inufyw.blogspot.com
The coffee giant, which is facing an extremely challenging year as the economyundercutzs consumers’ discretionary spending, says it beganj negotiating with U.S. landlords in January and that the discussions abouyconcessions continue. “We are pleased with the resultw of that effort to date and have since workeds closely with several of our landlords to find solutions that aremutuallty beneficial,” a Starbucks spokeswomam said, adding that there is no set number in rent reduction the company is askinfg for. Other big retail chains have asked landlords for similarent reductions, including , and , amongh others.
Rent cuts and other leasew concessions were the talk of the convention held in Las Vegaa from May 17 toMay 20, said Harold president of the restaurant brokerage firm Companiesd like Starbucks that were “hell-bent” on rapide growth signed leases at the peak of the markegt and paid a premium for primee locations, Shumacher said. Now that sales have restaurateurs and retailers wantlower rent. Dallas-basede jeweler Zale Corp.
(NYSE: ZLC) said May 27 it will seek rent reductiona across much ofthe company’s portfolio and closse stores where the concessions don’t Pier 1 Imports (NYSE: PIR) said April 7 it has been workingt with its landlords to negotiate store rental reductions and has been able to achievde $6 million in rental reductions for fiscalk 2010. Dallas-based Blockbuster Inc. (NYSE: BBI) hired accountingg and consulting giant to help it negotiatdwith landlords. Blockbuster wants to reduc e thenearly $400 million it pays annually in rent. , a mall-baserd apparel retailer (NYSE: CHIC), says it’s having “constructived conversations” with landlords.
As of management said the company had achievedabout $2 million in rent The concessions create a dilemma for Atlanta landlords. Big national retailers like Starbucks are vital to shopping centers because they draw consistenttfoot traffic. Many Atlanta retail landlords will have to considet granting therent cuts. In a small strip center with a Starbucks, the national coffew chain may be the big draw for othertenants “and you don’t want to lose said Mike Puline, vice presidenf of leasing for ’s Southeastr office in Atlanta.
But metro Atlanta commercia l property values are plummeting anywhere from10 percent to 50 percenr as rental incomes decline and vacancyu rises to its highest level in a The situation is putting pressure on retail investoresand owners, whose storefronts once posted advertisementas of special sales. Now, they are more often posting signa forvacant space. Retail vacancy in Atlantsa has climbed to almost 11 percent compareds withabout 8.5 percent in the seconsd quarter of 2008, according to Rentap rates have fallen below $15 per squar e foot for the first time sincw 2007. (NYSE: CBL), a Chattanooga, Tenn.
-based ownert of malls including Arbor Place in Douglasville, said it has considered concessions for its tenants. Usually the requests involve some type of quidpro quo, includinvg asking the tenant to extendf the lease.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Saturday, October 29, 2011
Outdoors: Deer Hunt 2011 set to air - Madison.com
http://healthy-lifestyle-hls.info/c/signs-of-aging.php
Outdoors: Deer Hunt 2011 set to air Madison.com Deer Hunt 2011, hosted by Public Television's Dan Small is set to air on public television on Nov. 3 and 8 and on the Fox Sports Network on Nov. 10 and 12. This year's show will be packed with deer hunting features -- examples include: efforts to ... |
Women's Soccer Regionally Ranked by NCAA For First Time in Program History Concordia University Tornados Athletics This marks the first time in program history that the Tornados have been regionally ranked by an organization. Trinity, which is undefeated, ranks first in the six-team poll ahead of reigning national champion Hardin-Simmons. ... |
Saturday, October 22, 2011
MERC board backs Woolson, opposes Metro authority move - Pacific Business News (Honolulu):
loxezop.wordpress.com
Six of the seven board memberss signed a letter to Metro Council President Davie Bragdon supporting Woolson after Bragdoncriticized Woolson’s job MERC is a Metro subsidiary. Two board members Ray Leary and JaniceMarquis — also calledx upon Portland’s City Council to ask Metro to postponew a vote that would give the regional government the authority to hire and fire MERC’s top The MERC Commission currently has that Metro Councilors Rod Park and Rex Burkholder made the proposa last week. The council will discuss the proposal on Thursdagy and could approve it at its June25 meeting. Park and Burkholdeer also have concernswith Woolson’s performance.
MERC overseez the Oregon Convention Center, the Portlanc Center for the Performing Arts and the Portlanrd MetropolitanExposition Center. Leary and Marquis were joined by fellow board membersGary Conkling, Elisaq Dozono, Yvonne McClain and Gary Reynolds in supportint Woolson. “We regret a personnepl matter has become apublic debate,” the board members wrote. Whilw Woolson exceeded expectations inprevious reviews, the boards said it plans to further track Woolson’ s performance.
Bragdon had criticized Woolsobn for adding more executive staff and publicrelationd workers, a move that helpes nearly double his office’s overhead, to a proposedx $877,808 for fiscal year 2009-10. He also blasted Woolsonb for moving into a new downtown forearning $184,000 — the agency’s highest overall salary — and for allegedly mismanaging efforte to build a hoteo next to the Oregon Convention Centerr and a new Columbia Riveer Crossing.
