Hello,

Max Woolf here.

Imagine an industry that generates nearly $2 billion for our state’s economy and supports more than 20,000 jobs, including many in our region, being shut down overnight.

It would be an outrage and a huge blow to our economy.

Well, that is exactly what would happen if a ballot question repealing recreational marijuana legalization were to pass this November.

Chamber Member Redi Dispensery in Newton Highlands - Dispensary Genie 

Within the Chamber's five communities alone, 13 licensed dispensaries generate more than $1.5 million in local tax revenue each year, employ local residents, and help support vibrant commercial districts. 

Whatever your views on marijuana, changing the rules after the fact and wiping out that industry would be fundamentally unfair to business owners who followed the law, played by the rules, and made long-term investments in our communities.

We recognize that legalization has brought real challenges, particularly around public consumption, enforcement, and public health. But repealing legalization would not solve those problems. Instead, it would eliminate a regulated industry overnight while pushing consumers back to the illicit market.

For these reasons, the Charles River Regional Chamber Board of Directors voted unanimously to oppose the ballot question that would repeal recreational marijuana legalization and encourages Massachusetts voters to vote NO on this issue in November. Read our board's full statement.

Brookline prepares to enforce Skip-the-Stuff

Beginning next July, the Town of Brookline will be authorized to issue fines for violations of its Skip-the-Stuff bylaw.

The policy, which requires restaurants to provide single-use takeout items only when customers request them, has already been adopted in all of our chamber communities. However, not all of them have begun enforcement.

Watertown will begin enforcement later this year. A year from now, Brookline could issue a warning for a first violation, followed by fines of up to $50 for a second violation and up to $100 for subsequent offenses, according to Layne Shepley of Brookline.News,

Unlike other plastic bans, we support Skip-the-Stuff because it reduces waste while lowering restaurants' costs.

That said, enforcement should focus on education rather than penalties. We hope, and are confident, that Brookline will work with restaurants to achieve strong compliance without creating unnecessary burdens.

Watertown's biotech momentum continues 

Just a few months ago, we brought together industry, real estate and city leaders to discuss why Watertown has become one of Greater Boston's biggest life science success stories.

This week brought another reminder that Watertown continues to win. Watertown BIO and the BBJ report that two of the city's major life science hosts each welcomed a new group of tenants.

At Alexandria Real Estate's Arsenal on the Charles campus, three companies are moving in: 

• Olema Oncology – A clinical-stage biotech developing new therapies for breast cancer and other endocrine-driven cancers.
• Ethyreal Bio – A newly launched company developing precision therapies for thyroid eye disease and Graves' disease.
• X4 Pharmaceuticals – A commercial-stage biopharmaceutical company focused on rare immune system and blood disorders.

Meanwhile, at LabShares, the shared laboratory at 66 Galen St., three new startups have leased space:

• Novilla Pharmaceuticals – Uses AI to develop targeted pain medicines.
• Oryon Cell Therapies – Develops stem cell therapies for Parkinson's disease.
• K2B Therapeutics – Creates targeted cancer immunotherapies.

Taken together, these new additions are another encouraging sign that, despite record lab vacancies across Greater Boston and federal research cuts, Watertown continues to attract life science employers. 

Friday grab bag

• Watch State Senator Williams-Brownberger debate his challenger, Daniel Lander, in a forum hosted by the Watertown Democratic Committee. Our debate between the two candidates is on Monday. Aug 10 at 1 pm. Register
  
  
• The MBTA is exploring relocating the Fitchburg Line's Kendall Green commuter rail station from Weston to Waltham as part of a potential partnership with a major Boston Properties redevelopment of the area. Waltham Times
  
  
• Yesterday, Governor Healey signed into law this year’s state budget. The $63 million plan includes no new taxes or fees. Boston Globe
  
  
• Newton Community Farm has received a $75,000 Cummings Foundation grant, providing three years of unrestricted funding to support the nonprofit's operations and future growth. The award comes as the farm celebrates its 20th anniversary and begins a new chapter under Executive Director Laila Bravo.
  
  
• Wellesley Square July Jubilation Sidewalk Sale returns Saturday, July 18, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Shop once-a-year deals from dozens of local retailers while enjoying live music, entertainment, demonstrations, performances and food trucks throughout Wellesley Square.
  
  
• What will it take to replace Newton’s remaining gas street lamps with solar-powered ones? Fig City News
  
  
• Hebrew SeniorLife is making it simpler to explore eligibility for its affordable senior living options. Its new one-page guide helps older adults determine which communities—including both of its Brookline locations—they may qualify for.
  
• Chamber member LGA LLC, a longtime independent accounting and advisory firm with a Chestnut Hill office, has been acquired by New York-based Citrin Cooperman Advisors. The July 1 acquisition expands Citrin Cooperman's Massachusetts presence while allowing LGA to continue operation.
  
• The Needham Observer has a status update on the current and planned commercial developments across town. Earlier this week, we did the same for Brookline's residential project pipeline.

Another challenge to building more housing

Massachusetts' housing shortage is facing another challenge: immigration pressures.

Several builders told the Boston Globe's Yogev Toby that heightened immigration enforcement has made some workers hesitant to take jobs, avoid certain projects or leave the industry altogether. Others fear the industry could face disaster if the administration's immigration agenda were fully realized.

After all, about one in four construction workers in Massachusetts is an immigrant, according to an Economic Policy Institute study. The effects are expected to be felt most acutely in small- and mid-sized residential projects, which typically employ higher percentages of immigrant workers. 

Keep in mind that Massachusetts still needs to add roughly 220,000 homes by 2035 just to keep pace with the housing shortage. We'll need all the hands we can get.

That’s what you need to know for today, unless you want to stop saying NIMBY.

Max Woolf (he, him)

Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager

Charles River Regional Chamber

617-431-6101

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