Free rewards are not free
Business groups across the country are stepping up the fight over credit card swipe fees with another attempt to convince Congress to reform the system. Proposed legislation would require banks with more than $100 billion in assets that issue credit cards to allow their cards to be processed on at least two unaffiliated networks — Visa or Mastercard plus at least one competitor, writes Andy Medici for the BBJ...
Greg Reibman
Happy Juneteenth
Many offices, including the chamber, are closed today in recognition of Juneteenth. But it's an appropriate moment for all of us to consider how we can make our workplaces and communities more diverse, equitable, inclusive ... and welcoming. Here’s the video replay from our recent panel program focused on our workplaces featuring three of the honorees from our Business Leaders of Color project in collaboration with our partner Colette Phillips from Get Konnected!
Greg Reibman
This time the kids have advice for the grownups
Massachusetts' 41-year-old bottle bill does not apply to noncarbonated beverage containers such as sport drinks, ice teas, fruit juices, and, yes, water -- all drink options that have gained popularity over the decades and far too often end up as litter on our streets, parks and in our favorite river. But a report last year found that Massachusetts could cut down on plastic litter, create less garbage, reduce greenhouse gas emissions, and save cities and towns millions of dollars annually by expanding the
Greg Reibman
Who would do this?
It’s an act of vandalism that’s hard to fathom. Late last week, vandals snuck onto the grounds of the nonprofit Newton Community Farm, uprooting hundreds of plants from the city’s only working farm. “Someone, or multiple people, took basil, scallions, eggplant, and cucumbers planted in the field and trays of cucumber, tomato, kale, corn, and other seedlings from the new greenhouse,” writes Sue Bottino, the nonprofit’s executive director...
Greg Reibman
News we've all been waiting for
Finally, a few weeks back, the independent Needham Observer made its debut, providing the town with its first credible written news reporting in years. And there's a new, second site, covering all things Needham now too: Needham Local just soft launched with plans to expand this summer...
Greg Reibman
MA Chambers Policy Network calls to rebuild UI system trust
The Massachusetts Chambers Policy Network, of which the Charles River Chamber is a member, is deeply concerned that a routine audit found that the Department of Unemployment Assistance’s (DUA) wrongly used $2.5 billion in federal money to fund state unemployment benefits during the previous Administration. The Healey Administration is now working with the federal Department of Labor on how to rectify the error...
Greg Reibman
More roofs over more people's heads
Newton is just under six months away from a deadline to comply with the new law that requires communities to make it easier to build multifamily homes close to transit. Cobbling together a plan hasn't been -- and won't be -- easy in a city where housing has long been the third rail of politics...
Greg Reibman
Some worrisome news this morning
We’re waking up to some news that could potentially be devastating for businesses statewide. A routine audit has found that Massachusetts mistakenly used about $2.5 billion in federal money to fund jobless benefits during the pandemic -- payments that should have been made by the state, reports Larry Edelman and Jon Chesto at the Globe.
Greg Reibman
We need more, but we're building less
When Lt. Gov. Kim Driscoll joins us Friday at our Spring Business Breakfast, she will, no doubt, emphasize the priority she and the Healey administration have placed on addressing our housing crisis. Here’s hoping Driscoll will inspire all of us (including the many elected local officials who will be joining us at the Needham Sheraton) to follow the lead set by Lexington and rezone for more transit-oriented housing than required under the MBTA Communities Law.
Greg Reibman
MARE selected as beneficiary for 2023 chamber golf & pickleball tournament
The Charles River Regional Chamber has chosen Massachusetts Adoption Resource Exchange to be the nonprofit beneficiary of its 32rd Annual Golf Tournament happening in conjunction with its first-ever Pickleball Outing at Wellesley Country Club on Monday Aug. 7. Each year, the chamber’s golf committee selects a different local nonprofit whose mission includes working with children and families to be the recipient of a portion of the tournament’s proceeds.
Greg Reibman