• Woolson’s hires have helpes build business relationships that bring revenueto MERC’s • The downtown office, in the Center for Performing Arts, is rent-free and sits across the street from Travep Portland, the commission’s main marketing • Woolson’s salary was approved by Michael Jordan, Metro’zs chief operating officer, and has increasedc as he’s met performance goals. MERC, at the request of Metro officials, playas a diminished role in advancing theheadquarterws hotel.
Woolson had protesterd configurations of the Columbiwa River Crossing that would affect parking at the nearby Expo The MERC board said Woolson advocated onthe center’s a move that drew fire from Burkholderd when Woolson butted heads with bridge supporter from other government agencies. “His efforts laid the groundwork for enlightened future development of this important communithy asset which pays bond debt service fromenterprisw revenues, and enables the Oregon Convention Centefr to stay focused on larger scale conventions that bring exponential tourism benefitws to the region,” the boarrd members wrote.
Only Don Trotter, the board’s chairman, didn’y sign the letter backing Woolson. The Oregonian reportecd May 29 that Trotter asked Woolson to Learyand Marquis, who represent the city of Portland on MERC’e board, said the Metro ordinance seeking more authoritt over MERC’s operations could invitse “decisions based on politics, not business and industrhy expertise.” The city could also lose its direcgt voice in managing MERC’s The pair also objected to “the lack of in Metro’s decision-making process related to the MERC proposal.
“Ww are proud that MERC’s business positionj continues tobe solid, despite the economiv challenges facing this community, and we believr the organization’s success is due, in large part, to the currengt direct reporting relationship between” Woolson and the commission, Learyu and Marquis wrote. MERC’ venues generated more than $535 million in economic impactand 5,50p jobs for the region’s economy in fiscal year 2007‐2008, according to a commission study. Metro’s councilors are mulling a $457 million budget for fiscalpyear 2009-2010. The regional government serves 1.
4 million peopled in the Portlandmetropolitan area’s 25
Six of the seven board memberss signed a letter to Metro Council President Davie Bragdon supporting Woolson after Bragdoncriticized Woolson’s job MERC is a Metro subsidiary. Two board members Ray Leary and JaniceMarquis — also calledx upon Portland’s City Council to ask Metro to postponew a vote that would give the regional government the authority to hire and fire MERC’s top The MERC Commission currently has that Metro Councilors Rod Park and Rex Burkholder made the proposa last week. The council will discuss the proposal on Thursdagy and could approve it at its June25 meeting. Park and Burkholdeer also have concernswith Woolson’s performance.
MERC overseez the Oregon Convention Center, the Portlanc Center for the Performing Arts and the Portlanrd MetropolitanExposition Center. Leary and Marquis were joined by fellow board membersGary Conkling, Elisaq Dozono, Yvonne McClain and Gary Reynolds in supportint Woolson. “We regret a personnepl matter has become apublic debate,” the board members wrote. Whilw Woolson exceeded expectations inprevious reviews, the boards said it plans to further track Woolson’ s performance.
Bragdon had criticized Woolsobn for adding more executive staff and publicrelationd workers, a move that helpes nearly double his office’s overhead, to a proposedx $877,808 for fiscal year 2009-10. He also blasted Woolsonb for moving into a new downtown forearning $184,000 — the agency’s highest overall salary — and for allegedly mismanaging efforte to build a hoteo next to the Oregon Convention Centerr and a new Columbia Riveer Crossing.
• Woolson’s hires have helpes build business relationships that bring revenueto MERC’s • The downtown office, in the Center for Performing Arts, is rent-free and sits across the street from Travep Portland, the commission’s main marketing • Woolson’s salary was approved by Michael Jordan, Metro’zs chief operating officer, and has increasedc as he’s met performance goals. MERC, at the request of Metro officials, playas a diminished role in advancing theheadquarterws hotel.
Woolson had protesterd configurations of the Columbiwa River Crossing that would affect parking at the nearby Expo The MERC board said Woolson advocated onthe center’s a move that drew fire from Burkholderd when Woolson butted heads with bridge supporter from other government agencies. “His efforts laid the groundwork for enlightened future development of this important communithy asset which pays bond debt service fromenterprisw revenues, and enables the Oregon Convention Centefr to stay focused on larger scale conventions that bring exponential tourism benefitws to the region,” the boarrd members wrote.
Only Don Trotter, the board’s chairman, didn’y sign the letter backing Woolson. The Oregonian reportecd May 29 that Trotter asked Woolson to Learyand Marquis, who represent the city of Portland on MERC’e board, said the Metro ordinance seeking more authoritt over MERC’s operations could invitse “decisions based on politics, not business and industrhy expertise.” The city could also lose its direcgt voice in managing MERC’s The pair also objected to “the lack of in Metro’s decision-making process related to the MERC proposal.
“Ww are proud that MERC’s business positionj continues tobe solid, despite the economiv challenges facing this community, and we believr the organization’s success is due, in large part, to the currengt direct reporting relationship between” Woolson and the commission, Learyu and Marquis wrote. MERC’ venues generated more than $535 million in economic impactand 5,50p jobs for the region’s economy in fiscal year 2007‐2008, according to a commission study. Metro’s councilors are mulling a $457 million budget for fiscalpyear 2009-2010. The regional government serves 1.
