? See our related resources

[navigatepower]

Economic Advantages of Utility Bill Auditing: Boosting Financial Health

In an era where every penny counts, businesses are actively seeking ways to improve their financial health and remain competitive. One such strategy that's been gaining significant traction in recent years is utility bill auditing. This process involves a meticulous review of your utility bills to uncover errors, overcharges, and inefficiencies. The result? Tangible economic advantages that contribute to a healthier bottom line.

Understanding the Utility Bill Audit Process

Before we dive into the economic benefits of utility bill auditing, let's grasp the audit process itself. This systematic examination of your utility bills seeks to identify discrepancies between what you're billed and what you should be billed. Professional auditors scrutinize every aspect of your bills, including electricity, natural gas, water, and more. Here's how it works:

1. Bill Verification

Auditors meticulously verify each utility bill to ensure it accurately reflects your consumption and rates.

2. Identifying Errors and Overcharges

Energy Consultants will pinpoint errors, overcharges, or discrepancies in your bills, no matter how minor they may seem.

3. Negotiation and Refunds

Auditors negotiate on your behalf to correct these billing issues and secure refunds or credits.

4. Cost Recovery

Recovered costs go directly to your bottom line, instantly impacting your company's financial health.

Now, let's explore how these steps translate into real economic advantages.

Reducing Operational Costs

The most direct and immediate economic advantage of utility bill auditing is cost reduction. When overcharges and billing errors are rectified, you're effectively slashing your operational costs. For businesses that operate on thin margins, this can be a game-changer.

Enhancing Cash Flow

Refunds and credits obtained through the auditing process mean money back in your pocket. This improved cash flow can be reinvested into your business, used to pay down debt, or set aside for future growth. It's a financial boost that keeps on giving.

Competitive Pricing Negotiations

Utility bill auditors are experts in energy markets and pricing structures. They can often secure more favorable contracts with your utility providers, leading to ongoing savings that extend well beyond the initial audit.

Environmental Impact and Sustainability

Reducing energy waste through auditing isn't just about saving money. It's also about reducing your carbon footprint. As your energy consumption becomes more efficient, you contribute to a greener planet and can even leverage sustainability efforts for marketing and branding.

Embracing Proactive Financial Management

Utility bill auditing transforms your financial management from a passive process into a proactive one. By continually monitoring your utility bills, you can quickly spot irregularities and address them, preventing future overcharges and optimizing your operational costs.

Choosing the Right Utility Bill Auditor

To maximize these economic benefits, it's crucial to partner with the right utility bill auditing firm. Experienced auditors understand the intricacies of the energy market, have in-depth knowledge of regulatory changes, and can navigate complex utility contracts.

In conclusion, utility bill auditing offers a series of economic advantages that significantly improve a company's financial health. From cost reduction and enhanced cash flow to competitive pricing negotiations and sustainability, this process is a powerful tool for companies looking to secure their financial future. By embracing utility bill auditing, you're not only saving money but also fortifying your business for the long term.

Navigate Power LLC

2211 N Elston Ave Suite 208, Chicago, IL 60614, United States

8886011789

[roysexton]

And now the pro shots (alas my ruby slippers didn’t make the cut 😅👠). Full album here: https://lnkd.in/gYPS7CfN

Feeling lazy after a whirlwind three days … so cutting and pasting the same description from yesterday. 😁

Damn - this panel rocked! So proud to have been part of this at the National LGBTQ+ Bar Association Lavender Law Conference in Chicago. Thank you to Coston Consulting’s Angelica Crisi for assembling us and moderating so beautifully. We had a full house, so engaged with such great questions. It was an honor to be among this crew. Also, thank you, newsPRos’ Jaime Baum, for fueling me up with a great lunch. And much appreciation to my Clark Hill Law colleague Tobias Smith for attending the session, for always being so kind and supportive, and for being a wonderful friend.

