September 8, 2003

Senator John A. Hart, Jr.
Chairperson
Joint Committee on Commerce and Labor
Room 309
State House
Boston, MA 02133

Dear Senator Hart:

I am honored to have been invited to testify on September 11 in the Public Hearing for
H 1813/S 31, which addresses jobs creation in Massachusetts. Regrettably, my schedule
does not permit me to appear in the State House on that day. But I do wish to offer this
statement in support of the bills.

In light of the most recent downturn in the US economy, which has seen the loss of
millions of jobs and caused considerable hardship, it is vital that the state of
Massachusetts be proactive in addressing this crisis. The appointment of a special
commission with a diverse makeup to investigate what factors will generate and maintain
good jobs for the citizens of the Commonwealth offers a logical strategy. By gathering
together experts from academia, labor, and the legislature who have their fingers on the
pulse of economic and job developments, we are afforded a tremendous opportunity to
tackle joblessness and job loss from the state and start reversing course. This initiative
will be beneficial to citizens and businesses alike.

I applaud the efforts of the senators and representatives, and their supporters, who have
worked for eight years towards the creation of the special commission and am happy to
voice my enthusiastic support for it.

Sincerely.

William Julius Wilson
Lewis P. and Linda L. Geyser University Professor