Latest updates: Guv to employers: focus on skills, not degrees
Latest updates: Guv to employers: focus on skills, not degrees
Hopefully it's not just by using those new Apple video reactions on Zoom meetings.
Healey to employers: focus on skills, not degrees
Healey to employers: focus on skills, not degrees
Gov. Maura Healey came to Newton yesterday to urge businesses to stop requiring minimum levels of education when they look to fill most open positions.
And she's practicing what she's preaching.
Speaking at an Associated Industries of Massachusetts event at the Newton Marriott, the governor announced that she just signed an executive order that eliminates including degree requirements in most state job postings, preferring instead that hiring managers use a "skills-based" approach.
“We know how difficult it remains to fill open positions – and frankly, as the state’s largest employer, we face this challenge as well,” Healey said.
“Massachusetts has the highest percentage of working-age adults with a four-year degree, at around 50 percent. We can be proud of that. But the other half of our workforce also makes immense contributions to our economy.
"Yet too often, job postings – both in the public and private sectors – call for a degree as a minimum requirement, even when that degree is not necessary to perform well in the role. That creates a barrier for both employers and workers alike,” Healey said. (State House News)
Study: Housing bill will boost economy by $15B
Study: Housing bill will boost economy by $15B
Also while at the Marriott yesterday, Healey unveiled the results of an independent study that found her $4.12 billion housing finance and policy bill coupled with already-passed housing-related tax breaks, would provide a to $15.5 billion boost to the state’s economy over five years.
The administration commissioned the UMass Donahue Institute to measure the impacts and found that making housing easier to build will fuel 18,800 construction and development jobs, catalyze $6.6 billion private investment in affordable housing construction and generate new tax revenue for the state and municipalities, reports James Sanna at Banker & Tradesman.
The study analyzed Healey’s proposals to allow for the construction of accessory dwelling units by-right, selling or leasing surplus state land for housing construction and a controversial proposal to allow towns and cities to levy a sales tax on property transactions over $1 million.
But there's a caveat.
"The researchers noted that their calculations rely on an expansion of the state’s construction workforce, something that’s proved elusive in prior years.," Sanna adds.
Newton restaurants worry customers won't know about city's new take out rules
Newton restaurants worry customers won't know about city's new take out rules
Some Newton restaurant owners are worried that not enough is being done to educate the public about new city take-out regulations that kick-in March 1.
Under the new ordinance, food establishments will no longer be permitted to include disposable utensils or other accessories in take-out and delivery orders, unless the customer specifically requests it.
It's a policy --- often referred to as "Skip the Stuff" -- that's been adopted in New York City and other markets.
It makes sense environmentally and it saves businesses money.
The problem is: Will it also leave customers angry at the restaurant when, for example, there’s no spoon included with their to-go soup?
The new rules also ban the use of single-use takeout containers (larger than 4 ounces) that cannot be reused, composted or recycled, including black plastic containers and plastic lined paper containers.
Here's the dilemma: Businesses can be fined for failing to comply, or subject to nasty Yelp reviews if they do.
Food establishments interested in learning more, or asking questions, about the new rules are encourage to attend a city-run webinar Tuesday being offered at both 9 a.m. or 3 p.m. Presenters will also explore practical strategies for addressing food waste, recycling and minimizing packaging.
MBTA Communities on Wellesley's spring warrant
MBTA Communities on Wellesley's spring warrant
Wellesley’s 2024 Annual Town Meeting warrant includes 52 articles including Article 40, the town’s (disappointing in my view) proposed MBTA Communities Law plan and, separately, a request for funds to explore to enhance Wellesley Square.
There’s also a citizen petition that would give local voting rights to 16- and 17-year-olds and a change to zoning bylaws that would allow Wellesley College to bypass design review.
- Crank up the Wayback Machine Mr. Peabody. Enjoy this collection of very dated TV ads from Prime, Wang, Digital, Data General and other 128 Information Superhighway companies (Universal Hub)
- Three-time Olympic gold medalist, two-time U.S. Olympian and Needham native Aly Raisman is joining ESPN as a gymnastics analyst.
- Tedi Eaton, Needham’s town clerk since 1982 is not seeking reelection this spring. Nomination papers (yes Needham has an elected town clerk), for that position as well as select board, planning board and other offices are due Feb. 20. (Needham Local)
- The IRS is expecting several hundred thousand taxpayers to use its new free online tax filing portal when it launches to the public in March. In a reversal, officials aren’t putting a limit on the number of people who can use it. Massachusetts is among the states in the program. (The Hill)
- Lifestyle apparel retailer Splendid is moving to a new, larger store at The Street Chestnut Hill.
- Needham is looking for downtown business owners and or representatives from a large employer to serve on the town’s Council Of Economic Advisors and well as on its Design Review Board. Apply.
- Emmy-nominated actress and social justice humanitarian Ashley Judd and DA Kevin Hayden participated in a sold-out event at MassBay Community College in Wellesley last night in honor of Human Trafficking Prevention Awareness month.
- Today's the last day to save on our Winter Celebration tickets.
- Find more news from our members here. Login to your member portal to share your company’s or nonprofit’s news.
It's true, Settles and Phillips are champions
They're among those being honored at the The Legacy Pioneers “Champions of Equity” Awards event Feb. 12 by BECMA, Builders of Color Coalition, Embrace Boston, MCCI, NCF and The Partnership.
The awards celebrate Black leaders who have and are driving equitable economic wealth creation across the Commonwealth. Register
Teachers strike drags on and on and on
Teachers strike drags on and on and on
Finally today, if you heard a loud groan last night it may have been frustrated parents and guardians of 12,000 Newton Public Schools students learning that school is once-again closed today.
You can bet those parents' and guardians' employers aren't thrilled either. So much for National Fun At Work Day, eh?
The Newton Teachers Association has now racked up $375,000 in historic fines and is due in court at noon today for engaging in an illegal strike.
And just months after a divisive city election, Newton is divided again in ways that may ultimately be harder to resolve than this strike itself.
Yesterday, Mayor Ruthanne Fuller declined to meet with teachers when they tried to politely barge into her office and earlier suggested that she was ready to request another override. Plus, the city council jumped in, someone called the cops, while other adults urged behaving like adults, which is not what's happening.
Meanwhile, it’s remarkable how many residents (along with a member of Congress) have become overnight experts in municipal finance, expressing total confidence that they know Fuller can afford all of the union’s demands.
Less clear is what happens to other city services – police, fire, streets and sidewalks, street lights, the library, health and human services, parks, etc. -- if more money is shifted to schools.
You can bet the city’s other unions are watching that closely.
On one hand, they’re worried about cuts to their departments to support an unsustainable school budget. On the other, they’re fully expecting that whatever cost of living increases or other benefit concessions teachers gain, will be part of their union contract demands too, putting even more pressure on city coffers.
That’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know that rodents actually take pretty good selfies.
See you next week. Tip your wait person generously.
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President & CEO
617.244.1688
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