Session description …

Accelerating Your Business Development and Marketing Skills

Speakers:

– Angelica Crisi (Moderator) (Coston Consulting LLC)

– Marla Butler ( Thompson Hine LLP )

- Kate Eisenberg ( Mintz )

- M. Frank Francis ( SEVERANCE, BURKO, SPALTER, & MASONE P C )

– Khue Hoang ( Reichman Jorgensen Lehman & Feldberg LLP )

– Roy Sexton (Clark Hill)

The ongoing disruption in the legal industry has created new opportunities and challenges for lawyers from underrepresented groups. With a potential economic downturn looming, it’s even more critical and timely for diverse lawyers to focus on sharpening their client development and marketing skills.

This interactive panel will provide tips and best practices to help you take your career to the next level as it explores everything from engaging your network to crafting value propositions that differentiate your services and cultivate a powerful brand.

Program participants will hear from legal marketing experts and experienced law firm partners as they share their insights and explore best practices to help you hone your business development and marketing skills. Panel moderators will take a deep dive into the following questions: How do you stand out in a crowded and competitive market? How do build strong connections in your company/firm? How do you unlock and grow your network? What are the keys to growing your business and expanding client relationships? How do you position yourself for success?

#lgbtqcommunity , #lgbtqia , #pride, #lmamkt, #legalmarketing , #businessdevelopment 🏳️‍🌈

[cloudestersoftwareusa]

Software Development for Start-ups – A Must-Read for Start-up Owners!

The year 2023 will witness a major quest to provide high-quality software development for start-ups. The truth is that when investors carefully assess the technological component of an asset, high-quality software development has become essential.

In most cases, a startup’s success depends on meeting the needs of its clients. However, founders either directly or indirectly end up making blind development if the technical and engineering components of a firm are not properly planned.

For instance, it’s critical to comprehend that your server can handle a large volume of user inquiries.

Let’s dive deeper to understand the entire scenario of how custom software development Chicago works for start-ups!  

Software development for Start-ups

Despite having an efficient architecture for your application, the same guidelines still apply when you ask to add additional features. Simply put, the founders cannot foresee every facet of the growth of their firm. However, founders might examine how their startup’s technological foundation can address potential usage scenarios.

If you’re planning to launch your start-up anytime soon, here’s how you can ensure your software development for start-up works up to the mark.

1. Assure You Have A Team of Experts! 

Most startups are founded by entrepreneurs, so there is little to no foundation in technology or technical expertise to guarantee long-term success. However, company entrepreneurs should avoid giving up on their idea because they lack the necessary engineering expertise.

However, there should be a greater understanding of engineering constraints so that you can create a plan to close gaps. But if not, consulting a seasoned software development firm would be the most economical, effective, and sensible course of action.

Although you may not realize it in the beginning, outsourcing software development for start-ups is the most practical way to acquire expert advice and hand over various engineering elements of your firm. By outsourcing, you may enhance the resiliency of your IT infrastructure and deliver high user satisfaction. As a result, investors will pay greater attention to you and continue to compliment you.

2. Seamless Data Management is the Key to Success!

As a start-up owner, you must research the benefits of implementing effective data management right from the beginning. Determine “where” and “how” the startup data should be stored, as before.

Keep in mind that data-driven growth necessitates clear and trustworthy data management to make reasoned decisions. To get the most out of data services like data collecting, data reports, dashboards, etc., you should also create specialized software architecture.

3. UI/UX Design Matters, Literally A Lot!

The importance of UX and UI design, how it boosts user pleasure, and how it integrates with appropriate back-end interactions should be made clear to ensure outstanding software development for your start-up.

Now, this does not imply that founders must create intricate user interfaces. Instead, make sure MVP and the app’s design is responsive, straightforward, and user-friendly.

Test numerous variations of the app design to ensure that it doesn’t look complicated. 

