Business Owners

A large sinkhole on East Monument Street near Johns Hopkins Hospital widened this weekend, potentially compromising sanitation lines to multiple homes and businesses along the street and causing their water to be shut off, according to city public works officials. Efforts to stabilize the street between North Bradford Street and North Montford Avenue and reopen it to foot traffic could take as many as nine days, officials said. Public works crews were working with residents and business owners Monday to "conduct pre-construction structural surveys and install vibration and settlement monitors" along the street that will "notify DPW if damage to surrounding buildings is occurring," the department said in a statement.

An Annapolis consulting firm has agreed to advise struggling Latino businesses in Baltimore on ways to borrow money and cut costs.The Chesapeake Consulting Group, operating under a grant from the Small Business Administration, will meet with the owners of five businesses, including three restaurants, in the Upper Fells Point area where Latino entrepreneurs are struggling to gain a foothold.The offer was made at yesterday's meeting of the Hispanic Business Association called to address escalating problems some business owners are having borrowing money.

Baltimore's Public Works Department unveiled plans yesterday for more than $180 million in construction projects this year, including a long-awaited parking garage in the southern part of the city, road work and improvements to parks. In addition to the construction projects, the department told 200 business owners attending a meeting at the city's Back River Wastewater Treatment Plant of plans for $22 million in new architectural work across the city, which will pave the way for more construction projects in the year 2000.

President Barack Obama opened a can of worms when he said that no one could be successful without the government's help. We all know that our taxes pay for the infrastructure, safe streets and protection from outside enemies. We also know that the government impedes rather than helps independent business owners. President Obama is choosing the socialist/communist way, and we know how that is going to end. Haven't we seen the Soviet Union collapse? Jack Rosay, Baltimore

A Baltimore judge said Tuesday that she will soon decide whether a lawsuit about the proposed $1.5 billion redevelopment of State Center should go to trial. At the end of several hours of arguments regarding whether the two sides agree about the facts of the case, Baltimore City Circuit Court Judge Althea M. Handy told attorneys she intends to rule on the state's summary judgment motion before the end of the week. If Handy does not rule in the state's favor, and unless the parties come to a settlement, a trial will be necessary to determine the merits of allegations made in 2010 by downtown landlords and business owners.

This week, far too many small businesses will fail because their owners are too stubborn or too embarrassed to seek help.Most business owners keep their problems a secret because they are sure that they can't afford to hire someone to straighten things out. But if you don't solve the problems, you won't have a business to run anymore.In addition to free counseling programs such as the U.S. Small Business Administration's Service Corps of Retired Executives, there are crisis managers who rescue business owners for a fee that won't make you gasp.

Gov. Martin O'Malley is at it again, and his proposed plan to raise the gasoline tax in Maryland must be defeated ("Gas tax: Pay now or later" Mar. 13). The brunt of Mr. O'Malley's new $3.4 billion gas tax proposal to increase funding for Maryland's transportation needs will fall squarely on Maryland's motorists and gasoline retailers. Under Mr. O'Malley's proposed gas tax hike, Maryland's gas tax rate would skyrocket to 39.5 cents per gallon, and it would become the 5th highest gas tax burden in the nation if gas averaged $3.50 a gallon per year.

The goal for Race On is clear: To make the Grand Prix of Baltimore a long-term fixture, the company must generate significantly more money from Baltimore businesses and fans. Enter Debbie Bell. The former director of corporate sales and sponsorship for the Orioles has been named Race On's vice president for sales and marketing, officially becoming the first full-time employee of the promotion company founded by financier J.P. Grant and construction executive Greg O'Neill. She's been on the job for about two weeks, spending much of her time trying to drum up enthusiasm — and persuade business owners to set aside some of their 2013 budget to help support the Labor Day weekend auto racing festival.

Annapolis officials plan to introduce a resolution at Monday night's city council meeting that would require council approval for special events at City Dock, following complaints from downtown business owners. Annapolis Mayor Joshua J. Cohen, Aldermen Richard E. Israel and Ross H. Arnett III, all Democrats, have sponsored the resolution. The issue came up last summer when a group of downtown business owners criticized the city for not better policing the festivals that take place in the city's historic district.

Mention the Americans with Disabilities Act to most small-business owners and watch them tremble. But the much-debated law, which covers all businesses employing more than 25, is nothing to be afraid of -- if you understand its basic intent.The ADA, as it is known, is aimed at giving the estimated 8.2 million disabled Americans who want to work a chance to work.It is not meant to put you out of business or cost you enormous amounts of money.Businesses are basically required to make "reasonable accommodations" for handicapped employees and customers.