Every employer struggling to hire should be alarmed
Every employer struggling to hire should be alarmed
You've probably heard that Maya Angelou quote, “When people show you who they are, believe them the first time.”
A few years back, Max Page showed us exactly who he is.
I'm referring to when the then-new Mass Teachers Association President pretty much declared war on every employer and parent looking to our schools to provide the skills workers need to fill jobs.
Appearing before the state board of education in 2022, Page suggested his union has “a fundamental difference of views of what schools are for.”
Page went on to criticize school curriculums for being too focused “on income, on college and career readiness” because, he said, such goals were “tied to the capitalist class and its needs for profits."
The idea that teachers should not be tasked with building academic skills to prepare our kids for college and career success in the workforce, should alarm every employer who is struggling to hire.
It should also alarm every employer who is frustrated that, too often, employees lack basic reading, writing, or math skills.
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Page (that's him in the photo egging on Newton’s teachers durring last month’s strike) is channeling his contempt for capitalism into a voter referendum to obliterate standardized testing as a graduation requirement in Massachusetts.
He told Jon Chesto at the Globe this week that his union is ready to spend whatever it takes win a ballot campaign this fall to do just that.
But Ed Lambert, executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (our chamber is an affiliate) told Chesto eliminating the standardized test requirement for a diploma would undermine the state’s competitiveness by creating a “Wild West scenario” in which school districts create their own definitions for educational success, rather than the statewide MCAS standard in place for the past two decades.
He told Jon Chesto at the Globe this week that his union is ready to spend whatever it takes win a ballot campaign this fall to do just that.
But Ed Lambert, executive director of the Massachusetts Business Alliance for Education (our chamber is an affiliate) told Chesto eliminating the standardized test requirement for a diploma would undermine the state’s competitiveness by creating a “Wild West scenario” in which school districts create their own definitions for educational success, rather than the statewide MCAS standard in place for the past two decades.
Lipof, Sangiolo, early entrants in state rep races
Newton City Councilor Rick Lipof just jumped into state rep contest, a few weeks after Ruth Balser declared she will not seek reelection in a district that includes parts of Newton, Chestnut Hill and Brookline. (Previously, Councilor Bill Humphrey announced he’s also running for the same seat.)
In contrast, it only took two days after state Rep. Kay Khan announced her retirement for former city councilor and mayoral candidate Amy Mah Sangiolo to declare she’s running for that job, reports the Newton Beacon.
Sangiolo had been the publisher of Fig City News but stepped down the same day Fig City broke the news that Khan wasn't running. Hmmm.
State House jobs don’t turn over often. Kahn held hers for 29 years, Balser for 25, although sometimes you have to wonder about the appeal.
Expect more candidate announcements to fill both seats, as well as the Needham seat held by Rep. Denise Garlick, who has is not seeking reelection after a comparatively modest 14 years.
Healey wants to invest big in life science, climate tech
Gov. Maura Healey wisely wants to make sure Massachusetts remains a leader in the life sciences, while also seeking to replicate the formula used for biotech to spark growth in climate tech and applied artificial intelligence.
Her plan, part of a forthcoming $3.5 billion economic development bill, includes reauthorizing the state’s life sciences initiative at $1 billion for the next decade and launching a separate $1 billion, 10-year climate tech initiative, reports Alison Kuznitz at State House News.
"While it is ambitious what we're putting forward, it's also realistic and it's responsible," Healey said.
"The tax incentives are proven to return dollars through economic growth and are tied to getting results, and the operating investments create equitable workforce pipelines that benefit Massachusetts residents."
Meanwhile, raising local tax options on menu on Beacon Hill
Meanwhile, raising local tax options on menu on Beacon Hill
At the same time Healey was touting millions in investments in biotech and other sectors, Beacon Hill lawmakers were poking holes at her plan yesterday to allow cities and town to increase local meals, hotels and vehicle taxes, according to Sam Drysdale at State House News.
Healey wants to give municipalities the authority to raise the local hotel and motel tax from 6 percent to 7 percent; increase the local meals tax from 0.75 percent to 1 percent; and append an additional 5 percent surcharge on motor vehicle excise taxes.
Natick Rep. David Linsky called the vehicle excise tax the “most hated” tax in the state, adding “and probably the biggest complaint that local officials in my district hear about are the conditions of the roads.”
Chris Carlozzi, Massachusetts state director for the National Federation of Independent Businesses said "local government should not provide diners with one more reason not to spend money at a neighborhood restaurant.”
And while tourism revenue has bounced back, exceeding pre-pandemic levels in 2022, Carlozzi warned against "jeopardizing tourism" by making Massachusetts a more expensive vacation destination, Drysdale adds.