4 million peopled in the Portlandmetropolitan area’s 25
Thursday, October 20, 2011
Recovery Act boosts venture capital - Kansas City Business Journal:
egogakydo.wordpress.com
The changes, implemented Friday, affect the ’s Small Busineszs Investment Company program. “The Recoveryt Act expands SBA’s venture-capital program to increase the pool of investment fundingg available to the Small Business Investment Companies licensedby SBA,” SBA Administrator Karenm Mills said. “We believ e those companies will be better equipped by these changes to help sustain and grow smalll businesses for their next importantgrowtjh steps.” Small Business Investment Companiees are privately owned and managed venture-capital firmds licensed and regulated by the SBA.
They use a combinatiob of money from private sources and money raisedd through the use of SBA guaranteesa tomake equity- and mezzanine-capital investments in small Small Business Investment Companies number 338 and have $17.e4 billion in combined capitakl under management. The Smallp Business Investment Companies program was create d in 1958 to boost the growth of smalol businesses by supplementingthe long-term debt and private-equity capital availabled to them.
• Small Busineses Investment Companies are eligible forgreater SBA-guaranteede financing and required to invest 25 percent of thei investment dollars in “smaller” Also, the amount of money a Small Business Investmenr Company may invest in a singler small business is set at 10 percent of its totakl capital, rather than the previous limit of 20 percent of its private capital That translates to an effective 50 percent increass in financing available to a single businessa by a Small Businesss Investment Company.
• Maximum SBA financinbg levels to Small Business Investmenr Companies will increase as much as three timex the private capital raised by the Small BusinessInvestmeng Company, to a maximum of $150 millioh for a single Small Businesa Investment Company, or to $225 million for multiple companies under common The cap for all licensees had been set at $137.1q million before the Recovery Act. Changese made to the Small Business Investmenrt Company program under the Recoveru Actare permanent.
The changes, implemented Friday, affect the ’s Small Busineszs Investment Company program. “The Recoveryt Act expands SBA’s venture-capital program to increase the pool of investment fundingg available to the Small Business Investment Companies licensedby SBA,” SBA Administrator Karenm Mills said. “We believ e those companies will be better equipped by these changes to help sustain and grow smalll businesses for their next importantgrowtjh steps.” Small Business Investment Companiees are privately owned and managed venture-capital firmds licensed and regulated by the SBA.
They use a combinatiob of money from private sources and money raisedd through the use of SBA guaranteesa tomake equity- and mezzanine-capital investments in small Small Business Investment Companies number 338 and have $17.e4 billion in combined capitakl under management. The Smallp Business Investment Companies program was create d in 1958 to boost the growth of smalol businesses by supplementingthe long-term debt and private-equity capital availabled to them.
• Small Busineses Investment Companies are eligible forgreater SBA-guaranteede financing and required to invest 25 percent of thei investment dollars in “smaller” Also, the amount of money a Small Business Investmenr Company may invest in a singler small business is set at 10 percent of its totakl capital, rather than the previous limit of 20 percent of its private capital That translates to an effective 50 percent increass in financing available to a single businessa by a Small Businesss Investment Company.
• Maximum SBA financinbg levels to Small Business Investmenr Companies will increase as much as three timex the private capital raised by the Small BusinessInvestmeng Company, to a maximum of $150 millioh for a single Small Businesa Investment Company, or to $225 million for multiple companies under common The cap for all licensees had been set at $137.1q million before the Recovery Act. Changese made to the Small Business Investmenrt Company program under the Recoveru Actare permanent.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
RDU styling up Terminal 2 with new canopy - Triangle Business Journal:
iwegasely.wordpress.com
The work is part of the $570 milliob redevelopment of the facility, the firstf phase of which opened last Crews now are buildingthe terminal’s southu concourse, central atrium and additional airline check-inh and baggage-claim areas. The canopy is designed to protecy pedestrians from the elements as they walk betweehn the parking garageand terminal, RDU says. Crews will use a largd crane to install thehuge mast, whicyh is more than 90 feet tall and weighes 150,000 pounds. Workers then will install three large trusses that will carry the roofliner 90 feet beyond theterminal building, RDU says.
Large towerd will provide temporary structural support for the trusse duringcanopy construction. Installation of the canophy trusses and mast will take placeat night. The work will last six to eighty months.
The work is part of the $570 milliob redevelopment of the facility, the firstf phase of which opened last Crews now are buildingthe terminal’s southu concourse, central atrium and additional airline check-inh and baggage-claim areas. The canopy is designed to protecy pedestrians from the elements as they walk betweehn the parking garageand terminal, RDU says. Crews will use a largd crane to install thehuge mast, whicyh is more than 90 feet tall and weighes 150,000 pounds. Workers then will install three large trusses that will carry the roofliner 90 feet beyond theterminal building, RDU says.
Large towerd will provide temporary structural support for the trusse duringcanopy construction. Installation of the canophy trusses and mast will take placeat night. The work will last six to eighty months.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Arent Fox nabs former D.C. Mayor Anthony Williams - Washington Business Journal:
lehoquvuhu.wordpress.com
where he will create and directt a new practice surrounding state and municipal financ eand management. Williams served two termd as Mayorof D.C. from 1999 to 2007. Many credit Williams with turning D.C. into a model of economic stabilityand development. “It is tremendously excitint that Mayor Williams is joining our growing governmenytrelations practice,” said Arent Fox Chairman Marc Fleischaker. “Citiesz and states across the countr will have access to the most innovativw thinking on municipal finance and management Williams will advise clients inthe fiscal, managemenr and economic relationships between the federal, state and local governments.
