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A plan to do something about the state's largest news desert

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A plan to do something about the state's largest news desert

It’s been a month since the last ever edition of the Newton Tab landed on lawns across the city.
 
But it’s been years since the city has had any consistent news reporting, making Newton the biggest city in Massachusetts without a local newspaper, according to the Globe.
 
Finally, there’s a plan to do something about Newton's news desert.
 
Over the past several months I’ve been part of group working to establish a nonprofit online news site rooted in and devoted exclusively to the City of Newton.
 
It will be called the Newton Beacon.
 
The Newton News Foundation, Inc., a recently established nonprofit 501 (c) 3 corporation, will be the Beacon’s publisher. It will be governed by an independent board of directors who are local residents with a goal of representing a diverse cross section of the city.
 
(This is not a chamber project and I'm not on the foundation's board, although I'm certain our local businesses, nonprofits and residents will benefit greatly from an independent source of local news.)
 
The board will have fiduciary and operational responsibilities. But decisions about coverage and content would be the sole responsibility of paid professional journalists.
 
In other words: The foundation will raise the money, build the website, hire the journalists, buy some laptops, perhaps rent an office, and then get out of the way and let the professionals report the news.
 
The launch of the Beacon is still months away. But there will be a public meeting about the project on June 16 at 7 p.m. at the Durant-Kenrick House to share details and solicit community input.
 
Go here to learn more.
 
Gas tax relief remains stalled on Beacon Hill
 
Gas prices are at historic highs and once again yesterday legislative leaders ruled out following other states that have suspended their gas tax.
 
Senate President Karen Spilka argued that a gas tax break would not meaningfully benefit drivers.
 
She noted that while Connecticut has suspended its 25-cents-per-gallon excise tax, a gallon of gas still averages $4.89 in the Nutmeg State, compared to $4.96 in Massachusetts.
 
Other tax relief possible
 
So, no gas tax breaks.
 
But what about the $700 million in tax relief Gov. Charlie Baker proposed back in January?
 
Spilka and House Speaker Ronald Mariano say they're working on it, according to State House News’ Colin A. Young.
 
The goal is to complete something by July 30. But whatever they pass won't do much to help consumers or business owners this year.
 
Spilka said she was looking at tax relief for low-income, vulnerable populations, working families and seniors but did not mention any programs to directly benefit small businesses. 
 
Solar developer wins Waltham NIMBY battle
 
The state’s Supreme Judicial Court has issued an noteworthy ruling that could have big implications on attempts by suburban communities to regulate solar wind farms, reports Scott Van Voorhis at Contrarian Boston.
 
The case involved the developer of the 413,600-square-foot solar farm in Lexington that was going to require building an access road through a residential neighborhood in Waltham.
 
Waltham tried to stop it, citing zoning rules.
 
But the SJC ruled against Waltham, citing statutory language enacted decades ago that exempts solar energy systems from zoning regulations and the access road was deemed part of the protected solar energy facility.
 
Dan Winslow, the former state judge, administration official and state representative who now leads the New England Legal Foundation, told State House News the SJC's decision is a win for "free enterprise, property rights and solar energy development."  
 
National Law Review has more. 
 
Speaking of NIMBYs
 
Check out the New York Times' Conor Dougherty's empathetic look at those on both sides of the housing debate and both the NIMBY and YIMBY movements.
 
Other need to knows
 
  • Saracen Properties and BentallGreenOak will present its proposal for redeveloping the former Russo’s Site at 532 and 560 Pleasant Street at a virtual meeting Thursday (June 9) at 6:30 p.m. Plans include a lab/office building, retail space, a parking garage, with publicly-accessible open space in between. Relevant docs here.  Zoom link.
 
  • Wellesley’s Tatte Bakery & Cafe is expected to open soon at Linden Square. But first Wellesley’s Board of Health needed to talk with the wildly-popular bakery chain about its viennoiserie. The Swellesley Report explains what the heck a viennoiserie is, and why it's as important to Tatte as all that subway tile.
 
  • One of our favorite presenters --- city planner and urban designer Jeff Speck -- will be discuss planning for the suburbs of the future at the Needham Public Library Sunday (June 12) at 2 p.m. Admission is free but space is limited. Register. 
 
  • Every month a group of chamber employers meet virtually to share success stories and challenges related to making their workplaces more diverse, equitable and inclusive. If you own or help manage a company with 15 or more employees, we invite you to learn more. Our next virtual meeting is Thursday (June 9) at 10 a.m. Email me for details.
 
  • The Needham Farmers Market  returns Sunday from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Greene’s Field at the corner of Great Plain Ave and Pickering Street. The market will feature new and returning food vendors and visiting artists.
 
Affordable housing opportunity in Wellesley
 
The Nines apartment complex at 40 William Street in Wellesley (those big buildings that have sprung up at the intersection of Route 9 and 128) is offering 88 affordable studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments, by lottery, for eligible tenants.
 
Sixty-one units are reserved for local preference, including people who work in Wellesley.
 
Deadline to apply is July 25. Details.
 
Life science leaders call for gun control
 
Following mass killings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, the leaders at MassBio stepped forward last week advocating for gun control.
 
"The horrific events we’ve seen over the past few weeks continue to show us that prayers and condolences don’t create change," MassBio’s CEO Joe Boncore and president and COO Kendalle Burlin O'Connell said in a joint statement.
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“Our goal as an organization and as an industry is to improve the health of people and their communities. We support a future where children are safe in their classrooms and every community feels safe going about their lives. Our hearts go out to Uvalde and Buffalo, and to our neighbors across Massachusetts that struggle with gun violence too often.”
 
MassBio’s leadership also issued a statement last month “expressing outrage” over the expected Supreme Court decision to overturn Roe vs. Wade. 
 
We can't wait to show you our latest project
 
Trip Up the Charles
I was in downtown Concord a while back feeling a little envious of all the foot traffic the local shops and restaurants there were enjoying from out-of-town visitors (like me).
 
"How can we get these folks to visit the restaurants and retailers in Newton, Needham, Watertown and Wellesley?" I asked myself.
 
Our communities don't have the historic attractions that Concord and Lexington enjoy. But we still have a lot to offer.
 
And with gas prices what they are, I suspect a lot of families and individuals are looking for new places to visit that aren't far from home.
 
Tomorrow, our chamber will launch a multi-media campaign designed to do just that: position our chamber communities as great places to visit.
 
Using video, social media, print and an online directory, our campaign -- "A Trip Up the Charles" -- will highlight scenic, historic, recreational, lodging, dining and retail destinations that make Newton, Needham, Watertown and Wellesley unique.
 
It's been a fun project. Can't wait to show you around.
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That’s Need to Knows for today, unless you need to know if doctors think you can actually get tics from TikTok?
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
Charles River Regional Chamber
617.244.1688
 
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