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My dentist isn't going to be happy with the city council

My dentist isn't going to be happy with the city council

Later this month the Newton City Council will consider banning the sale or distribution of more than one dozen plastic items and limiting the availability of many other items.
 
Most of the proposed rules would change the way our restaurants do business. Many retailers would be impacted too.
 
Among other things, the ordinance would forbid the sale of plastic water bottles, plastic floss sticks, plastic ear swabs, cosmetics containing plastic glitter, non-recyclable plastic containers, and packing materials.
 
I can tell you right now: My dentist is not going to be happy if there’s a floss stick ban.
 
Before I go any further, before you email, let's acknowledge Mr. McGuire led my generation astray. I understand why this is being proposed. Single-use plastics and their byproducts are devastating to our waterways and our communities. They’re a health risk to humans, to animals, and to our future. They generate billions of tons of greenhouse gases.
 
Plus, far too many of the plastic items we toss into recycling bins are never recycled.
 
Some items targeted by Newton's proposed Expanded Sustainable Packaging Ordinance are entirely reasonable and have our full support. 
 
For example, under the new ordinance restaurants could only provide plasticware or single-use condiment packages upon request, as opposed to leaving them on the counter, or automatically adding them to our takeout orders. 
 
Another provision allows customers to bring their own clean takeout containers to fill themselves in order to take home leftovers, something virtually every restaurant owner I’ve spoken to thought was already permitted.
 
Other proposed rules, such as a prohibition on the use or sale of black plastic takeout containers (which are not recyclable) are well intended, but impractical. That’s because there’s long been a supply chain shortage of white or clear containers. Restaurateurs say they’re just not consistently available.
 
Compostable containers are an allowed alternative. But they’re costly and don’t work well for all food, such as those with sauces or gravy. (Plus too many users toss 'em in the trash anyway.)
 
Restaurants would also be required to only use reusable dishware and utensils for dine-in customers. Sound good. But with labor shortages, not all restaurants (think busy coffee shops in the morning, pizza places when the high school gets out, etc.) are always able or equipped, to wash every item.
 
This list compares the current ordinance to the new proposed restrictions.
 
Our restaurants and other chamber businesses fully appreciate the negative environmental consequences of plastics. We live here too.
 
But many of these ideas should be regulated state-wide, not one community at a time.
 
Still, we look forward to having a productive conversation with the council about crafting a responsible policy that helps reduce plastic waste, while being mindful of unintended consequences. 
 
 
Say goodbye to ...
 
 
  • Back in December, when Bertucci's filed for bankruptcy, the chain closed several Massachusetts locations, but not its Needham or Newton restaurants. Now the Needham spot is gone too. Newton remains open.
 
  • After teaching children to dance in Watertown for a dozen years, Miss Maria’s School of Dance is closing in June. Owner Maria Zullo says the “pandemic and its resulting aftermath of inflation [had] negative impacts to both staffing and my overall business model.”(Watertown News)
 
 
Two area museums shut doors for system upgrades
 
The art galleries at the Davis Museum at Wellesley College closed in December and will remain closed until February 2024 as it upgrades its HVAC system.
 
And there will be no indoor exhibitions at the deCordova Sculpture Park and Museum in Lincoln for up to three years, also due to needed HVAC upgrades. The outdoor sculpture park or other programs and events at the museum, including indoor lectures, concerts, and dining will continue (Boston Globe). 
 
Bill would extend cocktails to go, outdoor dining
 
The Massachusetts House passed a bill this week that would extend outdoor dining statewide through April 1, 2024. The bill still needs Senate approval and the governor’s signature.
 
Fortunately, Newton, Needham, and many other communities don’t need to wait for this extension since they’ve already passed ordinances that allow for permanent outdoor dining.
 
But the House bill would also extend the sales of to-go cocktails, beer, and wine, which is not something municipalities can allow on their own.
 
More need to knows
 
 
  • Is your business or nonprofit considering electrifying your vehicle fleet? Mass Fleet Advisor offers a free consultation service. The only requirement is to have a fleet of at least three vehicles, at least one of which is medium or heavy-duty. Details.
 
  • The League of Women Voters of Newton hosts a virtual conversation with the city’s four state legislators – Sen. Cynthia Creem, Reps. Ruth Balser, Kay Khan, and John Lawn on Monday (March 6) at 7 p.m. (Interesting fact: Only one of the four has endorsed voting yes on Newton's three overrides.) Register.
 
  • Developer 2Life Communities will break ground Monday on Opus Newton, a middle-income senior housing complex adjacent to the JCC. The new housing development will be connected to 2Life's Coleman House and feature 174 residences for those 62 years and older (Newton Patch)
 
 
Here’s one often-overlooked benefit of remote work
 
The employment rate for people with disabilities hit a record high in 2022, and economists believe growing acceptance of remote work has been a factor, writes Andy Medici at the Business Journals.
 
The Bureau of Labor Statistics reports 21.3% of people with disabilities were employed, up from 19.1% in 2021 and the highest rate since BLS started tracking the metric in 2008.
 
Recommended reading about Newton's overrides
 
We're less than two weeks away from Newton’s March 14 override vote. Here are some recommended articles exploring the city’s finances:
 
 
 
 
Life science companies step up in Watertown
 
Finally this morning, five Watertown-based life science companies are stepping up to fund science, technology, engineering, and math programming in the Watertown Public Schools.
 
C4 Therapeutics, Enanta Pharmaceuticals, Kymera Therapeutics, Landmark Bio, and Vigil Neuroscience, Inc. contributed a total of $21,000 to underwrite teacher-driven requests for supplemental materials, books, equipment, special events, and speakers, student programs, and experimental school or district-wide initiatives, through the Watertown Community Foundation.
 
Funding will support STEM initiatives for every K-5 student in the district
 
This program was organized for the second consecutive year through the nonprofit Life Science Cares Boston and also allows companies, leaders, and employees in the burgeoning Watertown life sciences sector to engage with the community.
 
“Interest in science, technology, and math starts at a young age,” said Andrew Hirsch, president, and CEO of C4 Therapeutics. “We’re looking forward to helping students explore career pathways to prepare our vibrant life science industry continue to advance new therapies for patients for decades to come.”
 
“We are proud to partner with Life Sciences Cares Boston, as well as the Watertown Community Foundation, to drive this important mission forward" added Jay R. Luly, President & CEO at Enanta, a clinical-stage biotechnology company dedicated to creating small molecule drugs for viral infections.
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That’s your need to knows for today -- National Employee Appreciation Day -- unless you need to know why it might be safer to be a loose moose in Moosachusetts than loose in Vermont.
 
See you next week.
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
617.244.1688
 
P.S. Are there any graduating high school seniors in your orbit? Please let them know that the deadline for the chamber’s scholarship program is 29 days away. Details.
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