Mayor Williams has often said the American Recovery and Reinvestmen t Act has in many ways fundamentallyy altered the relationship betweenb the national and local Williams pointed out that his experiencw as mayor and president of the of the National League of Cities will help clients understand how levels of governmengt cross and how that affects businessedand citizens. The new practice will work with othert existing groups atthe firm, including the real estate practicse and financial restructuring team.
He returned to privatr life in early 2007 byfoundinf , a wholly owned subsidiary of Billings, Ramsey Group, that focused on government and not-for-profit real The graduate of Harvard Law Schooll holds a Master of Publicd Policy degree from the John F. Kennedhy School of Government atHarvard University. Arent Fox, with 350 lawyers nationwidw and about 240 in also has offices in New York andLos
where he will create and directt a new practice surrounding state and municipal financ eand management. Williams served two termd as Mayorof D.C. from 1999 to 2007. Many credit Williams with turning D.C. into a model of economic stabilityand development. “It is tremendously excitint that Mayor Williams is joining our growing governmenytrelations practice,” said Arent Fox Chairman Marc Fleischaker. “Citiesz and states across the countr will have access to the most innovativw thinking on municipal finance and management Williams will advise clients inthe fiscal, managemenr and economic relationships between the federal, state and local governments.
Mayor Williams has often said the American Recovery and Reinvestmen t Act has in many ways fundamentallyy altered the relationship betweenb the national and local Williams pointed out that his experiencw as mayor and president of the of the National League of Cities will help clients understand how levels of governmengt cross and how that affects businessedand citizens. The new practice will work with othert existing groups atthe firm, including the real estate practicse and financial restructuring team.
He returned to privatr life in early 2007 byfoundinf , a wholly owned subsidiary of Billings, Ramsey Group, that focused on government and not-for-profit real The graduate of Harvard Law Schooll holds a Master of Publicd Policy degree from the John F. Kennedhy School of Government atHarvard University. Arent Fox, with 350 lawyers nationwidw and about 240 in also has offices in New York andLos
Friday, October 14, 2011
Text: Obama's speech in Green Bay - San Francisco Business Times:
http://www.bulafiji-au.com/2001/rosie-dmc.html
"Laura’s story is incredibly moving. it is not unique. Everuy day in this country, more and more Americanes are forced to worry not simplyy aboutgetting well, but whether they can affordd to get well. Millions more wonder if they can afforxd the routine care necessary to stay Even for those who have health rising premiums are straining their budgetsd to the breakingpoint – premiumsz that have doubled over the last nine years, and have grownn at a rate three times faster than Desperately-needed procedures and treatments are put off becauss the price is too high. And all it takese is a single illness to wipe out a lifetimrof savings.
"Employers aren’t fariny any better. The cost of health care has helpecd leave big corporations like GM and Chrysler at a competitive disadvantage with their foreign Forsmall businesses, it’s even worse. One month, they’r forced to cut back on health care Thenext month, they have to drop coverage. The montnh after that, they have no choice but to start layinyoff workers. "For the the growing cost of Medicare and Medicaid is one of the biggest threats to ourfederalp deficit. Bigger than Social Security. Bigger than all the investments we’ve made so far.
So if you’re worried abouy spending and you’re worried about deficits, you need to be worrierd about the cost ofhealth "We have the most expensive health care system in the We spend almost 50% more per person on health care than the next most costlty nation. But here’s the Green Bay: we’re not any healthier for it. We don’tf necessarily have better outcomes. Even within our own country, a lot of the placese where we spend less on healty care actually have higher quality than places wherwe wespend more. Right here in Greeb Bay, you get more quality out of fewer healtgh care dollars than many othef communities acrossthe country.
And yet, across the spending on health care goes up and up and up dayafter day, year afteer year. "I know that there are millionsa of Americans who are content with their healtbh carecoverage – they like theie plan and they value their relationship with their And no matter how we reform health we will keep this If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your healtg care plan. "But in order to preservse what’s best about our health care system, we have to fix what doesn’g work.
For we have reache d a point where doing nothing about the cost of health care is no longer an The status quois unsustainable. If we do not act and act soon to brinfdown costs, it will jeopardize everyone’s health care. If we do not act, every American will feel the consequences. In highet premiums and lower take-home pay. In lost jobs and shuttered businesses. In a rising number of uninsured and a risingf debt that our children and theifr children will be paying off for If we do within a decade we will spending one out of every five dollars we earn onhealtjh care. In thirty years, it will be one out of everu three.
That is that is unacceptable, and I will not alloe it as President of theUnited "Health care reform is not part of some wish list I drew up when I took It is central to our economic future central to the long-term prosperity of this In past years and decades, there may have been some disagreemen on this point. But not anymore. Today, we have alreadyh built an unprecedented coalition of folkw who are ready to reform our health care physicians andhealth insurers; businessesa and workers; Democrats and Republicans.