4. Choose the Programming Languages Wisely!

Even if you’re using low-code or open-source software, you will still need appropriate software architecture to modify and optimize business models as per the required technological capabilities. Most startups fail due to a bad business strategy as well as shoddy software architecture that became a block for adding new features.

The MVP in startup software development is typically the founders’ main point of contention. It all comes down to choosing between using free and open-source MVP development during the early phases of a firm instead of using complex technological advancements.

A reliable tech partner like Cloudester may help you acquire amazing architecture support to accommodate various future situations. Cloudester can assist you in accelerating your development efforts, including the use of frameworks and programming languages.

5. Analyze Data Protection & Security Practices!

Startups are not exempt from restrictions, albeit, it depends on the type of data and service.

This gives the founders even more justification to create the service in accordance with the rules. The terms “data protection” and “data security” are sometimes used synonymously. Firewalls, encryption, and AAA (authentication, authorization, and accounting) are the key elements of data security.

The good news is that startups may now strengthen their efforts at data protection and security, thanks to a variety of strategies shared by Cloudester. You can look into how Cloudester’s engineers are performing their best to ensure high-end security in their projects.

Final Thoughts

A startup’s talented and experienced CTO is more than capable of aligning third-party solutions and modules to guarantee reasoned decision-making. However, the majority of these duties are delegated to a qualified software development firm.

Understanding your engineering and technological limitations is crucial for founders. They must set a vision when it comes to consideration for startup’s software development and other technological aspects. You have to learn to optimize a variety of tools within a set budget, from human capital to software to technology.

In addition, you can collaborate with the most creative people in the industry or some agency like Cloudester to develop a varied workforce that can serve a variety of customers. You won’t have to continuously worry about subpar production quality that could affect operations once you concentrate on the appropriate tools.

Let’s connect with us to discuss your goals and the project requirements.

Original Source:-Software Development for Start-ups

[mostlysignssomeportents]

The gig economy's dark-money, astroturf "community groups"

When CA’s Proposition 22 passed in 2020, it killed the right of gig workers to unionize and it permanently enshrined the practice of worker misclassification: pretending employees are independent contractors, not entitled to health care, overtime, pensions or basic protections.

Uber, Lyft and other “gig” companies spent $205m to pass the ballot initiative, almost as much as was spent on every legislative race in the state — it was the most expensive ballot initiative in American history.

That money was accompanied by some powerful endorsements, including the California NAACP, which struck many observers as deeply strange, given that the most exploited workers in the gig economy are Black.

The situation became clearer when we learned that $95k was funneled to a “consultancy” run by CA NAACP chair to help sell Prop 22. Hoffman resigned shortly thereafter, on news that her firm raked in $1.7m to “consult” on ballot initiatives in 2020.

https://www.latimes.com/california/story/2020-11-20/california-naacp-leader-to-step-down-alice-huffman

A new investigative story in The Markup by Dara Kerr and Maddy Varner reveals a vast corporate dark-money operation that spent millions to make Uber and Lyft seem like paragons of racial justice.

https://themarkup.org/news/2021/06/17/uber-and-lyft-donated-to-community-groups-who-then-pushed-the-companies-agenda

They reveal over 30 orgs from communities of color that took donations from Uber and Lyft’s PACs and subsequently came out against state and city initiatives to ban worker misclassification and secure benefits and protections for precarious workers.

https://github.com/the-markup/investigation-gig-spending/blob/main/donations.csv

These orgs published op-eds endorsing worker misclassification as a way for “independent workers to stay independent,” placing them in respected Black papers like the Chicago Crusader, Latinx papers like El Dia, and mainstream papers.

Many of these op-eds were identical, not marked as press releases, and with no disclosure of the financial relationship between the gig companies they defended and the organizations who convinced the papers to run the “editorials” (some ran anonymously, without bylines).

More remarkable than the orgs that have taken Uber and Lyft’s money and then joined their “coalitions” are groups that were added to these coalitions without ever agreeing to do so, like Groundwork Buffalo, PUSH Buffalo, Open Buffalo, and Coalition for Economic Justice.

