Maura Healey's major league moves
Major League Baseball just introduced a series of rule changes designed to make the game more competitive in an era of changed attention spans and attrition to other sports. And Gov. Maura Healey just introduced a series of tax reforms designed to make Massachusetts more competitive in an era of high costs and attrition to other states. MLB is making the bases bigger, hoping to encourage more stolen bases and give players more room to operate and avoid collisions.
Greg Reibman
A blast from the past that we could live without
Is it time to dust off the old “Taxachusetts” label when discussing Massachusetts? Could be. We were the only state to raise personal income taxes last year, according to the annual report from the Tax Foundation. As a result, our marginal state income tax rate has jumped to 7th highest in the nation, reports Christian M. Wade at the Eagle Tribune.
Greg Reibman
Not in my (future) back yard
Our thanks to the Newton City Council for approving a measure last night to make outdoor dining in public spaces permanent. Also thanks to the Fuller administration for spearheading the long process. Of course, there may never have been a less controversial zoning change in history, with nearly 2,000 people signing a petition in support. Still, without this approval, Newton's outdoor dining season would not have been able to resume on April 1 when state provisions expire.
Greg Reibman
Our businesses need tax breaks, not a tax hike
Back in 2013, the last time the City of Newton asked voters to raise property taxes, the chamber’s board of directors carefully reviewed the proposal and endorsed all three override questions. On March 14, the city is again looking to raise property taxes by approximately $15 million in the form of three new Proposition 2 1/2 override questions. But economic pressures on our businesses, particularly on our smallest businesses and small commercial building owners, are different now........
Greg Reibman
Chamber urges a split vote on Newton overrides
The Charles River Regional Chamber’s Board of Directors has listened carefully to the mayor, other city and school leaders and to our members. Ultimately, we’ve concluded that while the city’s need for revenue is genuine, we cannot fully endorse the mayor’s requests because of the financially devastating impact a tax increase could have on many of our businesses and commercial property owners.
Charles River Chamber Board of Directors
He left a legacy Watertown can build on
Our condolences to the family, friends, and former colleagues of Michael Driscoll, who served Watertown’s municipal government for 45 years, including close to three decades as Town/City Manager. Driscoll, 70, passed away Saturday after receiving treatment for cancer over the past year, according to the city. He leaves behind a tremendous legacy, overseeing so much of the change, development, and progress Watertown enjoys today, including building three elementary schools and a new high school without a
Greg Reibman
Snow restrictions, just no snow
Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow last week, suggesting that we’re in for six more weeks of winter. But don’t tell that to Malden Mayor Gary Christenson who declared this week that "winter is over" as he lifted his city's winter parking restrictions. Winter parking bans ostensibly seem to exist these days so snowplows can clear streets of snow that ostensibly doesn't exist. At least lately.
Greg Reibman
.jpg)
Here's the scoop on the sale of Cabot's and the family that's buying it
There isn’t a business in Newton that’s more iconic, or well loved, than Cabot’s Ice Cream & Restaurant. For generations it’s been a place where memories were made. Where birthdays, graduations, Little League wins or losses, first dates, reunions and countless other milestones and rites of passage were celebrated. And over the decades there hasn’t been a more generous, gentle or humble small business owner than proprietor Joe Prestejohn.
Greg Reibman
Needham company joins the war on rats
New York City’s war on rats is getting an assist from a Needham company. The city has signed a contract with Bigbelly Solar to place the company’s newest product --- new smart composting bins – across all five city boroughs. Read more of today's Need to Knows to find out more on the Bignbelly's new innovation.
Greg Reibman
We're third in the nation -- but that's not a good thing
Parents in Middlesex (that includes Newton and Watertown) and Norfolk (Needham and Wellesley) counties pay the third highest childcare prices in the nation, according to new data from the Department of Labor. Infant center-based child care in both counties was more than $26,000, eating up nearly 20 percent of median family budgets, reports Christina Prignano in the Globe. Read today's Need to Knows to find out on a solution that faced challenges in Needham for this problem.
Greg Reibman