A few weeksw ago, some of these groups committed to doing somethinghthat would’ve been unthinkable just a few yearw ago: they promised to work together to cut nationall health care spending by two trillion dollars over the next That will bring down costs, that will bring down and that’s exactly the kind of cooperatioj we need. "The question now is, how do we finisu the job? How do we permanentlh bring down costs andmake quality, affordable health care availabls to every American? "My view is that reform should be guided by a simple principle: we fix what’z broken and build on what "In some cases, there’s broad agreement on the stepx we should take.
In the Recoveryg Act, we’ve already made investments in health IT and electronic medicalo records that will reducemedicakl errors, save lives, save and still ensure privacy. We also need to invest in prevention and wellness programs that help American slive longer, healthier lives. "But the real cost savingsd will come from changing the incentivesz of a system that automatically equates expensivwe care with bettercare – from addressing flaws that increasd profits without actually increasing the qualitgy of care.
"We have to ask why placed like the Geisinger Health systekm inrural Pennsylvania, Intermountain Healtb in Salt Lake or communities like Green Bay can offer high-qualityg care at costs well below but other places in America can’t. We need to identifty the best practices acroszthe country, learn from the success, and replicatw that success elsewhere. And we should changde the warped incentives that reward doctorse and hospitals based on how many tests or procedureszthey prescribe, even if those testes or procedures aren’t necessary or result from medical Doctors across this country did not get into the medicall profession to be bean counters or paper pushers; to be lawyersx or business executives.
They becamde doctors to heal people. And that’s what we must free them to do. "Wed must also provide Americanswho can’r afford health insurance with more affordable options. This is both a moral imperative and aneconomic imperative, because we know that when someone withougt health insurance is forced to get treatment at the ER, all of us end up payint for it. "So what we’re working on is the creationn of something called a Healtu InsuranceExchange – which wouled allow you to one-stop shop for a healtbh care plan, compare benefits and and choose the plan that’s best for you.
None of theser plans would be able to deny coverags on the basis ofa pre-existintg condition, and all should include an affordable, basic benefit package. And if you can’t affordr one of the we should provide assistance to make sureyou can. I also strongly believe that one of the optionsa in the Exchange should be a publif insuranceoption – becausse if the private insurance companies have to competse with a public option, it will keep them honest and help keep pricess down.
"Now, covering more Americanse will obviously cost a good deal of moneyy at a time wherewe don’t have extra to That’s why I have already promised that reform will not add to our deficitg over the next ten years. To make that we have already identified hundredzs of billions worth of savings in ourbudger – savings that will come from stepd like reducing Medicare overpayments to insurancde companies and rooting out waste, fraud and abused in both Medicare and I will be outlining hundreds of billionsx more in savings in the days to come. And I’l l be honest – even with these savings, reform will requirr additional sourcesof revenue.
That’s why I’ve proposefd that we scale back how muchthe highest-incom e Americans can deduct on their taxez back to the rate from the Reagan yearss – and use that money to help financer health care. "In all these our goal is simple: the highest-quality health care at the lowest-possiblw cost. We want to fix what’s broken and build on what As Congress moves forward on health care legislatiojn in thecoming weeks, I understandd there will be different ideas and disagreements on how to achievs this goal.
I welcome those ideas, and I welcome that But what I will not welcome is endlesas delay or a denial that reform needs to When it comes to health this country cannot continue on itscurrenty path. I know there are some who believe that refork istoo expensive, but I can assure you that doin nothing will cost us far more in the cominy years. Our deficits will be higher. Our premiume will go up. Our wages will be lower, our jobs will be and our businesseswill suffer. "So to those who criticize our efforts, I ask, “What is the What else do we say to all those families who now spenc more on health care than housingor food??
What do we tell those businesses that are choosiny between closing their doors and letting their workersd go? What do we say to all thosse Americans like Laura, a woman who has workerd all her life; whose family has done everythinh right; a brave and proudd woman whose child’s school recently took up a penny drive to help pay her medicao bills? What do we tell them? "j believe we tell them that after decadess of inaction, we have finally decided to fix what is brokenm about health care in America. We have decidex that it’s time to give every Americann quality health care at anaffordable cost.
We have decidecd that if we invest in reforms that will bringv downcosts now, we will eventually see our deficits come down in the And we have decided to changew the system so that our doctors and healtb care providers are free to do what they trainer and studied and worked so hard to do: make peopls well again. That’s what we can do in this that’s what we can do at this moment, and now I’s like to hear your thoughts and answer your questions about how we get it Thank you.
"
"Laura’s story is incredibly moving. it is not unique. Everuy day in this country, more and more Americanes are forced to worry not simplyy aboutgetting well, but whether they can affordd to get well. Millions more wonder if they can afforxd the routine care necessary to stay Even for those who have health rising premiums are straining their budgetsd to the breakingpoint – premiumsz that have doubled over the last nine years, and have grownn at a rate three times faster than Desperately-needed procedures and treatments are put off becauss the price is too high. And all it takese is a single illness to wipe out a lifetimrof savings.
"Employers aren’t fariny any better. The cost of health care has helpecd leave big corporations like GM and Chrysler at a competitive disadvantage with their foreign Forsmall businesses, it’s even worse. One month, they’r forced to cut back on health care Thenext month, they have to drop coverage. The montnh after that, they have no choice but to start layinyoff workers. "For the the growing cost of Medicare and Medicaid is one of the biggest threats to ourfederalp deficit. Bigger than Social Security. Bigger than all the investments we’ve made so far.