These campaigns are orchestrated by PR firms like Hilltop Public Solutions, who boast of their “grasstops solutions” that help “clients inject their voices into local policy debates.”

This kind of Orwellian language is shot through the pro-misclassification campaigns, which are styled as “protecting worker independence” (independence from health care, workplace safety, a minimum wage, a pension…)

It’s hard to overstate how corrosive this is, how it discredits the hard work of community groups and plays into cheap cynicism.

I’ve worked for a nonprofit off and on for 20 years and I’ve lost track of the number of people who’ve called us “shills” because sometimes the principles we fight for align with the actions of companies and we support them.

The fact that we also fight them — sue them! — when they don’t live up to those principles gets missed out, creating a cheap, cynical discourse that demoralizes the public and activists alike.

One of history’s most wicked acts of political genius came from Vladislav Surkov, who designed Putin’s comms strategy. Surkov cheerfully admitted that he had set up and created some of the anti-Putin opposition groups and funded them — but never said which groups were fakes.

Surkov created a situation where no one knew if they were among committed activists — or just a patsy for a false-front group. It’s a scorched earth tactic, one that demolishes the possibility of genuine social movements.

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/26/kremlin-puppet-masters-leaked-emails-vladislav-surkov-east-ukraine

That’s the Lyft/Uber playbook: not just to create the appearance that the workers they prey on enjoy it — but to annihilate the possibility that any community group will be taken seriously.

[delightfulconnoisseurgentlemen]

Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market | Overview of Full Growth in 2021-2026 Including Top Key Players

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The major players involved in the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market are:  ZEON NOK TOHPE Haiba Jianfeng Qinglong

Drivers responsible for the economic growth in the past, present, and future along with market volume, cost structure and potential growth factors provide an all-inclusive data of the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market. Along with this, the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market trends, and geographic dominance and regional segmentation forms the most significant part of the research study. These are the factors responsible for the anticipated growth of the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market. However, regional segmentation specifies whether the USA, UK, China, or Europe will dominate the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market in future. This report also includes an environmental perspective in that the growing concerns of imbalanced ecosystems, emergence of sustainability as key concerns in most of the industries and reducing waste. The Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market report includes data regarding how Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber industries across the globe are adapting to more sustainable strategies for the benefit of the mankind. Also, special efforts taken by the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber industry to spread awareness by implementing strategies to the new world post pandemic are of great significance in this report. By the product type, the market is primarily split into: Type 1, Type 2 By the end-users/application, this report covers the following segments: Gasket Rubber Tube Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market: Key Highlights of the Report for 2020-2026 • Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of the market in forecast years 2020-2026 is given. The data provided here about the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market accurately determines the performance investments over a period of time. It helps the businesses drive their financial goals to fulfillment. • Detailed information on key factors that are expected to drive Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market growth during the next five to ten years is provided in the report. • Accurate market size estimates and the contribution of the parent market in the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market share and size. • A detailed analysis of the upcoming trends, opportunities, threats, risks, and changes of consumer behavior towards the products and services. • Demographics of growth in the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market across different countries in the geographical regions such as America, APAC, MEA, and Europe. • Information on the major vendors in the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market and competitive analysis. • Comprehensive details of the vendors that drive the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market. Geographical Segmentation and Competition Analysis – North America (U.S., Canada, Mexico) – Europe (U.K., France, Germany, Spain, Italy, Central & Eastern Europe, CIS) – Asia Pacific (China, Japan, South Korea, ASEAN, India, Rest of Asia Pacific) – Latin America (Brazil, Rest of L.A.) – Middle East and Africa (Turkey, GCC, Rest of Middle East) Report Highlights • Provides forecast trends for the year 2021-2027 for the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market. • Net profit gained by leading enterprises in particular segments is highlighted in the study. • To study growth and productivity of the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market companies. • Provides information on diversified ancillary activities involved in the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market. • The demand for local goods and services in the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market. • Public interventions regulating the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market. • The study highlights the difficulties faced by producers and consumers to market the products and services in the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber industry. The report forecasts or predicts the future behavior or future trends of the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market based on its productivity and growth factors. Strategies adopted the leading players for effective utilization and modernization of their existing resources for maximum profits is briefed in the study.

