Blue Mass Group

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Boston Globe Column About Andrea Silbert

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Eileen McNamara’s column in today’s Boston Globe, entitled “Voice for the Middle Class,” is about Andrea Silbert.  It’s worth a read if you want to know more about a candidate who should win based on her committment to public service, her leadership abilities, and her ability to actually accomplish some good for a lot of people. 

I happen to like Andrea Silbert and I think Massachusetts will benefit with her as Lieutenant Governor.  She already made a difference in a lot of people’s lives when she co-founded the nonprofit Center for Women and Enterprise.  Just think what she could do as Lieutenant Governor.

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  1. …I’m happy that my first BMG post is to point out that twice in three days, major political columnists are highlighting Andrea’s candidacy.  She’s got what it takes.

    • I agree that today’s McNamara column in the Globe was very good for Silbert.  It did a nice job of capturing the personal and professional angles that Silbert brings to the table.  If enough voters come to truly understand their choices for LG, I think Silbert wins.  But I don’t discount the power of Deb burning up $2 million worth of TV commercials.

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      And as refreshing and colorful as that column was, I feel confident someone’s going to use it as another chance to post something negative about Andrea!

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      Welcome, JC.  FYI, there’s about 25 of us who’re focused on the LG race and regularly post.  I’d say all but a couple are firmly in one camp or another.

      • The biggest beef I have with Andrea Silbert is the claim that politicians can just magically create jobs, especially if they have “created jobs” in the corporate world. Gabs, Romney Craig Benson, and Mike Bloomberg both played this card and so is Andrea.

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        Frankly I find it intellectually disingenous for any politician to claim that they will create jobs. Unless they literally will create unnecessary patronage positions, the only way actual private sector jobs will be “created” is by doing the little things to build the economy and oftentimes at the state level there is little a Gov, let alone a Lt. Gov can do to alter the state of the economy.

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        The housing crunch, rising healthcare costs, hostile climate to buisness in the state, fixing these problems could go a long way to improving the economy and then and only then will jobs naturally come with more buisness. So if she and Murray have identical positions, but Murray has more experience then her claims of “job creation” are moot.

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        I could build a paper route tommorow and pay a friend do to half of it for me, then I too could be an experienced job creator who can wave my wand and end unemployment everywhere.

        • They all do it.  Clinton created jobs.  George Bush created jobs. 

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          They all say it, and some politicians may even believe it.

        • Andrea Silbert does not maintain that politicians can magically create jobs. She, however, does maintain that jobs can be created through economic development which should be, and must be, encouraged at the state level. One typical element of economic development that does create more jobs is helping small businesses form and thrive, something Andrea Silbert has already done.  Just a quick web search found support for her position from other sources.  The International Labor Organization has a  report  about economic development and job creation at the international level and a group called the Welfare Information Network has sources listed on its website.  Job creation is not about patronage; it is about hard work and initiative.

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        • I’d take Gabrieli and Bloomberg over Romney and Benson any day!  I’d add Virginia Governor Mark Warner to the list successful Democratic businessmen as well.  And while we’re at it, let’s put Jim Rappaport, Jack E. Robinson and Mike Huffington in the Republican camp.  I see a pattern developing!

        • I think that economic policy set by government is very related to job creation.

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          I like to use this analogy: how is it that so many poor, unemployed immigrants came here from Europe and were successful? Is there a force field beam in the Atlantic ocean that transforms people, or was the economic system different here than in Europe. Sure, the abundance of resources probably went a long way, but the US was known as a country where you could work hard and be rewarded for it.

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          If we lived in a world where most of the money was controlled by a few people, and they could pay pennies in wages to all their employees, and those workers were never allowed to get an education, or couldn’t compete with existing businesses, I’d believe that we wouldn’t have very much economic development. Why? Because too few people would be participating in the economy.

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          I think that this state could grow its economy by pursuing a progressive policy. I think we need to concentrate on a few things:

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          1) Education. And not just in the wealthy suburbs. Let’s declare it unacceptable that so many young urban children are being churned out with more skills to join gangs than companies. Those kids will cost us far more when they’re in prison, or if they’re incapable of finding a job. Especially when they themselves have a bunch of kids to perpetuate things.

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          2) Development, or the opposition to it. Targeted opposition to development can be good sometimes, but general opposition means a lack of economic growth. Solution: make it more attractive to develop in cities that are designed for growth. Stop the incentives for communities to compete with each other for the plum developments.

