June 26, 2020
Peter Moore, P.E., F.ASCE, ENV SP, LEED AP
President, Chen Moore and Associates
Last week: This past week, I watched the little cafeteria type business in my office building close. We’ve been in this building for 14 years, but I understand the owner was here for 3 years before that. We’re in a Class “A” office space with lawyers, computer programmers and finance folk. These businesses are still not back at work and that’s what is causing such a pause in other portions of the economy. I’m sure other downtown eateries and dry cleaners are feeling the same pinch. These are the lasting impacts to COVID-19.
Looking ahead: I’ve read about impending restrictions from the Trump administration on H1B and other high-tech visas for some time, and I expect that they will be enacted by the time this is printed. I can’t emphasize enough what a terrible idea this is. For the chosen few that have the time and talent to become a high-tech individual, it doesn’t matter where you were born. My firm loses people every year that don’t get to stay because of their immigration status. Why train these people at our top universities in our most sought-after jobs and let them go?