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Table of Contents Chapter One: Report Overview 1.1 Study Scope 1.2 Key Market Segments 1.3 Players Covered: Ranking by Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Revenue 1.4 Market Analysis by Type 1.4.1 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Size Growth Rate by Type: 2020 VS 2026 1.5 Market by Application 1.5.1 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Share by Application: 2020 VS 2026 1.6 Study Objectives 1.7 Years Considered Chapter Two: Growth Trends by Regions 2.1 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Perspective (2015-2026) 2.2 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Growth Trends by Regions 2.2.1 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Size by Regions: 2015 VS 2020 VS 2026 2.2.2 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Historic Market Share by Regions (2015-2020) 2.2.3 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Forecasted Market Size by Regions (2021-2026) 2.3 Industry Trends and Growth Strategy 2.3.1 Market Top Trends 2.3.2 Market Drivers 2.3.3 Market Challenges 2.3.4 Porter’s Five Forces Analysis 2.3.5 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Growth Strategy 2.3.6 Primary Interviews with Key Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Players (Opinion Leaders) Chapter Three: Competition Landscape by Key Players 3.1 Top Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Players by Market Size 3.1.1 Top Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Players by Revenue (2015-2020) 3.1.2 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Revenue Market Share by Players (2015-2020) 3.1.3 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Share by Company Type (Tier 1, Tier Chapter Two: and Tier 3) 3.2 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Concentration Ratio 3.2.1 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Concentration Ratio (CRChapter Five: and HHI) 3.2.2 Top Chapter Ten: and Top 5 Companies by Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Revenue in 2020 3.3 Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Key Players Head office and Area Served 3.4 Key Players Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Product Solution and Service 3.5 Date of Enter into Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market 3.6 Mergers & Acquisitions, Expansion Plans Chapter Four: Research results and conclusion Chapter Five: Methodology and data source 5.1 Methodology / Research approach 5.2 Data source 5.3 List of authors 5.4 Disclaimer …… Chapter Six: Conclusion >> [With unrivaled insights into the Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market, our industry research will help you take your Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber business to new heights.] <<

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Why Report Hive Research: Report Hive Research delivers strategic market research reports, statistical surveys, industry analysis and forecast data on products and services, markets and companies. Our clientele ranges mix of global business leaders, government organizations, SME’s, individuals and Start-ups, top management consulting firms, universities, etc. Our library of 700,000 + reports targets high growth emerging markets in the USA, Europe Middle East, Africa, Asia Pacific covering industries like IT, Telecom, Semiconductor, Chemical, Healthcare, Pharmaceutical, Energy and Power, Manufacturing, Automotive and Transportation, Food and Beverages, etc. Contact Us: Report Hive Research 500, North Michigan Avenue, Suite 6014, Chicago, IL – 60611, United States Website: https://www.reporthive.com Email: sales@reporthive.com Phone: +1 312-604-7323 ZEON NOK TOHPE Haiba Jianfeng Qinglong , Argentina Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Australia Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Belgium Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Brazil Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Canada Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Chile Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, China Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Columbia Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Egypt Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, France Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Germany Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Global Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, India Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Indonesia Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Italy Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Japan Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Malaysia Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Mexico Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Applications, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Industry, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Key Players, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market 2020, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market 2021, Netherlands Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Nigeria Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Philippines Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Poland Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Russia Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Saudi Arabia Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, South Africa Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, South Korea Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Spain Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Sweden Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Switzerland Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Taiwan Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Thailand Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Turkey Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, UAE Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, UK Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, United States Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, COVID 19 impact on Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market, Gasket Rubber Tube , Type 1, Type 2 , Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market comprehensive analysis, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market comprehensive report, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market forecast, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Forecast to 2027, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Growth, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market in Asia, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market in Australia, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market in Canada, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market in Europe, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market in France, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market in Germany, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market in Israel, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market in Japan, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market in Key Countries, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market in Korea, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market in United Kingdom, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market in United States, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market report, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber market research, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Forecast to 2026, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market 2020, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Rising Trends, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market is Emerging Industry in Developing Countries, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market SWOT Analysis, Active Chlorine Acrylate Rubber Market Updates"

