Good morning and happy Valentine’s Day,

There’s a meme making its way across the internet that essentially asks:  If you oppose DEI, which specific part don’t you support?

Is it diversity?

Or are you against equity or inclusiveness?

Campbell’s message to businesses on DEI’s legality

Massachusetts Attorney General Andrea Campbell issued guidance yesterday that said a federal executive order prohibiting “DEI preferences, mandates, policies, programs, and activities” does not apply to private sector businesses, nonprofits, and other organizations.

Diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility policies and practices are legal, Campbell said.  They also contribute to “creating and maintaining legally compliant and thriving workplaces.”

Campbell co-authored the guidance with Illinois Attorney General Kwame Raoul and was joined by their counterparts in 14 other states. 

The guidance reminds businesses that “state and federal law prohibits discrimination in the workplace on the basis of race, sex, national origin and other protected characteristics.”

• “In order to effectively avoid liability for discrimination, employers must take steps to proactively prevent and address discrimination, including by identifying and remediating policies and practices that have an unlawful impact on current and prospective employees.

• “Decades of research and data demonstrate that properly developed and implemented diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility initiatives help prevent unlawful discrimination and ensure that discriminatory conduct is promptly identified, reported and addressed when it does occur.”
  
  

Your chamber’s view

We applaud Campbell for affirming that incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion and accessibility best practices are a legal and appropriate responsibility for employers.

It’s also an ethical choice that’s proven to benefit companies’ bottom line.

Businesses and nonprofits across Massachusetts should take pride in the collective progress made since the 2020 murder of George Floyd. This moment we find ourselves in today should be a renewed wake-up call, not an opportunity to retreat from our collective responsibility to create more diverse and welcoming workplaces and communities.

I value your feedback.

Fortune 500 company moving to Newton

In a WFH economy, it’s been a while since we’ve been able to celebrate the signing of a new large office tenant in any of our communities.

Fuel supplier Global Partners has signed a lease to occupy 100,419 SF at 275 Grove St., just down the street from the Riverside MBTA station in Auburndale.

The Fortune 500 company will be moving from Waltham in 2026 and is expected to bring 600 employees to three floors of the Greatland Realty Partners and Barings-owned campus.

Greatland and Barrings acquired the former Riverside Center in 2023 from Alexandria Real Estate Equities.

They’ve since invested over $16 million to modernize the common areas, improve the base building systems and enhance the occupant experience. (I also recommend the auto detail business in the garage.)

Other tenants on the campus include TechTarget, Parexel, Siemens, Athenahealth, Regus and Atrius Healthcare.

MassSkills aims to foster employer collaboration

The MassSkills Coalition, launched by Governor Healey aims to bring Massachusetts employers from every sector across the state to share, learn, reimagine and implement new ways to access, hire, train, upskill and retain talent.

As part of this effort, the MassSkills Coalition has created three virtual Learning Communities for leaders from talent management, workforce innovation, learning and development, etc., to learn from one another and collectively navigate challenges and collaboratively drive towards solutions.

Employers of all sizes can participate. You can register for the Skills-First Hiring series here; the Upward Mobility series here; and the Data and & Measurement series here.

Friday grab bag

• Needham’s Suni Williams and fellow NASA astronaut Butch Wilmore may be returning to Earth a little sooner than planned! (WBUR)
  
  
• Newton-based cybersecurity company CyberArk Software has acquired Boston-based Zilla Security for $165 million in cash. Nine months ago the Wells Ave.-based company also acquired a Utah-based cybersecurity firm. (BBJ)
  
  
• Fig City News published a nice story about Newton merchants who’ve been partnering to promote each other’s businesses.
  
  
• Please join us for a webinar  “How immigration policy shifts may impact your employees & your business” Feb. 27 at 10 a.m.  Details.
  
  
• Needham’s beloved Abbott’s Frozen Custard on Great Plain Ave reopens today under new owner Bill Zeoli.  He took over the franchise from chamber friend Mary Pat Dauria, who retired in December after 17 years.  (Needham Observer)
  
  
• Worcester just passed a sanctuary city resolution for transgender community. (WBUR)
  
  
• Congressman Jake Auchincloss took to the House floor yesterday to decry a plan to lower the National Institutes of Health operating cost
  
  
• funding for major research institutions nationwide. Watch his spot-on remarks here.
  
  
• It’s healthy to see a robust debate unfolding over affordable housing in Boston’s mayoral race. Too bad it’s not happening in Newton too because City Council President Marc Laredo is the only declared candidate looking to succeed Mayor Ruthanne Fuller.
  
  

Needham cans plastic bottle ban for another year

The Needham Select Board unanimously agreed this week to not move forward with a proposed ban on the sale and distribution of plastic water bottles.

The board did agree to hold a public hearing next month regarding a potential ban on black plastic take-out containers, plus a separate (chamber-supported) proposal to adopt a skip-the-stuff ordinance.

Earlier proposals to also ban the sale of nips and other beverages in plastic containers were dropped prior to the meeting.

As for plastic water bottles, we recognize the environmental and health harms. We have and would support reasonable state efforts to reduce the use of plastics.

But this ban only punishes the little guys at the very end of the supply chain for a problem that needs to be addressed by manufacturers and distributors.

And, as we told the board this week, this is the wrong time to introduce yet another costly regulation on the backs of small businesses.

Many Needham businesses were just hit with a substantial property tax hike, the result of new assessments. Meanwhile, our restaurants and their employees are on edge about possible worker deportations and tariffs not only on food but just-imposed aluminum tariffs that may raise the cost of already more expensive canned water.  

Oh and there’s eggs, orange juice and coffee too.

We’re grateful to the select board for recognizing that this was not the year to add another burden onto the backs of our small businesses.

One request before you go

Finally, if you are not directly affiliated with a business or nonprofit organization but appreciate our mission, advocacy and this twice-weekly newsletter, I hope you will consider becoming a Citizen Member for $95 annually.

And if you represent a business or nonprofit that’s not listed here, we hope you will join now.

We’re committed to supporting and advocating for our communities during these uncertain times. But we can’t do it without your support.

Thanks for doing so.

And that’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know the exact number of cigarettes smoked in hundreds of movies.

Enjoy the long weekend.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688