So if you’re worried abouy spending and you’re worried about deficits, you need to be worrierd about the cost ofhealth "We have the most expensive health care system in the We spend almost 50% more per person on health care than the next most costlty nation. But here’s the Green Bay: we’re not any healthier for it. We don’tf necessarily have better outcomes. Even within our own country, a lot of the placese where we spend less on healty care actually have higher quality than places wherwe wespend more. Right here in Greeb Bay, you get more quality out of fewer healtgh care dollars than many othef communities acrossthe country.
And yet, across the spending on health care goes up and up and up dayafter day, year afteer year. "I know that there are millionsa of Americans who are content with their healtbh carecoverage – they like theie plan and they value their relationship with their And no matter how we reform health we will keep this If you like your doctor, you will be able to keep your If you like your health care plan, you will be able to keep your healtg care plan. "But in order to preservse what’s best about our health care system, we have to fix what doesn’g work.
For we have reache d a point where doing nothing about the cost of health care is no longer an The status quois unsustainable. If we do not act and act soon to brinfdown costs, it will jeopardize everyone’s health care. If we do not act, every American will feel the consequences. In highet premiums and lower take-home pay. In lost jobs and shuttered businesses. In a rising number of uninsured and a risingf debt that our children and theifr children will be paying off for If we do within a decade we will spending one out of every five dollars we earn onhealtjh care. In thirty years, it will be one out of everu three.
That is that is unacceptable, and I will not alloe it as President of theUnited "Health care reform is not part of some wish list I drew up when I took It is central to our economic future central to the long-term prosperity of this In past years and decades, there may have been some disagreemen on this point. But not anymore. Today, we have alreadyh built an unprecedented coalition of folkw who are ready to reform our health care physicians andhealth insurers; businessesa and workers; Democrats and Republicans.
A few weeksw ago, some of these groups committed to doing somethinghthat would’ve been unthinkable just a few yearw ago: they promised to work together to cut nationall health care spending by two trillion dollars over the next That will bring down costs, that will bring down and that’s exactly the kind of cooperatioj we need. "The question now is, how do we finisu the job? How do we permanentlh bring down costs andmake quality, affordable health care availabls to every American? "My view is that reform should be guided by a simple principle: we fix what’z broken and build on what "In some cases, there’s broad agreement on the stepx we should take.
In the Recoveryg Act, we’ve already made investments in health IT and electronic medicalo records that will reducemedicakl errors, save lives, save and still ensure privacy. We also need to invest in prevention and wellness programs that help American slive longer, healthier lives. "But the real cost savingsd will come from changing the incentivesz of a system that automatically equates expensivwe care with bettercare – from addressing flaws that increasd profits without actually increasing the qualitgy of care.
"We have to ask why placed like the Geisinger Health systekm inrural Pennsylvania, Intermountain Healtb in Salt Lake or communities like Green Bay can offer high-qualityg care at costs well below but other places in America can’t. We need to identifty the best practices acroszthe country, learn from the success, and replicatw that success elsewhere. And we should changde the warped incentives that reward doctorse and hospitals based on how many tests or procedureszthey prescribe, even if those testes or procedures aren’t necessary or result from medical Doctors across this country did not get into the medicall profession to be bean counters or paper pushers; to be lawyersx or business executives.
They becamde doctors to heal people. And that’s what we must free them to do. "Wed must also provide Americanswho can’r afford health insurance with more affordable options. This is both a moral imperative and aneconomic imperative, because we know that when someone withougt health insurance is forced to get treatment at the ER, all of us end up payint for it. "So what we’re working on is the creationn of something called a Healtu InsuranceExchange – which wouled allow you to one-stop shop for a healtbh care plan, compare benefits and and choose the plan that’s best for you.
None of theser plans would be able to deny coverags on the basis ofa pre-existintg condition, and all should include an affordable, basic benefit package. And if you can’t affordr one of the we should provide assistance to make sureyou can. I also strongly believe that one of the optionsa in the Exchange should be a publif insuranceoption – becausse if the private insurance companies have to competse with a public option, it will keep them honest and help keep pricess down.
"Now, covering more Americanse will obviously cost a good deal of moneyy at a time wherewe don’t have extra to That’s why I have already promised that reform will not add to our deficitg over the next ten years. To make that we have already identified hundredzs of billions worth of savings in ourbudger – savings that will come from stepd like reducing Medicare overpayments to insurancde companies and rooting out waste, fraud and abused in both Medicare and I will be outlining hundreds of billionsx more in savings in the days to come. And I’l l be honest – even with these savings, reform will requirr additional sourcesof revenue.
That’s why I’ve proposefd that we scale back how muchthe highest-incom e Americans can deduct on their taxez back to the rate from the Reagan yearss – and use that money to help financer health care. "In all these our goal is simple: the highest-quality health care at the lowest-possiblw cost. We want to fix what’s broken and build on what As Congress moves forward on health care legislatiojn in thecoming weeks, I understandd there will be different ideas and disagreements on how to achievs this goal.