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CO2 EOR Market Growth Outlook, Key Procurement Criteria and Geographical Analysis by 2026

Report Hive Research Market Reports has recently published a market research report titled, “CO2 EOR Market Size, Status and Forecast 2021-2026“. Analysts have used primary and secondary research methodologies to determine the path of the market. The data includes historic and forecast values for a well-rounded understanding. It is a phenomenal compilation of important studies that explore the competitive landscape, segmentation, geographical expansion, and revenue, production, and consumption growth of the CO2 EOR market. Players can use the accurate market facts and figures and statistical studies provided in the report to understand the current and future growth of the CO2 EOR market.

The research study is a good resource to have for becoming aware of latest developments and future advancements in the global CO2 EOR market. The authors of the report used industry-best primary and secondary research methodologies and tools for collecting, verifying, and revalidating data and information related to the global CO2 EOR market. The global, regional, segmental, and other market figures such as revenue, volume, CAGR, and market share provided in the report can be easily relied upon because of their high level of accuracy and authenticity. Readers are also provided with a study on current and future demand in the global CO2 EOR market.

CO2 EOR Market competition by top manufacturers/Key player Profiled: Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Hess, Kinder Morgan, Occidental Petroleum, Whiting Petroleum

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By Types, the CO2 EOR Market can be Splits into:

Industrial CO2 Natural CO2

By Applications, the CO2 EOR Market can be Splits into:

Onshore Offshore

With the slowdown in world economic growth, the CO2 EOR industry has also suffered a certain impact, but still maintained a relatively optimistic growth, the past four years, CO2 EOR market size to maintain the average annual growth rate of XXX from XXX million $ in 2014 to XXX million $ in 2018, BisReport analysts believe that in the next few years, CO2 EOR market size will be further expanded, we expect that by 2023, The market size of the CO2 EOR will reach XXX million $. This Report covers the manufacturers’ data, including: shipment, price, revenue, gross profit, interview record, business distribution etc., these data help the consumer know about the competitors better. This report also covers all the regions and countries of the world, which shows a regional development status, including market size, volume and value, as well as price data. Besides, the report also covers segment data, including: type segment, industry segment, channel segment etc. cover different segment market size, both volume and value. Also cover different industries clients information, which is very important for the manufacturers. If you need more information, please contact 

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Research Coverage of CO2 EOR Market:

The market study covers the CO2 EOR market size across different segments. It aims at estimating the market size and the growth potential across different segments, including application, type, organization size, vertical, and region. The study further includes an in-depth competitive analysis of the leading market players, along with their company profiles, key observations related to product and business offerings, recent developments, and market strategies.

Regional analysis:

The CO2 EOR market report covers the analysis of various regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, Middle East, and Africa. Market trends change by region and result in changes due to their physical environment. The report, therefore, covers key regions with sales, revenue, market share and growth rate of CO2 EOR in these regions from 2021 to 2026. It analyzes the region with the highest market share as well as the fastest growing region of the CO2 EOR market. The report by region is then broken down into analyzes at the country level. For example, North America is divided into the United States and Canada. Europe includes the UK, France, and Germany, followed by APAC, which includes countries like China, India, and Japan. Latin America is made up of countries like Mexico and Brazil, and the MEA countries included in the CO2 EOR market are the GCC countries and South Africa.

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