From 'brown banana' to 'real estate renaissance'
A few years ago, we were nothing but a "brown banana." But just like Albert Pujols, break dancing and Legos in the office, the 'burbs are back baby. That’s the word from the Globe, which declared this week that a “real estate renaissance is underway” in Wellesley and other west inner suburban communities.
Greg Reibman
I wasn't going to survive in the post-pandemic world
In Tuesday’s newsletter I invited you to share stories about how inflation was impacting your operation. Here’s part of what the owner of a recently-closed restaurant told me:
Greg Reibman
Business owners' latest dilemma
The rising costs of just about everything has put our businesses and nonprofits in a difficult position. In fact, when we surveyed our members earlier this month, three out of four respondents told us inflation was their No 1 business concern heading into the fall. For business owners raising prices is always a gamble.
Greg Reibman
How employers are feeling (and what keeps them up at night)
These past few years have been brutal for our businesses, right? Between lockdowns, quarantines, labor shortages, supply chain issues, inflation, and on and on and on -- it would be easy to understand if employers felt defeated. They’re not. At least that’s not what our most recent online poll suggests
Greg Reibman
Now it’s up to Auchincloss
The $85 million covers half of the commuter rail project's cost. Our thanks to Baker, Sen. Cindy Creem, Rep. Kay Khan and Mayor Ruthanne Fuller, among others, for getting us this far. The next step is for Congressman Jake Auchincloss (who has been advocating for this project going back to his days as a Newton City Councilor) to secure federal matching funds from the federal infrastructure bill for the other half.
Greg Reibman
Hire Now. Get the bad news later.
The Baker administration is hailing its HireNow program as a success, saying the $50 million initiative helped spur the hiring of thousands of workers across the state. I’ve heard from quite a few frustrated employers who aren't nearly as enthusiastic.
Greg Reibman
The walls came down
The small but mighty brick building on Needham Street that had been home to our chamber for at least two decades (as well as AAA and, long ago, a Strawberries record store) came tumbling down yesterday. Also flattened was the former Marshalls store on the other side of the parking lot that served shoppers since the late 70s, along with the rest of the old Marshalls Plaza.
Greg Reibman
Chamber announces 2022 scholarship awards
Four outstanding local students have been selected to receive scholarships from the Charles River Regional Chamber. In a highly qualified and deserving pool of close to 50 applicants, the chamber’s Scholarship Committee has selected Chaerin Lee, Grace Campbell Maillet, Theresa Cabral and David Fils-Aime for this year’s awards.
Katherine Herer
This would never be tolerated in the private sector
Our Legislature had 18 months to complete the people’s business. But, as usual, most of its work was mostly completed in the final weekend, and hours, of the session which ended early Monday. Bills allowing sports betting, expanding mental health access, an infrastructure bond bill (including $85 million to rebuild Newton’s commuter rail stations!), gun-licensing laws, cannabis reform (allowing cannabis cafes) and a new version of a climate bill were all sent to the governor, mainly in the last 23 hours.
Greg Reibman
