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Hi, remember this?

COVID-19 Update: Governor Baker Orders All Non-Essential Businesses To Cease In-Person Operation

Four years ago tomorrow, Gov. Charlie Baker ordered all non-essential businesses and organizations to close their physical workplaces and facilities to workers, customers and the public.

So many things haven’t been the same since. Although arguably some things are better, right?

The COVID shut-down anniversary is also the anniversary of this newsletter. It began as a platform for sharing what little information existed as we struggled to figure out what the heck we were supposed to do in that unprecedented moment when Baker told business owners, managers and employees to pack up and go home.

In those early weeks we told stories of remarkable generosity, of rising to the occasion, stories about adapting and provided real time information about safety protocols, where to find plexiglass, PPE and small business grants.

And we commiserated during an infuriating number of days like these.

We never planned this newsletter. But I kept at it, five-days-a-week for nearly a year and mercifully (my family will agree) less frequently now. It gained its own momentum, morphing into what I hope has become a helpful resource and voice our businesses, our nonprofits and our communities.

I’m grateful to each of you who take time to read this (or perhaps just click on it so my feelings aren’t hurt) and for all the feedback – positive and negative.
 
And thanks to you, our members, citizen members, and annual partners, for the financial support that makes our chamber’s advocacy, programing, events and communications possible.

Onward.

Slow zones don't just exist on the T 

Office vacancies are up. But finding an open lane on the Mass Turnpike and other highways during rush hour is as bad as it was pre-pandemic.

That’s according to the BBJ’s Greg Ryan, using cell phone and other data from research firm INRIX.

In early 2021 when many offices were still closed due to the pandemic, the average east bound morning speed along the Pike was close to the speed limit: 58.9 mph and 57.3 westbound in the afternoons.

But now, “average morning rush-hour speed is 31.7 mph — 21% slower than the same period in 2023 and slower even than it was in 2019. Outbound afternoon traffic is almost as bad as 2019 levels and significantly slower than it was last year,” Ryan writes.

In the new hybrid-work world, average speeds are slightly slower midweek, though that was also the case before the pandemic, Ryan adds.

It's basically the same story on I-93 north and south, as well as along Storrow Drive and Memorial Drive.

One outlier is Route 2, where the average morning-commute speed is still 15% faster than it was in 2019, although that will likely change once word gets out.

Newton nonprofit gets $2M to combat domestic violence  

The Second Step has been awarded a $2 million from MacKenzie Scott’s Yield Giving to support the Newton nonprofit's programs and services to individuals and families who have experienced domestic violence.

Second Step was one of 18 Bay State nonprofits to receive grants from the foundation founded Scott, the former wife of Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, using funds from her divorce settlement.

“Domestic violence is often a hidden issue,” says Second Step Executive Director Susan Ross. "This tremendous investment in the work we do to help survivors gain safety and stability is not only transformative programmatically, it also tells survivors that they are important, that they deserve the support and commitment this wonderful grant provides." 

One fish, two fish, shad fish, blueback fish 

Each spring, thousands of migratory fish return to the Charles River to spawn from the ocean.

But many are stopped short due to defunct dams.

The Charles River Watershed Association needs volunteers, April 15 to June 30, to collect data on how many fish are able to use the ladder at the Watertown Dam.

By counting fish for just 10 minutes per available week, you will play a critical role in understanding of how dams affect American Shad, Blueback Herring, Alewives, Rainbow Smelt, White Perch, Striped Bass, and American Eel. Volunteer here.

Friday grab bag 


  • Watertown’s Planning Board is recommending that the city council adopt a zoning ordinance that adds short term rentals as an allowed use. The amendment would limit who could offer short term rentals and for how long. (Watertown News)

  • Wondering about those unexploded devices found in our favorite river on the Needham-Newton line? Gloria Greis at Needham History Center And Museum explores the possible origin.


  • Saint Joseph School in Needham has launched a new nursery school program, catering to children turning 3-years-old and is now accepting applications for the upcoming school year.

  • Grace Moreno who has led the Massachusetts LGBT Chamber of Commerce for six years is stepping down at the end of April. (BBJ) 
 
  • Stops for three MBTA bus lines -- Nos 52, 57, and 504 -- starting and ending at Watertown Yard have been moved to fit the new street configuration off of Galen Street. (Watertown News)


  • Last reminder: The deadline for our scholarship program for graduating high schoolers is March 29, one week from today.

Cast your vote for the Knotty Pine 

Knotty Pine

The family-owned Knotty Pine restaurant in Auburndale has applied for a Backing Historic Small Restaurants grant from American Express and the National Trust for Historic Preservation, reports Bruce Henderson at Fig City News.

Fifty recipients nationwide will each receive $50,000 “to help them improve their businesses and positively impact their communities.”

But the Tula family needs your help: Please submit online comments in support of the application by Monday (March 25). Include the restaurant name, website (theknottypinelunch.com), and location (Auburndale).

House speaker joins guv in opposing dropping MCAS 

House Speaker Ron Mariano, a former teacher, said yesterday that he does not support scrapping the use of the MCAS exam as a high school graduation requirement, State House News Reports.

Gov. Maura Healey also confirmed her opposition to the ballot initiative this week too.

Chamber joins MassSkills Coalition 

Finally today, we’re proud to announce that your chamber has been invited by the Healey-Driscoll Administration and Secretary of Labor and Workforce Development Lauren Jones to join a coalition of employers, academic partners, workforce practitioners and labor as founding members of the MassSkills Coalition.

Together, we will be collaborating on skills first as a strategy in attracting, retaining, and developing talent across industries in Massachusetts.
 
In the weeks ahead, I expect I’ll be reaching out to many of you to learn about your best practices and challenges as we look for ways to promote and strengthen skills-based hiring. 


That’s what you need to know for today, unless you need another reason to shop locally, instead of from Amazon.
 
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President & CEO
617.244.1688

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