Powell tells students to be optimistic about the U.S. job market and AI
U.S. Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell told Harvard University economics students on Monday (March 30) that he is optimistic about the medium- to long-term employment prospects for U.S. college graduates, despite the current period of very low job creation because the U.S. economy is the most dynamic and productive in the world.
As a small business owner, I know how important it is for policymakers to stay connected to the people creating jobs on Main Street, especially as we navigate new technologies like artificial intelligence. In Goldman Sachs’ recent 10,000 Small Businesses Voices survey, 76% of small business owners are already using AI, and 93% say AI is helping their business. The biggest improvement is efficiency. 84% say AI saves them time, and 87% say it augments rather than replaces employees.
Yet, only 14% have fully integrated AI, often due to limited expertise or uncertainty around the tools. 73% say they need more training and resources. The bipartisan AI for Main Street Act would authorize the Small Business Administration and the Center for Small Business Development to provide that support, and 85% of owners in the Small Business Survey support it. I urge Senators Elissa Slotkin and Gary Peters, and all members of the Senate, to act quickly.
Hana Abboud
The writer of this letter is the owner of Hana Abboud, a designer-driven semi-couture bridal studio in Dearborn..
Dietrich Furs closed
The closing of Dittrich Furs marks the end of a long chapter in Detroit’s retail history.
This also reflects broader changes already underway. Across the fashion industry, consumers and designers are moving away from animal skin in favor of innovative, cruelty-free materials that align with modern values. Many big brands have already made this transition and are growing.
On fur farms, animals are often kept in small cages before being killed by gassing or electrocution. In nature, traps can cause animals to suffer for several days. Labels like “sustainably sourced” or “humane” don’t change that reality.
As traditional businesses retire, Detroit has an opportunity to look ahead by supporting ethical and forward-thinking fashion. Progress is how cities and industries move forward.
scott miller
The letter writer, from Norfolk, Virginia, is a writer for the PETA Foundation.
norfolk, virginia
Labor organizing is at the heart of Michigan’s child care crisis
At the heart of our state’s problem with child care is that policymakers treat child care as a private market optimized for profit rather than essential public infrastructure for everyone.
As a Michigan resident, I am encouraged by early efforts to organize child care workers here (“As Michigan child care costs rise, workers discuss risks of unionizing,” March 30). Many people earn just above minimum wage, and the tight profit margins make it impossible to raise wages without raising costs for parents.
Roosevelt Institute research shows that organizing elsewhere has been successful. In California, providers received higher reimbursement rates, better benefits, and more stable funding. In Connecticut, unionized health care workers received higher wages and professional development funding.
Equally important, organizing can build a sense of solidarity among health care providers and parents, creating a constituency that can secure sustained public investment.
Unionizing Michigan’s child care workers could be the first domino in a series that raises wages, lowers costs for families, and strengthens the state’s economy.
Suzanne Kahn
ann arbor
Plug-in solar could lower utility bills
We’re all dealing with rising utility bills. A great way to cover rising energy costs is by going plug-in solar. Households can significantly reduce energy bills, reduce strain on the power grid, and reduce climate pollution. Unfortunately, there are regulatory barriers to implementing plug-in solar in most states, including Michigan. Currently, only Utah has a law legalizing plug-in solar.
State Rep. Will Snyder (D-Muskegon) recently introduced bipartisan House Bill 5764, which would allow consumers to install plug-in solar systems with outputs up to 1,200 watts without the burdensome requirements associated with large-scale rooftop solar systems, such as interconnection agreements.
Let’s all support this bill and make Michigan a leader in plug-in solar!
david gerk
ann arbor