Healey’s bill would also make outdoor dining and to-go cocktails permanent, something it’s hard to fathom why Beacon Hill hasn't already done.
Friday grab bag
- Out with the old, in with the less old: Japan’s millennia-old naked man festival may be ending. But our chamber’s quarter century-old Spring Seasonings: A Taste of Our Towns is returning April 8 after a four year hiatus. Early bird tickets just sold-out. However we’ve just added an option to purchase six-packs of tickets at a discount to share with clients and employees.
- MassBay Community College just launched the state's first National Association of Black Accountants chapter. The group will support Black professionals in accounting, finance, and entrepreneurship through education and networking.
- Wellesley will hold a virtual public forum to discuss MBTA Community Zoning and the town's plans for compliance next Thurs. (March 7) at 6:30 p.m. Register. (My thoughts here.)
- The Watertown Public Arts & Culture Committee has launched a call for art, for bike rack design and fabrication. Selected artists will be paid $5000 per bike rack. Deadline April 17. Details
- Wellesley state Rep. Alice Peisch will be speaking and taking questions at the Wellesley Free Library on March 5, 6:30-8 p.m., presented by the Rotary Club of Wellesley. Meanwhile, today (March 1) is the last day to vote early, in-person, for Wellesley’s municipal election, also on Tuesday.
- Incumbent Kevin Keane, along with Josh Levy and Tina Burgos, will compete to fill two seats on the Needham Select Board on April 9.
- MBTA Green Line trains aren't running between Copley and Babcock St., Cleveland Circle and Brookline Hills stations through March 8. There will be shuttle buses.
- Chef Kegan Stritchko, formerly of Uni and Fat Baby Sushi, will open XOXO Sushi Bar, a Japanese-American restaurant, just a few blocks east of The Street in Chestnut Hill. (BBJ)
- Are you interested in hiring job seekers with limited English language skills, who may be fluent in French, Spanish and Portuguese among other languages? Fill out this form and MassHire will attempt to refer recent immigrants to you who are a qualified match.
Small-business owners have a new reporting requirement in 2024
The federal Corporate Transparency Act requires businesses with fewer than 20 employees to report their ownership information to the Treasury’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network as part of an effort to curb money laundering and illicit financial operations.
The law went into effect Jan. 1 but existing small businesses have until the end of this year to comply, reports Andy Medici for the BBJ.
Businesses formed in 2024 have 90 days to fulfill the requirement.
This is not an annual requirement. Once done, business owners only need to update their information if there's an ownership change. Here’s the form.
A recent poll found 58% of small-business owners are aware of the new law, and about 44% had already filed a BOI report. Of those who have filed, 68% said it was easy. Only 18% found completing it difficult, Medici reports.
Garden Center growing to fill Needham's hardware void
Garden Center growing to fill Needham's hardware void
The loss of Harvey’s Hardware following an electrical fire in 2022 left a giant void in Needham Center.
But this summer, Needham Garden Center, located just a few blocks away at 53 Chestnut Street, plans to expand and rebrand as Needham Garden and Hardware, reports the Needham Observer.
Garden Center owner Garrett Graham will be bringing in True Value products. He's also hired a former Harvey’s employee and been consulting with Jeff and Gary Katz, Harvey’s owners.
The expansion is possible because Graham’s abutting neighbor, Learning Express (remember them from this video?) is relocating to the former Architrave location at 1029 Great Plain Ave.
The former Harvey’s location will soon be home to the third Union Pharmacy.
New rules for Newton restaurants start today
New rules for Newton restaurants start today
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Finally this morning, that new ordinance in Newton restricting restaurants and retailers from the sale and distribution of some take-out containers, coffee cups and other materials, goes into effect today.
Full service dine-in restaurants are now required to only use washable dishware instead of single-use.
Full service dine-in restaurants are now required to only use washable dishware instead of single-use.
Also today, Newton restaurants can no longer automatically provide single-use items, such as forks, spoons, knives, straws, chopsticks, stirrers, condiment packages, or napkins in take-out orders.
Our restaurants are generally accepting of the new regulations, knowing the plastic waste poses a significant environmental and health challenges.
But in many cases, adapting will be costly or not always possible due to supply chain, or even labor shortages.
Please be patient as our local restaurants and other businesses adapt to these new rules.
That’s what you need to know for today -- Meteorological Spring! -- unless you need to know how a picture of your cat, or someone else’s cat, or even a cat tattoo, will allow you to avoid paying a fine in this municipality.
Please shop and dine local this and every the weekend.
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President & CEO
617.244.1688
P.S. Missed our recent webinar on how to build and sustain an inclusive organization? Watch it here:
P.S. Missed our recent webinar on how to build and sustain an inclusive organization? Watch it here:
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