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          3) Housing. If this state has mostly $400-500k houses, then that means we can’t compete with states that have $80k houses. Our employees will be too expensive. We will not attract younger people because they will not be able to afford this state — since wages will be inflated, but not so much so that everyone can afford housing.

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          4) Services. While eroding services in the name of low taxes might please some people, it results in things like eroding infrastructure, lack of ability to respond to problems, and even the concentration of wealth (as the wealthy people who can afford services pay for them, the middle-class people who rely on tax-assisted services move elsewhere, and the people who can’t afford to pay for services move in). Wealthy people amass more wealth while middle-class people generate economic activity. If everyone was simply middle-class we’d see more economic opportunities. I say that as a resident of a neighborhood of 40,000 people that can’t support a grocery store.

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          That all doesn’t translate to “tax and spend”. It translates to having a vision in this state where we are all working towards the same goal, and we are not working to exclude others from that goal to get incremental advantages for ourselves.

        • If you listen to Andrea talk about creating jobs, she will tell you that it is hard work: you have to roll up your sleeves and create jobs one by one.

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          Andrea conceptualized, got funding for (yes some funds were our tax dollars – on which we are getting a very good return), and made a success of the Center for Women & Enterprise. Go here:  http://www.cweonline…  and check out the programs.

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          Well off people can get MBAs to learn the ins and outs of the business world. The well connected have family friends to help them get started, and financed.

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          Andrea’s organization helped people without those resources become small business owners by teaching them the basic skills, helping them deal with past credit issues, introducing them to venture capital, and helping them through the permitting maze, etc.

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          Over ten years Andrea has learned what works, what does not, and what kinds of help really pay off.

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          I would love to see this experience transfered to a larger scale – statewide – and I think that she could work with any of the 3 Democratic candidates to pull it off.

          • There you go again talking about Andrea “creating jobs”. Its a soundbite I understand that but people when the hear that actually think her policies will create jobs, which they wont. Even with economic development jobs dont always materialize, employment is in many respects an economic commodity determined at supply and demand. Sure attracting more buisnesses to the state (done through tax breaks and loosened regulations incentives that liberals oppose since it lets corporations get away with murder) , improving our education system, housing, healthcare, etc. might help lead to job growth but they dont always create jobs, they do not directly create jobs, and the do not instantly create jobs. Instead of saying Im for creating jobs she should just say I support broader economic oppurtunity for all of our citizens, its far more honest and far less insulting to the intelligence of our voters.

            • Hey Andrea, stop insulting the voters by saying you want to “create jobs”!  Change your brochures and bumper stickers to “Andrea Silbert for LG: Because she’ll support broader economic oppurtunity for all of our citizens”… yup, that’s much more honest.

  2. It’s great to see the debate about who created more jobs Goldberg or Silbert. First we have a millionare stating that she hired firefighters when EVERYONE else in the state was freezing or laying off public safety positions. And for those that do not know ,the firefighter in her ad is a Boston union leader not a Brooklin firefighter. Now one must wonder why there would not be a Brooklin firefighter touting Deb for all this great work??? Well, it’s obvious folks it NEVER happend! Contact the Town hall ask to see the attrition rates for the last 3yrs. You will see they never hired any new positions in the fire dept. Great spin for Goldy, it looks great on TV.

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    As far as Silbert goes, it’s great to see she created 10,000-14,000 jobs with our tax dollars,remember non profit means non paying taxes. It is also great to read that she is playing it off that she is just a middle class citzen. How many people do you know that hold three degrees from the almight “Harvard”?? Does Andrea have any student loans left? Also she says she moved away from Brooklin due the high cost of living, so I guess the Cape is much cheaper,and her property in Brooklin does not count for anything. Ya, Silbert is “just above the poverty line”, it’s tough to make it on her her salary and personnel income.

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    Many of us would like to afford sending our children or go to a public colleg,e never mind getting three degrees from one of the most expensive colleges in the world.

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    I will take Mayor Murray any day, at least I know that he has suffered through what the average person is going through. He actually had student loans, and works pay check to pay check to make ends meet. He understands that public office should not just be for the wealthy and that there are thousands of people who want to lend a hand at helping move this state in the right direction but are boxed out because of the rich and famous.

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    Let’s wake up and ask the tough questions and hopefully we will get the a balanced ticket to win in NOV.
    GO Murray !!