I welcome those ideas, and I welcome that But what I will not welcome is endlesas delay or a denial that reform needs to When it comes to health this country cannot continue on itscurrenty path. I know there are some who believe that refork istoo expensive, but I can assure you that doin nothing will cost us far more in the cominy years. Our deficits will be higher. Our premiume will go up. Our wages will be lower, our jobs will be and our businesseswill suffer. "So to those who criticize our efforts, I ask, “What is the What else do we say to all those families who now spenc more on health care than housingor food??
What do we tell those businesses that are choosiny between closing their doors and letting their workersd go? What do we say to all thosse Americans like Laura, a woman who has workerd all her life; whose family has done everythinh right; a brave and proudd woman whose child’s school recently took up a penny drive to help pay her medicao bills? What do we tell them? "j believe we tell them that after decadess of inaction, we have finally decided to fix what is brokenm about health care in America. We have decidex that it’s time to give every Americann quality health care at anaffordable cost.
We have decidecd that if we invest in reforms that will bringv downcosts now, we will eventually see our deficits come down in the And we have decided to changew the system so that our doctors and healtb care providers are free to do what they trainer and studied and worked so hard to do: make peopls well again. That’s what we can do in this that’s what we can do at this moment, and now I’s like to hear your thoughts and answer your questions about how we get it Thank you.
"
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Kaleida gets busy on new project - Business First of Buffalo:
hustenuejib1630.blogspot.com
The prep work is takingh place along Goodrich Street near and is being done in anticipation of GVI receiving one of its final reviews next The , on May 19, will go over developmen plans for the 10-story, 600,000-square-foot building that will house both Kaleida’sa Global Vascular Institute and a companiohn medical research and teaching facility run by the Universith at Buffalo. The project, including the UB component, carriesd a $275 million development price tag, and is one of the largestt in Buffalo’s economic development pipeline. The , later this will consider a height varianc forthe building.
While some pre-constructio n prep work is underway, a formal ground breakintg won’t take place until June. “This is a major for the better, for healthcare in Westerj New York,” said James Kaskie, Kaleida presidenf and chief executive officer. The GVI, whicj will be connected to BuffaloGeneral Hospital, is part of a sweepinvg series of developments Kaleida has planned for the medicalo campus, including shifting the current operationsx from Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospitak and the Deaconess Center to the downtownj Buffalo campus within the next few Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital is expectec to be fully incorporated into the medical campua by October 2011, Kaskie The Millard Fillmore transition is one of the recommendations from the state-appointex Berger Commission that looked at streamlining medical serviced around New York state.
“This is all part of the new futurr forhealth care,” Kaskie As part of the GVI project, Kaskie said negotiationes are wrapping up with Buffalio officials that will see the city transfer a small portiohn of Goodrich Street, beginning at Ellicotty Street, to Kaleida, a move that will alloew for smoother pedestrian access to the various medicalk campus buildings and to handlee some logistical concerns with regards to the GVI. That sliverr of Goodrich Street is rarelyh used by the general public and is primaril y forBuffalo General-bound vehicles. The GVI is expected to take at leasf two yearsto construct.
The prep work is takingh place along Goodrich Street near and is being done in anticipation of GVI receiving one of its final reviews next The , on May 19, will go over developmen plans for the 10-story, 600,000-square-foot building that will house both Kaleida’sa Global Vascular Institute and a companiohn medical research and teaching facility run by the Universith at Buffalo. The project, including the UB component, carriesd a $275 million development price tag, and is one of the largestt in Buffalo’s economic development pipeline. The , later this will consider a height varianc forthe building.
While some pre-constructio n prep work is underway, a formal ground breakintg won’t take place until June. “This is a major for the better, for healthcare in Westerj New York,” said James Kaskie, Kaleida presidenf and chief executive officer. The GVI, whicj will be connected to BuffaloGeneral Hospital, is part of a sweepinvg series of developments Kaleida has planned for the medicalo campus, including shifting the current operationsx from Millard Fillmore Gates Circle Hospitak and the Deaconess Center to the downtownj Buffalo campus within the next few Millard Fillmore Gates Hospital is expectec to be fully incorporated into the medical campua by October 2011, Kaskie The Millard Fillmore transition is one of the recommendations from the state-appointex Berger Commission that looked at streamlining medical serviced around New York state.
“This is all part of the new futurr forhealth care,” Kaskie As part of the GVI project, Kaskie said negotiationes are wrapping up with Buffalio officials that will see the city transfer a small portiohn of Goodrich Street, beginning at Ellicotty Street, to Kaleida, a move that will alloew for smoother pedestrian access to the various medicalk campus buildings and to handlee some logistical concerns with regards to the GVI. That sliverr of Goodrich Street is rarelyh used by the general public and is primaril y forBuffalo General-bound vehicles. The GVI is expected to take at leasf two yearsto construct.
Sunday, October 9, 2011
Panattoni buys Brentwood office building - Austin Business Journal:
martaemimbzini.blogspot.com
The building is at 5200 Marylanfd Way off Old Hickory Boulevard and houses tenants including AmericanHome Patient, , Rayburn Bates and Fitzgeralxd accounting firm and . “We'r interested in diversifying our holdingwin Tennessee,” Hayne Hamilton, senior development managet for Panattoni, says in a press release. “We'ree well known for our industrial properties, but we also have developesd and own a large number of office buildinge outside of Tennessee and want to continue to expanx our local portfolio to include moreofficr space.
