Months into the coronavirus pandemic, cities and towns are taking reopening plans into their own hands, including in Gov. Charlie Baker’s own backyard. The Select and Health Boards of Swampscott, […]
Economy
Posted inEconomy
New House panels to focus on economic recovery, childcare
HOUSE SPEAKER ROBERT DELEO on Thursday announced the creation of new House panels to examine legislative priorities related to the state’s recovery, with a focus on the economy and childcare, […]
Posted inEconomy
A lot of summer what ifs
What will the summer look like amid the COVID-19 threat? July 4 concerts are out, but will we be able to enjoy beaches and barbecues? What about pools, camps, and […]
Posted inThe Download
A lot of summer what ifs
What will the summer look like amid the COVID-19 threat? July 4 concerts are out, but will we be able to enjoy beaches and barbecues? What about pools, camps, and […]
Posted inEconomy
Rent payments pile up for business owners
DANIEL BOJORQUEZ, the owner of the La Brasa and Fat Hen restaurants in Somerville, is being squeezed by his landlord and the coronavirus. His restaurants have been shut down since mid-March by the virus and they’re […]
Posted inEconomy
Baker launches cautious phased reopening
MASSACHUSETTS TOOK INITIAL, cautious steps toward reopening on Monday, as Gov. Charlie Baker unveiled the first phase of a four-step process for restarting the state’s economy, which has nearly ground […]
Posted inEconomy
Baker comments suggest little reopening next week
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER indicated on Tuesday that Massachusetts residents are unlikely to see much change next week in the first phase of the state’s planned four-part reopening effort. Materials his […]
Posted inEconomy
Mass. economy to reopen in four phases
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER announced plans on Monday for a cautious reopening of the Massachusetts economy, a process that will happen in phases and could be halted or even reversed if […]
Posted inOpinion
Put the menthol cigarette ban on hold
WHEN THE 2020 CALENDAR flips to June, thousands of small businesses in will be brought to their knees when the Commonwealth will send over $230 million in desperately needed tax […]
Posted inEconomy
Restaurants losing money on delivery orders
EL JEFE’S TAQUERIA, a casual Mexican restaurant in Cambridge’s Harvard Square, used to generate about a quarter of its sales through home delivery. Because of the commissions paid to delivery […]
Posted inEconomy
Baker says data will dictate state’s reopening schedule
HOW WILL GOV. CHARLIE BAKER decide when to reopen businesses and services? “Data, data, data” and the actions of other states were the two factors Baker mentioned on Thursday when […]
Posted inEconomy
Sewing machine firm expands into PPE
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Tuesday showcased a Fall River sewing machine manufacturer that has expanded during the COVID-19 crisis into the production of personal protection equipment and is now expecting […]
Posted inEconomy
Marijuana companies beg for state relief money
IT TOOK TWO YEARS from the time Angela Brown applied for a license to sell recreational marijuana to the time she got final approval to open T. Bear’s manufacturing plant […]
Posted inEconomy
It’s no time to weaken the Community Reinvestment Act
WE PURCHASED HOMES in Mattapan, Brockton and Hyde Park. We were able to afford these homes because of a great program called ONE Mortgage available through local lenders and the […]
Posted inEconomy
The ‘new normal’: A mask-wearing, young workforce?
A POWERFUL COALITION of Massachusetts business leaders has laid out an extensive roadmap for reopening the economy – but not, they warned, to return to what used to be considered […]
Posted inThe Download
A different kind of May Day
In the US, labor unions and progressive groups typically celebrate May Day, or International Workers Day, with rallies, while the rest of the general public leaves its commemoration of workers […]
Posted inEconomy
Markey owes a telecom fix
COVID-19 HAS HIGHLIGHTED deep divisions in this country, from who has access to health care to who can afford to stay at home to how we educate our children. At […]
Posted inArts and Culture
We’ve got to have art
THE IMPACT OF arts and cultural programs on our lives is not easily quantifiable. Whether we are in a museum, concert hall, or any other venue, enjoying art together is […]
Posted inEconomy
Reopening plans remain big question mark
WE DON’T REALLY KNOW how the state will move to reopen the economy, but we now know who will come up with the plan. Gov. Charlie Baker tapped Lt. Gov. Karyn […]
Posted inThe Download
Reopening plans remain big question mark
We don’t really know how the state will move to reopen the economy, but we now know who will come up with the plan. Gov. Charlie Baker tapped Lt. Gov. […]
Posted inEconomy
Developing a playbook for reopening
LIKE EVERYONE ELSE, Senate President Karen Spilka is trying to wrap her head around the idea of reopening the state’s comatose economy. In a speech delivered virtually to the Greater […]
Posted inEconomy
No relief: Baker extends shutdown until May 18
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER announced on Tuesday that he is extending until May 18 the state’s closure of non-essential businesses, his stay-at-home advisory and his ban on gatherings of more than […]
Posted inEconomy
UPDATED NUMBERS: Baker leaves ‘reopening’ door open
GOV. CHARLIE BAKER on Saturday declined to say whether the state will begin reopening on May 4, but he didn’t rule it out. On a visit to a Cartamundi/Hasbro manufacturing […]
Posted inEconomy
The Commonwealth must help businesses of color
PEOPLE OF COLOR are under siege in Massachusetts. The COVID-19 pandemic not only threatens their lives at disproportionate rates, but the economic standstill threatens their livelihood as well. We cannot […]