    • What is it with all this animosity towards people who get higher degrees from prestigious universities? I thought that is what most people want for their kids? As the child of two high school grads (my father actually got his college degree at the age of 58 by attending college at night) who pushed my sisters and I to higher education to better ourselves.  We were not wealthy people.  And yes, one of my degrees is from Harvard.  It was a very proud day for my parents because they understood the hard work it took for me to get there.

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      I just do not get it.  Don’t we want people like Andrea Silber in government?  She could have stayed in the business sector and made lots of money for herself, like probably most of her classmates did, but instead she decided to take a huge cut in income and help people. 
      As for the non-tax status of the organization she started, I think Boston has a payment in lieu of taxes program, so your comment about the nonprofit not paying taxes is  probably not correct. In any event, the organization helped people to start businesses which do pay taxes. 

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      If the problem with Andrea Silbert is that she went to Harvard, then there really is something wrong here. Shouldn’t that be a plus?  At the very least, it shows she is willing to work hard.   

      • No, I am not knocking anyone who gets a degree. It’s just the fact that Silbert’s own claim that she is basically living day to day. And she had to leave Brooklin because she could not afford living there. Yet, her camp keeps saying that she holds 3 degrees from Harvard. Now explain how one can pay for 3 degrees from Harvard then say she could not live in Brooklin?  It seems to me that Silbert wants to make her self out as a middle of the road person, who just gets by.

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        As far as Tim Murray being an lawyer and making alot of dough. Why don’t you go back and check their financial records. I will gurantee that Murray personnel wealth is  much lower then Goldberg and Silbert.

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        Ask Silbert what her property in Brooklin/Harwich is worth?

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        Ask Silbert how much state/federal grant she got when getting her degrees?

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        Ask Silbert if she has or had ANY student loans ?

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        It’s great to be educated, and Silbert is, but let’s be real,if you want to tout the resume and say your middle class you must be ready to answer the tough questions.

        • Yeah, and the tough questions should be about the important issues facing people in Massachusetts…
          There is simply no point to the questions you have listed. 

          • In your opinion it may not be important but to thousands of families struggling to make ends meet I think they would want to know the real truth about one running for the second in command of their state.

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            Silbert’s claim is she had to leave Brookline,because it was to expensive to live there. Yet, her financial records indicate that her property in “BROOKLINE” is worth a pretty penny. I also fine it odd that one who gets 3 degrees from Harvard,has NO student loans and  atempts to make an argument that she had to leave anywhere never mind Brookline,Ma because she could not afford it.

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            Middle class families through out the state are facing rising property taxes, higher health insurance costs, and many other problems. It great that Sibert is educated,and talks about increasing jobs (with our money), but what about the average person who has no voice in local and state government.What does she bring to the table to satisfy the tax payer who needs a helping hand?

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            The fact is the only one who has done this on a day to day basis is Mayor Murray. He can hit the road running not needing to be taught how to move an agenda forward, his record is clear on getting the job done, just come to Worcester and you will see why this city is moving forward,growing faster then any other city in the state. I can tell you it’s because Mayor Murray is a forward thinker and a team player, someone who is not afraid to ask the tough questions.

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            Hurry,hurry,Vote for MURRAY !

    • Tim Murray is an attorney so do you really believe he is working paycheck to paycheck to make ends meet? 

        • Hey, highdopes.  Andrea was the first to release her tax returns for the past three years.  Councilor Murray did as well, but didn’t think of it first and acted a bit peeved that he had to.  Paris Goldberg couldn’t be bothered, as she hasn’t earned a paycheck in years, if ever.  As the BMg post went, “Andrea Sets Standard, Murray Follows.”

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          http://www.bluemassg…

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          http://www.telegram….

          • You did not answer not the question’s about Silbert’s finanical records? Tell us how much property she owns in Brookline? How much taxes she pays on her properties in Brookline never mind Harwich? Did she EVER pay any students loans while getting hers degrees.

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            Mayor Murray did show his financial records and he did have student loans, nothing was given to him.

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            Let’s be real and inform the voters that wealth should not be the sole reason one gets into public service. We need more middle class people getting invovled in the process.

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            Hurry,hurry VOTE for Murray !!

    • Loads of inaccuracies about each candidate in the race.  (No, don’t ask me to list them – I’ve got better things to do with my time.  Just Google it yourself, or look through BMG archives, or visit the candidates’ websites.)  Garbage like this harms your candidate, and does not advance the debate in any constructive fashion.

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