EDITORIAL
BY DHIREN SHAH
Hello Readers,
I had a discussion with a small business owner and she and myself agreed that some of the rules need to be changed. That is why I am writing my opinion on the government rules. The small businesses who are pulling in a few dollars per month in business are still filing the same amount of forms that large companies do to different government agencies, including the IRS.
Why not make it simpler for those working really hard in businesses like bodegas and smaller businesses which are the life of the community. The smaller businesses really know the community and they have to file sales tax forms, payroll taxes, pay estimated taxes, NJ-927 (New Jersey), Social Security forms, 941 IRS, environmental forms and many other forms and make payments. The worst part is that our elected officials change (may be for making simpler system) their rules and forms to be filled out on the internet, and these small business owners do not know much about the changes, which leads to mistakes with all the correspondence with the government agencies.
There should be some restrictions on forms for smaller businesses. Only one form per quarter. There should be one form (maybe a combined form for federal, state and local government) and government agencies can distribute among them by their percentiles. Also, those employees who are working hard to make their ends meet, should not file any complicated tax forms. They should file one easy form or no form at the end of the year.
Rev. Jesse Jackson has died at the age of 84. A civil rights movement leader, he worked with Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and continued working after Dr. King’s death for the people of our country. He was battling a neurodegenerative disorder and died while surrounding by his family members in Chicago. He unsuccessfully tried to run twice for president of the US and lost both times. In 1988, he was runner-up to Michael Dukakis in his second bid as the presidential nominee of the Democratic Party. Local Talk’s staff and myself convey our condolences to his family members, friends and supporters like us.
Congresswoman LaMonica McIver will present a check to the Urban League of Essex County, NJ on February 18, 2026 to support the expansion of the Employment and Construction Trades Training center. Hopefully this will improve the quality of construction and employment in our local area.
There is a possible suspect in the kidnapping of Savannah Guthrie’s mother after doorbell camera video footage showed someone wearing a mask. Also, the investigators found a glove at the residence which might help to catching a suspect.
Have a wonderful week. I’ll talk to you next week.
