by Tahra Goraya | Aug 24, 2026 | Economic & Workforce Development, MBEP News, Op-Ed
The latest national jobs numbers should concern every economic leader in America—not simply because women are losing jobs, but because they reveal something deeper about whose economic contributions we value. In July, the U.S. economy lost 23,000 jobs. Women accounted...
by Tahra Goraya | Aug 19, 2026 | Broadband, Economy Matters, MBEP News
Reliable high-speed internet connection is as essential to economic participation as roads, electricity and transportation. Yet across Monterey, Santa Cruz and San Benito counties, geography, affordability and digital skills continue to determine who can fully...
by Tahra Goraya | Aug 5, 2026 | Agriculture, Economy Matters, MBEP News
Drive through the Salinas Valley in almost any season and you’ll see it: mile after mile of lettuce, strawberries, and broccoli, tended by crews working before sunrise to keep the nation’s produce aisles stocked. It’s easy to take for granted. It...
by Tahra Goraya | Jul 30, 2026 | Economy Matters, MBEP News, Tech & Innovation
Artificial intelligence is no longer a distant, futuristic idea — it is already reshaping agriculture, healthcare, education, and local business across our region. From precision irrigation on Salinas Valley farms to diagnostic tools in our clinics, AI is quietly...
by Tahra Goraya | Jul 7, 2026 | Economy Matters, Housing, MBEP News
Housing is too often treated as a social issue when it is, in fact, essential economic infrastructure. Without homes that working families can afford, businesses struggle to hire, hospitals cannot recruit nurses, schools lose teachers, agricultural employers face...
