Healey gets it. The Globe gets it. Do homeowners?
Healey gets it. The Globe gets it. Do homeowners?
If you have employees or colleagues with kids in the Newton Public Schools, please cut them some slack today.
Newton teachers voted to strike yesterday. Schools are closed today, leaving parents scrambling for child care. (Videos here)
Healey gets it. The Globe gets it. Do homeowners?
Healey gets it. The Globe gets it. Do homeowners?
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During her first State of the Commonwealth address Wednesday, Gov. Maura Healey called housing “the biggest challenge we face” and her No. 1 legislative priority.
The governor doubled down before lawmakers yesterday, testifying in support of her $4.1 billion plan to supercharge housing production with investments and policy changes, saying she was "going big by proposing the most ambitious housing bill in state history.
The governor doubled down before lawmakers yesterday, testifying in support of her $4.1 billion plan to supercharge housing production with investments and policy changes, saying she was "going big by proposing the most ambitious housing bill in state history.
The Boston Globe’s newsroom and editorial page editors have identified housing as a crisis too. It's been the focus of ongoing Spotlight Team reporting for months now, with other articles and editorials seemingly daily.
But what about our neighbors here in the 'burbs?
Is the economic and ethical urgency of this problem getting across to enough of the folks who are fortunate enough to already own a nice single-family home in one of our nice single-family neighborhoods?
That didn’t seem to be the case in Newton last fall, when voters rejected pro-housing candidates in all but one competitive contest.
Nor was it the case in Wellesley when two rezoning efforts were rejected in the past two weeks. As happened in Newton, there's a well-oiled group of residents there pushing back, suggesting that multi-family homes are “intrusions” that should never be allowed in any residential neighborhood, an idea that seems to be embraced by some select board members.
It may happen in Milton too, where voters may toss out their MBTA Communities-compliant plan, even as the attorney general warns of the consequences.
On the other hand, Brookline, Arlington and Lexington have all passed MBTA Communities compliant plans that were larger than required by law.
And encouragingly, last night in Needham residents overwhelmingly spoke in favor of the two MBTA Communities proposals (maps here) that also go further, with some saying: Be even bolder. (The process still has a long way to go.)
Also encouragingly, all four of our chamber municipalities and in many other cities and towns now have active and energized citizen advocacy groups advocating for making our communities more welcoming and inclusive.
Now that the governor and her team have made their case to Beacon Hill, we hope they'll spend lots of time out here in the 'burbs, helping those groups appeal to neighbors who still feel the housing solution lies in someone else's backyard.
Grubhub settlement a good reminder about a way we can help restaurants
Grubhub settlement a good reminder about a way we can help restaurants
Thousands of Bay State restaurants will receive checks from Grubhub as the result of a $3.5 million settlement stemming from allegations the company violated a cap on fees during part of the pandemic.
The cap limited the fees to 15% of the meals price. But the attorney general alleged the Grubhub was charging restaurateurs 18% or more.
More than 3,500 restaurants were said to be impacted. That's an average of $1,000 per restaurant, although the size of the reimbursements may vary considerably, writes Lucia Maffei at the BBJ.
Impacted restaurants will be contacted regarding the settlement or may call (888) 830-6277.
Meanwhile that third party fee cap has expired, forcing restaurants to turn over a large slice of their meal ticket if they want to be listed by these companies.
You’ll be helping your favorite restauranter if you order take out directly through their website, as opposed to through one of the large third-party delivery apps whenever possible.
Friday grab bag
Friday grab bag
- Next week is MassCreative advocacy week . On Wednesday (Jan. 24), from 10 a.m. - 3 p.m., join the creative community at the State House for speeches, performances and demonstrations that celebrate the vibrancy and strength of arts, culture and creativity across the Commonwealth.
- Tokyo Japanese Steakhouse at the Mall at Chestnut Hill Has Closed (Boston Restaurant Talk)
- Outdoor furniture store Didriks and Local Root kitchen in Newton Lower Falls is closing too. The Belmont shop will remain open.
- KinderCare Learning Centers has just opened at Arsenal Yards, serving children ages 6 weeks to 5 years. They’re also hiring.
- The Watertown Transportation Management Association wants your feedback on improving the city’s commuter services, everything from shuttles, to bikes to the commuter rail. There’s even a prize drawing.
- Glenn Rosengard is the new Eastern Bank Region 7 area manager in charge of branches in the Chestnut Hill, Dedham, Needham, Newton and Wellesley. This is a new position at Eastern Bank after more than 25 years.
- There's a nice write-up in the Globe by Devra First of Bluebird Bar in West Newton.
- Watertown Business Coalition hosts a free networking event at the tapas restaurant Olespana next Weds (Jan. 24) 5:30 p.m.
- Are you interested in hiring job seekers with limited English language skills, who may be fluent in French, Spanish and Portuguese among other languages? Complete this form and MassHire will attempt to refer recent immigrants to you who are a qualified match.
- For those who like to keep track of such things (I do), Newton Patch was the first to report (only 12 minutes after the union's announcement) that Newton’s teachers have voted to strike.
Like a fisherman who wasn't hungry, he tossed it back
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Finally this morning, the $800 billion Paycheck Protection Program was a lifesaver for many businesses during the pandemic.
It also attracted bad actors who were charged with fraudulently collecting the forgivable federal loans, as well as the rich and famous (including Khloe Kardashian and Tom Brady) who cashed PPP checks they likely didn't need.
Then there's Wellesley attorney Bob Morrill, of Gilmore Rees & Carlson, who did something different with his $694,930 PPP award.
He gave it back to the feds (and $5,600 in interest too) after determining his firm did well enough during the pandemic that they didn’t need it. (Even though under the program’s rules qualified to keep it.)
“It was more of an effort than I would have anticipated to pay it back,” he told NPR’s Sacha Pfeiffer.
It also attracted bad actors who were charged with fraudulently collecting the forgivable federal loans, as well as the rich and famous (including Khloe Kardashian and Tom Brady) who cashed PPP checks they likely didn't need.
Then there's Wellesley attorney Bob Morrill, of Gilmore Rees & Carlson, who did something different with his $694,930 PPP award.
He gave it back to the feds (and $5,600 in interest too) after determining his firm did well enough during the pandemic that they didn’t need it. (Even though under the program’s rules qualified to keep it.)
“It was more of an effort than I would have anticipated to pay it back,” he told NPR’s Sacha Pfeiffer.
“Trying to pay it back was kind of a headache, you know?”
And why did he do it?
“Maybe I'm a Boy Scout,” he said. “…it was the right thing to do. I don't know what to tell you. I believe in America. I believe in capitalism. And I don't see it as my place to have my business subsidized by the government if I don't need it.”
“I mean, I worry sometimes in Washington money is not real. It's like snowflakes in the storm. They just throw it out there. Who cares? But at the end of the day, someone has to pay this back, right? My kids have to pay it back. My grandkids will be paying it back.”
That’s what you need to know for today -- National Popcorn Day -- unless you need to know the right way to chop every vegetable.
Have a great weekend. Shop locally.
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President & CEO
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