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What does that make us, chopped liver?

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What does that make us, chopped liver?

Our region lost one of its preeminent planners this week.

Phil Herr

Phil Herr, 92, dedicated his life to advocating for affordable, safe, healthy and accessible housing both in Newton and far and wide through his teaching at MIT’s Department of Urban Studies and Planning. 

A Korean War veteran, Herr’s work on Newton’s Comprehensive Plan and other efforts shaped the city we know today. It continues through the many public officials, planners and advocates he inspired and mentored.



Wait, we've had tolls here for 72 years!

Transportation Sect. Monica Tibbits-Nutt caused a kerfuffle this week (including a rebuke from her boss and New Hampshire’s governor) for having the audacity to suggest installing tolls along the state’s borders to help fund a transportation system we all know needs funding. 

What does that make us, chopped liver?

Our west suburban communities have been paying tolls to use the Mass. Turnpike since it was built back in 1952. 

Pike tolls were supposed to be removed once the road was paid for. Four decades after the 30-year bonds were paid in full, we're still paying.
 
Meanwhile, every other highway in Massachusetts is toll-free. Why?
 
Fortunately, we have at least one ally in Senate President Karen Spilka.
 
"If tolls are such a great idea for the Turnpike, we should look at them for funding for other areas of the state,” the Ashland Democrat said Monday. “I have filed, in the past, bills to put tolls at the border. So I do believe that we need to be creative about our funding.

“And I do believe that it needs to be fair because I believe the tolls system right now is not fair at all," Spilka added. "So I would certainly be willing to have discussions about creative and fair ways to raise revenues for our many infrastructure needs."

Somehow, somewhere, we need to raise revenue to fix and expand our transportation system. Let’s not rush to take ideas off the table before they're fully considered. 
 
We’ll be meeting with Secretary Tibbits-Nutt, May 14, 10 a.m. at the Hampton Inn in Watertown. Reserve your seat.

Poll finds racial lending disparities


Black small business leaders in Massachusetts disproportionately report being rejected when applying for financing, reports Banker & Tradesman.
 
The MassINC Polling Group found 47% of white-owned businesses report receiving all the capital they applied for, compared to about a third or less of Asian (35%), Latino (34%) and Black-owned businesses (31%).
 
In addition, 42 percent of Black small business leaders reported being rejected when applying for loans or other non-grant types of financing compared to 27 percent of Asian small business leaders, 25 percent of white small business leaders and 24 percent of Latino small business leaders.

Plastic water bottle ban nixed in Needham 

Green Needham, the citizens' advocacy group that proposed a ban on the sale and distribution of plastic water bottles, has decided to withdraw the item from consideration after listening to the concerns of Needham’s local restauranteurs.

The fact that plastic bottles are an environmental and health concern was never debatable.

Our concern is that the ban would have punished the little guys at the very end of the supply chain while the problem originates with large corporations at the beginning of the chain – bottlers and manufacturers -- that have failed to provide viable plastic bottle alternatives.

Canned water can cost restaurants five or more times as much as plastic. Boxed water is considered to be worse since the containers are not recyclable.

Needham’s Board of Health also expressed concerns (video here) about the lack of alternatives and worried that taking away a healthy beverage would lead some consumers to choose less healthy sugary drinks. (There's this too.)

Green Needham’s plastic reduction citizen’s petition was scheduled to go before Needham Town Meeting next week. It also includes a ban on polystyrene (Styrofoam), plastic stirrers and splash guards. Plastic straws will only be available upon request. 

During our meetings, we told Green Needham we supported the rest of the ordinance.

We also proposed substituting bottles with a mandatory "Skip the Stuff" program (similar to one just adopted in Newton), which both eliminates plastic waste and benefits businesses. We understand it's too late to add that component to the next week’s warrant.

We’re grateful to Green Needham for listening to the concerns of our independent small businesses. We’re eager lend our voice to needed supply chain changes. We support adding plastic water bottles to the state’s bottle bill. And we're ready to collaborate on voluntary efforts that further reduce plastic waste. 

A very full Friday grab bag 

  • The forecast looks great for the downtown Needham merchants participating in tomorrow’s sidewalk sale in conjunction with the Charles River YMCA’s Healthy Kids Day.

