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Does banning marathoners help, or hurt, Putin?

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Does banning marathoners help, or hurt, Putin?

Is the world at war with Vladimir Putin, or the Russian people?
 
Tom Friedman at the New York Times has argued persuasively that if here’s ever going to be a chance to “set in in motion forces inside Russia that topple Putin from power,” the distinction matters.
 
The world needs “to broadcast daily and loudly — in every way we can — that the world is at war ‘with Putin’ and ‘not with the Russian people’ — just the opposite of what Putin is telling them,” He adds.
 
So what message is the Boston Athletic Athletic Association broadcasting by banning 63 Russia and ,” He Belarusian residents from running through Wellesley, Newton and other communities this Marathon Monday?
 
"I'd be devastated and shocked and sad and angry if I was ever to be banned because my country went to war and the whole world went against the country," J. Loui, a runner and founder of the Boston Road Runners Club tells WBUR.
 
"There's other ways to support Ukraine and show that an individual or group or community is against Russia.”
 
Editors at the Globe agree.
 
So does Friedman’s New York Times colleague, Brett Stephens whose column titled "The Boston Marathon’s Brainless Bigotry" draws a parallel between the BRA and this legendary moment in cinematic history.
 
But then there’s Russian runner, Katia Zykova, who spent the last several months training, meticulously planning and saving to run our Marathon but who tells WBUR she’s "disappointed" by the decision yet supports efforts to decry the war.
 
"If I think about this moment, about Ukraine," Zykova said, "I think if it can help even one [person] in Russia to understand that this war is so awful that you cannot support it... if it will help people to think about it from this side, I will take it."
 
Fuller has COVID (and so do a lot of people in Philadelphia)
 
I’m hearing about more and more people who’ve just recently contracted COVID. Aren't you?
 
Add to the list, Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller who announced on Facebook that she has tested positive but has only mild symptoms.
 
It's even led the BSO to cancel its European tour.
 
Meanwhile, Philadelphia just became the first major U.S. city to reinstate its indoor mask mandate. Philly had dropped its mask mandate March 2. But confirmed COVID-19 cases, attributed to the more contagious BA.2 variant, have risen more than 50% in 10 days.
 
Child care support to be focus of House budget
 
Child care has become even harder to find since the pandemic set in.
 
The early child care sector has lost 1,359 programs statewide (about 17 percent of the total) since March 2020, which translates to 23,395 slots for children, according to a report released last month, writes State House News’ Colin A. Young.
 
Tomorrow, when House leaders unveil their version of next year’s fiscal budget early education and child care appears primed to be a major focus.
 
Included in the $110 million investment is $60 million to increase salaries for teachers and others at subsidized providers; $16.5 million in grants to Head Start programs; $10 million in grants for early education providers to defray the costs of child care for their own staff; $15 million towards child care resources and referral agencies.
 
Other need to knows
 
  • A reminder that the 2022 Massachusetts Small Business Day event is happening today (virtually) at noon. The focus will be on healthcare affordability. There will also be a legislative update on key bills maneuvering through the Legislature. Free. Register. 
 
  • Needham’s town election is today. You can see the full ballot here. The League of Women Voters of Needham’s guide is here. Polls close at 8 p.m.
 
  • Connect with the brightest talent in the life science industry by registering as an exhibitor and display your open positions at MassBio Career Fair 2022 tomorrow (Weds.) from 3-6 p.m.
 
  • UMass Amherst|Mt. Ida, will host “How to Fix Social Media” and discuss the problems within online platforms and who and what can be done to implement new, innovative ways to make end runs around the system. This is an in-person event tomorrow (Weds.) at 4:30 p.m. Free. Details.
 
  • The Massachusetts Clean Energy Center offers a free technical assistance program for private medium and heavy-duty fleets in Massachusetts who would like help planning for fleet electrification. Visit the Mass Fleet Advisor website to learn more or attend an informational webinar Thursday (April 14) at 2 p.m. to learn more. Register. 
 
Catch a ride and around in Wellesley
 
Do you have employees or customers looking to get to jobs, appointments or shopping in and around Wellesley?
 
The MetroWest Regional Transit Authority’s Catch Connect service provides low-cost curb-to-curb ride share services in and around Wellesley, with stops at Newton Wellesley Hospital, the Woodland and Waban MBTA stops, Volante Farms and Trader Joes, Needham and other stops.
 
Starting May 2, the system will be updating its fare collection system but the fare prices will remain unchanged. Questions? email info@mwrta.com
 
 
Documents drop for former Russo's site in Watertown
 
Saracen Properties and BentallGreenOak have submitted documents, including renderings, for a life sciences development at 532-560 Pleasant Street in Watertown, the 4.82-acre site that was the formerly the beloved Russo's.
 
Norton: 'People behave better' when we have local news reporters
 
Finally, in case you missed it, the Globe’s Jon Chesto took a deep dive this weekend into the pending loss of local news coverage due to strategic changes by Gannett. He notes that Newton is about to become the largest city in the state without a local newspaper.
 
“It’s awful, especially for a city our size,” said Newton City Councilor Emily Norton.
?“People behave better when there’s someone paying attention.”
 
Can't argue with that.
 
That’s Need to Knows for today -- International Be Kind to Lawyers Day -- unless you have questions what that foam is floating in the Charles River at Echo Gorge? 
 
Be back tomorrow.
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
Charles River Regional Chamber
617.244.1688
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