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What? Another round of kick the can?

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The COVID-19 public health emergency officially ends Thursday.
 
Most federal, state and local restrictions, regulations, mandates and benefits that were still standing will expire.
 
But please don’t mistake that for thinking our economic challenges are also behind us.
 
Please don’t mistake that for thinking that we no longer need to support our local business and nonprofits and embrace measures that will grow and keep companies, workers and jobs here.
 
And please don’t do what Senate President Karen Spilka did yesterday when she made clear she will not be following the lead of Gov. Maura Healey and the House by moving any time soon on a tax relief package.
 
Here in Massachusetts, workers are leaving the state in record numbers. Between July 2020 and July 2022, we lost 13,755 residents. Only four states experienced a greater loss of residents, according to the US Census. 
 
New business starts are declining too. In 2012, Massachusetts ranked 32nd for per-capita new business applications with wages. By 2022, it dropped to 43, according to the Boston Chamber.
 
Meanwhile, banks are pulling back on lending, increasing the chance of a recession. And Washington D.C. is locked in a dangerous debt limit standoff.
 
Two thirds of the way and then ....
 
Healey’s tax relief plan and the House’s plan both aim to boost competitiveness and help workers, families and business owners. Both cut the state's 12 percent tax rate on short-term capital gains to 5 percent, though on different schedules.
 
Healey also wants to triple the threshold at which the estate tax kicks in, from $1 million to $3 million, while the House proposed doubling it. Each plan also includes a variety of relief for families with children, renters, seniors and incentives for job training and more.
 
But yesterday, Spilka “was coy about when the [Senate's] tax relief package would be taken up, how big it will be, and what specific types of tax relief will be included,” writes CommonWealth’s Bruce Mohl.
 
Which feels too much like last summer, and then last fall, when lawmakers all acknowledged the need, but failed to advance, a similar tax relief package offered by our prior governor.
 
Which helped -- and helps -- absolutely no own.
 
She’ll be home in time for Newton's July 4 fireworks
As the COVID emergency ends, so does Newton resident Rochelle Walensky's tremendous service to our nation as head of the CDC. She's leaving June 30.
 
Walensky was one of three distinguished Newton residents enlisted by President Biden to help lead the nation’s fight against COVID-19. 
 
Dr. Ashish Jha served as White House coronavirus response coordinator. And Dr. Atul Gawande was a member of the Biden transition COVID-19 Advisory Board.
 
Wellesley businesses losing a champion
Amy Frigulietti
Sad to report that Amy Frigulietti, the assistant executive director for the Town of Wellesley, is leaving her position for a similar job with the Town of Franklin.
 
In just over three years, Frigulietti played a leading role in many significant economic development initiatives, including efforts to remove the town’s antiquated dining and liquor licensing regulations. It's not exaggerating to say her efforts helped save Wellesley’s downtown from a rash of empty storefronts.
 
Plus she was a pro and a pleasure to work with. She will be missed.
 
There are cars under our favorite river
 
 
 
Do you know someone who needs to know about us?
 
Thanks to referrals from our members, the Charles River Regional Chamber has consistently been among the state's fastest growing chambers. 
 
Much of that is thanks to our members who regularly refer clients, business partners or friends who could benefit from our advocacy, events and networking opportunities.
 
Just fill out this form with the names of those you think could benefit from chamber membership. And when they join, we'll thank you with a $25 gift card to the restaurant member of your choice for each new member you've sent us.
 
 
Today's grab bag
 
  • Add Newton Ward 4 City Councilor Chris Markiewicz to the list of incumbents not seeking reelection this fall. Ward 2 Councilor Emily Norton and Ward 6 Councilor Brenda Noel are also stepping away.
 
  • A new affordable housing development on the Newton-Watertown line is accepting lottery applications for future tenants through May 23. Allee on the Charles at 15 Riverdale Avenue will offer a total of 52 low-income and affordable housing units out of the building’s 204 rental units. (BC Heights)
 
  • Watertown’s Selecta Biosciences is stopping work on an in-house gene therapy programs, laying off 15 workers. The 65 Grove Street company will be refocusing efforts to other programs it's developing with existing partners (BBJ)
 
 
  • The Charles River YMCA will be hosting its annual Charles River Giving Gala “Kickin’ It Up For A Cause” May 20, at Needham Town Hall, featuring dinner, live music featuring local Needham band Hello…Newman!,open bar, auction and appeal. 
 
 
Church property in Newtonville is back on the market
 
A prime piece of real estate in Newtonville – the 130-year-old Swedenborg Church at 11-19 Highland Ave. in Newtonville – is going on the market through Colliers. 
 
The property has two buildings: a 5,100 SF church and a 4,000 SF parsonage sitting on a 31,000 SF parcel, with about 25 parking spaces. It's zoned for multi-family, nonprofit institution, religious or educational use and is expected to sell in the $2.5 to $3 million range.
 
In 2021 Newton’s New Art Center entered an agreement to explore purchasing the property but that deal fell through. 
 
Tom Brady business moving to Upper Falls
Finally this morning, Tom Brady’s media company is setting up shop in a historic building Newton Upper Falls that has an, um, alarming history.
 
Shadow Lion (which made the “Tom vs. Time" series and other films) has signed a lease at Alexandra Construction Co’s brick and bream building at 1234 Chestnut Street, reports Grant Welker at the BBJ.
 
Everyone's knows the GOATS' story. But the 1800’s building (here's what it looks like today) also has a long, interesting history.
 
It was once home to the Gamewell Telegraph Alarm, which in the 1850s created and installed the first ever municipal electric fire alarm system.
 
Within a few decades, Gamewell alarms were ubiquitous in American cities, installed in over 500 cities inside red iconic boxes on poles and walls in every neighborhood.
 
And you think Brady had a long career? Remarkably, Gamewell's 1850s technology -- and some of their actual boxes -- are still working and used by fire departments today.
 
Village 14’s Jerry Reilly shares the full, fascinating, history.
 
 
That’s what you need to know for today -- National Lost Sock Memorial Day -- unless you need to know why the Pixies "Where Is My Mind?" may be messing with your smart phone.
 
Be back Friday.
 
Greg Reibman (he, him)
President
617.244.1688
 
P.S. Joe Mazzulla, use all your timeouts tonight, okay?

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