[okbymeman]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

At some point, leadershi[ in Connecticut needs to accept the fact that it's competing with Boston and NYC, as well as MA, and NJ as states.

In this region of the country simply having lower housing prices will not cut it. Wages still need to be high regardless of what the housing costs are so it's not advantageous from a business POV.

In terms of lifestyle, CT has to come up with a way to offer something the others don't. That doesn't mean you need a sexy city or sports team or something flashy but maybe find a way to make education cheaper, outdoors more accessible, and development easier, - something substantive that makes a big difference in people's lives vs the other states. Leverage pre-existing assets that you might share iwth NJ and MA but they don't fully utilize. Optimize something and create an identity CT. So much of what the businesses talk about is "attracting workers" not just the education/talent pool.

If attractive enough CT could 100% become a desirable option for recent Boston area grads.

The people who are bright enough to do that left the state long ago. Now we have the NIMBY homeowner class which is largely older and doesn’t understand or care about the modern economy, and a large underclass of non-professionals working in service/retail or blue collar jobs. It’s a totally different class of people in Boston or even NJ.

[BostonBornMassMade]

Originally Posted by okbymeman

The people who are bright enough to do that left the state long ago. Now we have the NIMBY homeowner class which is largely older and doesn’t understand or care about the modern economy, and a large underclass of non-professionals working in service/retail or blue collar jobs. It’s a totally different class of people in Boston or even NJ.

MA and NJ are full of those people.

But they seemingly have a much larger 3rd class of young professionals and young aspiring professionals/entrepreneurs- a striving, diverse class of people whom I consider a bit different than the traditional aforementioned yuppies. But their one class because they both likely have some college education and they have a good synergy and bounce things off one another/ This is particularly strong in Boston.

CT would be more equitable and socially dynamic if they had more of this 3d (and a half) class of people. From what I recall in Hartford there was very very little of that and its part of what made CT feel bifurcated as a state.

[JayCT]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Lego leaving Enfield for Boston in 2025 and taking 740 employees with them.

Big L for the Hartford/Springfield area. Time to invest in proper urban planning and adequate public transportation.

“Proper urban planning” and “adequate public transportation”??? I’m not sure what you mean by this.

According to this article, Lego is attracted to Boston by “world-class academic institutions, skilled workforce and a great quality of life”. I think that the quality of life is questionable since Boston is very expensive and has significant transportation issues. Still it’s hard for Enfield, a small suburban town, to compete with that.

It’s a shame they didn’t consider a different part of Connecticut like Stamford, Norwalk or New Haven. It appears that Lego still has not found a new office yet so there may be a chance to keep them. We will see if Lamont can do anything to stop it. Jay

https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...osy-story.html

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local...oston/2953287/

[mdovell]

I dunno. I workshops say eastern CT I'd expensive by a long shot. Ffc is like the 128 belt.

I feel sorry fire Enfield as they already lost 1500 none to Boston and Springfield via mass mutual. To be fair Yankee candle is having layoffs and wayfair was a three year joke to Pittsfield. I'd also add that the problems with the mbta keep getting worse so if it's another ge it won't be that bad to ct (Enfield though

[SteveM85]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

But they seemingly have a much larger 3rd class of young professionals and young aspiring professionals/entrepreneurs- a striving, diverse class of people whom I consider a bit different than the traditional aforementioned yuppies. But their one class because they both likely have some college education and they have a good synergy and bounce things off one another/ This is particularly strong in Boston.

CT would be more equitable and socially dynamic if they had more of this 3d (and a half) class of people. From what I recall in Hartford there was very very little of that and its part of what made CT feel bifurcated as a state.

The Stamford region and New Haven have plenty of this 3rd class you speak of. In abundance.
Other posters who don't live in these areas may not see it or know. They just go off the usual narrative talking points when a couple of hundred jobs are moving. They jump right on it like clockwork.
CT and the town of Fairfield didn't miss a beat when GE left for Boston

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by BostonBornMassMade

Its funny- someone in the MA forum doesn't want Lego to come because its too much success.