  • Looking to understand the Opt-In Specialized Stretch Energy Code that’s been adopted in Newton, Needham, Wellesley and Watertown? Acton, Arlington, and Lexington created this guide.



  • Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter, editor, and author Jonathan Kaufman is the featured speaker at a benefit for The Newton Beacon, May 9 at 6 p.m. Details  
 
  • The Rotary Club of Wellesley’s Taste of Wellesley fundraiser is May 22 at Wellesley Country Club. 


  • Eastern Bank expects its merger with Cambridge Trust to occur early in the third quarter (BBJ)

  • The chamber’s Environment Committee is looking to expand. If you work for a chamber member business and are passionate about sustainably and helping businesses become greener, shoot me an email. This a forum to share ideas and best practices, not a place to promote your company’s specific products or services. The committee meets via Zoom on the third Thursday of the month at 9 a.m.

  • J.Crew Factory is now open at Arsenal Yards.

 
  • The deadline for chamber member 501c(3) nonprofits to apply to be the beneficiary of our 2024 Charles River Chamber Golf Tournament is April 30. Apply

Cloudy Apple Whiskey, yes. Cloud Candy, no.

Beacon Hill lawmakers reached a compromise this week on whether or not to allow restaurants to offer drinks to-go.

Under the agreement mixed drinks could be sold with to-go orders, but not takeout beer or wine.

The agreement also streamlines outdoor dining. Both changes would be permanent and still needs final passage and the governor's signature.

New rule will ban noncompetes

Barring a successful court challenge, a new rule from the Federal Trade Commission would ban employer noncompete agreements as soon as this August.

Supporters say the change will boost innovation. Detractors worry it will expose trade secrets

The FTC rule supersedes Massachusetts law where it took years to pass more limited noncompete regulations.

Existing noncompetes for the vast majority of workers will no longer be enforceable under the rule. The new version leaves in place certain existing noncompete agreements signed by some “senior executives” who earn more than $151,164 but employers are banned from entering new noncompetes with senior executives.

Lucia Maffei at the BBJ explores how federal ban will affect Massachusetts

Saying thank you to Susan Paley

Susan Paley

For 17 years Susan Paley has had the best job in Newton.

That’s how long she's been leading The Village Bank’s Community Commitment efforts.

Given the bank’s unparalleled philanthropic generosity in Newton, that’s meant Paley’s handed out a heck of a lot of financial support on the bank’s behalf -- while recruiting scores of bank employees as event volunteers -- all to benefit the city’s many nonprofits

And every nonprofit CEO will tell you, Paley is excellent at her job.

She’s fully engaged in all aspects of the city’s civic life, safety net and cultural vitality. She sits or sat on multiple nonprofit boards and committees (including at one time the chamber), has likely attended more events in the city than any other citizen, and somehow does it all with a smile. 

And every nonprofit CEO will tell you, Paley is excellent at her job.

She’s fully engaged in all aspects of the city’s civic life, safety net and cultural vitality. She sits or sat on multiple nonprofit boards and committees (including at one time the chamber), has likely attended more events in the city than any other citizen, and somehow does it all with a smile. 

Paley is retiring June 7 after 44 years in the banking industry. It’s an experience that “has allowed me the opportunity to make a tangible difference in the community that I call home,” she says.

“I have met incredible, committed people and nonprofits, and am in awe of the ‘do-ers’ and helpers with whom I have been privileged to work.”

The Village Bank’s commitment to the community, led by president and CEO Joe De Vito, “will not change in my absence,” Paley stresses. Sue Chapman, assistant VP and community relations officer, will be working with Amy Werner, senior VP to continue working “to support our valued community partners and community builders.”

But we sure are going to miss her.

On behalf of the chamber -- and all Newton nonprofits -- I want to express our gratitude to Susan for her work, her passion, and her friendship.

I hope you’ll join us June 7 at 8 a.m. (Paley’s last day on the job) at the Needham Sheraton as we tip our hat to Susan Paley at our Spring Business Breakfast. Reserve your table now. General tickets go onsale next week.

That’s what you need to know for today -- Child Care Professionals Day -- unless you need to know why an iPhone can survive a drop from a plane, but not your kitchen counter.

Please shop and dine local this weekend, okay?


Greg Reibman (he, him)
President & CEO
617.244.1688


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