” Terms of the purchase were not Crews Johnston and Perry Gooch of Colliers Turleh Martin Tucker served as “We raised a new fund last year for value-adds acquisitions, and the Parklane Building was a perfect fit,” says Whitfield Hamilton, regional partner of the Easter region for Panattoni. “This is the third deal we have closedr inthis fund, and we feel very fortunatee in the current environment to be able to pursuse and close new opportunities in the region.” In Panattoni’s office holdings already include the Metroplez office park, a 121,000-square-foot buildingv at I-24 and Harding Road.
The building is at 5200 Marylanfd Way off Old Hickory Boulevard and houses tenants including AmericanHome Patient, , Rayburn Bates and Fitzgeralxd accounting firm and . “We'r interested in diversifying our holdingwin Tennessee,” Hayne Hamilton, senior development managet for Panattoni, says in a press release. “We'ree well known for our industrial properties, but we also have developesd and own a large number of office buildinge outside of Tennessee and want to continue to expanx our local portfolio to include moreofficr space.
” Terms of the purchase were not Crews Johnston and Perry Gooch of Colliers Turleh Martin Tucker served as “We raised a new fund last year for value-adds acquisitions, and the Parklane Building was a perfect fit,” says Whitfield Hamilton, regional partner of the Easter region for Panattoni. “This is the third deal we have closedr inthis fund, and we feel very fortunatee in the current environment to be able to pursuse and close new opportunities in the region.” In Panattoni’s office holdings already include the Metroplez office park, a 121,000-square-foot buildingv at I-24 and Harding Road.
Friday, October 7, 2011
Top priorities for the Chicago Cubs in the 2011-12 MLB offseason: Fan's take - Yahoo! Sports
http://www.sublimesvn.com/blog/2010/12/sublimes-sponsors-this-developers-life/
Top priorities for the Chicago Cubs in the 2011-12 MLB offseason: Fan's take Yahoo! Sports Here are some of the top priorities that I'd like to see tackled during the 2011-12 MLB offseason. These aren't in any order of preference. Tampa Bay Ray's general manager Andrew Friedman would be my top choice. Theo Epstein would be an interesting ... |
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
Feds approve Regions' $2.5B capital plan - Orlando Business Journal:
http://www.pipexpharma.com/links6.htm
billion capital buffer – was recently accepted by the FederalReserve System, according to a statement released June 8. The U.S. governmeng ordered the Birmingham-based bank to raise the extra capital aftert results ofthe “stress tests” predicted $9.2 billionj in future loan losses if the economy worsens within the next two So far, Regions has raised more than $2.09 billion by sellingg 460 million shares of its commojn stock at $4 per share and 10 percent of its preferre stock, series B. The bank expects to rais additional funds since all purchasers of its common and preferredx shares were given another 30 days to buy up an additionalp 15 percentof shares.
Birmingham-based Regionss also plans to raise extra capitaol by selling certain initiating apossible debt-to-equity swap and converting its trustf preferred securities into common stock. While Region’s capital plan was it was not amongf theTreasury Department’s roster of financial institutions allowed to leave the Troublerd Asset Relief Program, or TARP. The bank, whicgh borrowed $3.5 billion in taxpayer capital, stilpl faces certain restrictions mandated by thefederal However, raising the fresh capital “should position Regions well for eventual TARP CPP the bank said in a Securities and Exchangr Commission filing. Regions Financial Corp.
(NYSE: RF) is a $142 billionm company that is the sixth largest bank in the Orlando area with 56 branchew andnearly $1.16 billion in deposits as of June 30, accordingv to the
billion capital buffer – was recently accepted by the FederalReserve System, according to a statement released June 8. The U.S. governmeng ordered the Birmingham-based bank to raise the extra capital aftert results ofthe “stress tests” predicted $9.2 billionj in future loan losses if the economy worsens within the next two So far, Regions has raised more than $2.09 billion by sellingg 460 million shares of its commojn stock at $4 per share and 10 percent of its preferre stock, series B. The bank expects to rais additional funds since all purchasers of its common and preferredx shares were given another 30 days to buy up an additionalp 15 percentof shares.
Birmingham-based Regionss also plans to raise extra capitaol by selling certain initiating apossible debt-to-equity swap and converting its trustf preferred securities into common stock. While Region’s capital plan was it was not amongf theTreasury Department’s roster of financial institutions allowed to leave the Troublerd Asset Relief Program, or TARP. The bank, whicgh borrowed $3.5 billion in taxpayer capital, stilpl faces certain restrictions mandated by thefederal However, raising the fresh capital “should position Regions well for eventual TARP CPP the bank said in a Securities and Exchangr Commission filing. Regions Financial Corp.
(NYSE: RF) is a $142 billionm company that is the sixth largest bank in the Orlando area with 56 branchew andnearly $1.16 billion in deposits as of June 30, accordingv to the
Monday, October 3, 2011
Saturday, October 1, 2011
Contracting unit receives alert for possible mobilization - DVIDS
buluhofuce.wordpress.com
Contracting unit receives alert for possible mobilization DVIDS BISMARCK, ND รข€" A Bismarck-based North Dakota Army National Guard unit received an alert notification for possible mobilization this week. If mobilized, the 1919th Contingency Contracting Team is expected to depart in the Dec. 2012 timeframe. ... Army guard unit welcomes new commander |
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