I think there's an attitude in New England of resisting change and wanting to remain small-scale but we've long since become a highly urbanized, developed, interconnected region that is integral to a larger NE Megalopolis. Our small town Puritan roots are not really helpful or modern at this point. Albeit its great for tourism and matter in terms of culture...CT should be striving for more IMO, and MA should be doing a better job at accommodating job and population growth.

Yup. Bostonians goin crazy their city/region is booming, but want to do nothing to help it out. Laughable.

[masssachoicetts]

Originally Posted by JayCT

“Proper urban planning” and “adequate public transportation”??? I’m not sure what you mean by this.

According to this article, Lego is attracted to Boston by “world-class academic institutions, skilled workforce and a great quality of life”. I think that the quality of life is questionable since Boston is very expensive and has significant transportation issues. Still it’s hard for Enfield, a small suburban town, to compete with that.

It’s a shame they didn’t consider a different part of Connecticut like Stamford, Norwalk or New Haven. It appears that Lego still has not found a new office yet so there may be a chance to keep them. We will see if Lamont can do anything to stop it. Jay

https://www.courant.com/business/hc-...osy-story.html

https://www.nbcboston.com/news/local...oston/2953287/

But you are missing the point. The region does have Rapid Transit, Bus Rapid Transit, 14 Commuter Rail Lines and other transit options. Its not running great, but its still there. Its preferable to other large cities (Notably, NYC) due to its access to amenities, cleanliness and manageability. Those in addition to the intellectual property + universities, are reasons why they left. Now obviously CT, specifically Enfield cant do that, but the region does need to spruce up a bit. There are so many colleges in this part of New England and they need to work making the grads stick. Not saying do this, but an idea maybe CT should consider streamlining is to Give young people what the want... walkable cities, access to amenities and public transit. Build TOD around New Haven-Hartford Line... the rest will follow. Look at NJ, it worked here. Maybe thats an option? Idk, but CT has to get more creative imo. Im saying this because I want it to grow an succeed, not flat line.

And yes, its expensive. But like I said, Bostonians do everything in their power to restrict growth/further develop the region better. Boston will keep growing, there is no doubt about that, but the Commonwealth and the New England provincialism will keep making MA more expensive.

[mdovell]

I can be critical of ct in some ways but they *ARE* doing TOD on the Hartford line


https://portal.ct.gov/DOT/Transit-Or...ment-Home-Page

https://www.hartfordbusiness.com/art...ortunities-for

[robr2]

Originally Posted by masssachoicetts

Lego leaving Enfield for Boston in 2025 and taking 740 employees with them.

Big L for the Hartford/Springfield area. Time to invest in proper urban planning and adequate public transportation.

Interesting that they are moving to Boston. It's not the normal "want to be near the tech and bio-tech sectors and education" relocation. There must be some other factors driving this move. The Education division is already here so maybe that's a factor. Maybe the US president is tired of having to drive 90 minutes to get to Logan all the time.

Lots of marketing, logistics, sourcing jobs in this move. Lego got out of the computer game and movie business years ago licensing it instead so not tech jobs there. For those that move, commuting to a sleepy suburb via downtown Boston is going to be a shock.

[okbymeman]

Originally Posted by robr2

Interesting that they are moving to Boston. It's not the normal "want to be near the tech and bio-tech sectors and education" relocation. There must be some other factors driving this move. The Education division is already here so maybe that's a factor. Maybe the US president is tired of having to drive 90 minutes to get to Logan all the time.

Lots of marketing, logistics, sourcing jobs in this move. Lego got out of the computer game and movie business years ago licensing it instead so not tech jobs there. For those that move, commuting to a sleepy suburb via downtown Boston is going to be a shock.

It's purely about access to talented and educated people.