Jan. 23, 2026

Good morning,

Max Woolf here.

“Meaningful change hasn’t happened with silence, and it’s going to take some courage to step up.”

That message came from Molly Carey, chair of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition’s (MIRA) board, urging a room of business leaders yesterday to speak up for immigrants.

MIRA used the gathering to launch the “Massachusetts Businesses Pledge to Protect Our Immigrant Communities,” a new initiative calling on employers to publicly affirm the role immigrants play in our economy and to support policies that allow them to fully participate, reports Lucia Maffei at the BBJ.

“We’re inviting you to…set the standard for what responsible business leadership looks like,” Carey said, framing the pledge.

Our chamber is proud to be the first business association to sign on.

“We need to lock arms as a business community and stand up for and with our employees,” said Chamber President Greg Reibman, a panelist at the event. “It’s the right thing to do, but also economically essential.”

Employers can sign the pledge here, or for more information, contact Ana Cristina Chavez Andonie at MIRA.

A key segment of our workforce — and community — at risk

The MIRA initiative comes as Minneapolis and now Maine grapple with the social and economic fallout of increased immigration enforcement. We could very well be next in Massachusetts, while the coming weeks could also be consequential for one immigrant community that plays a vital role in our region’s economy.

Nearly 5,000 Haitian immigrants living in Massachusetts might face deportation after Feb. 3, unless the Trump administration’s move to discontinue their Temporary Protected Status (TPS) is reversed, reports Sam Drysdale of State House News.

Haitian immigrants are deeply embedded in the state’s economy—particularly in education, health care, transportation and social services, sectors already experiencing persistent workforce shortages. 

Undoing Haitian immigrants’ protected status would not only upend lives, it would also have immediate economic consequences by removing a stable, working population.

Haitian immigrants in Greater Boston participate in the workforce at a rate of 74 percent, higher than both U.S.-born workers and immigrants overall.

Massachusetts’ Rep. Seth Moulton warned that ending TPS would “devastate the Haitian community” and disrupt essential services across the region.

This threat comes at a time when our state’s population growth is under pressure.

Outmigration is rising, birth rates are falling, and immigration has been the primary source of workforce growth for decades. According to the UMass Donahue Institute, roughly 80 percent of the Commonwealth’s labor force growth since 1990 has come from foreign-born workers.

Healey sends temporary relief

Governor Maura Healey will send $180 million to lower the next two months of heating and electric bills for residential customers.

The announcement came before last night's State of the State address, during which Healey emphasized her commitment to lowering the state's high energy costs.

The administration estimates the plan will reduce average electric bills by roughly 25 percent and natural gas bills by about 10 percent in February and March. However, some of that relief is temporary, as it is achieved in part by utilities deferring costs and recovering them from ratepayers later in the year.

The relief also only applies to residential customers. Businesses will see no direct benefit or bill reductions, despite experiencing the same underlying utility cost pressures.

Still, the $180 million package does little to tackle the structural causes of rising utility costs. 

That challenge now falls to the Legislature, which is expected to unveil a revised “energy affordability” bill soon, following significant pushback last session, especially over proposals to cut the Mass Save program and delay the state’s clean energy goals.

…She also dished out praise to Watertown restaurateurs

Also, during last night’s State of the Commonwealth speech, the governor took a moment to single out Max and Chelsea Ritcey of Ritcey East for providing free dinners during the recent SNAP shutdown.

“Max and Chelsea Ritcey are here; they run a restaurant in Watertown. They opened their hearts and their kitchen, and provided free dinners,” Healey said. “Thank you, Max and Chelsea, and all who support our neighbors.”

Friday Grab Bag

• An annual reminder that we need to fund the T. This July, the MBTA will once again face a deficit of hundreds of millions of dollars. (Boston Globe)
  
• Last call to get a sneak peek at the newest housing policy proposals coming out of Beacon Hill at our Annual Real Estate Forum on Tues. Jan. 27 at 9:30 a.m. Register
  
• Late last year, we wrote about a new study exploring an Orange Line extension that could have implications for Needham’s commuter rail line. A group of advocates has now launched a newsletter to keep the public informed on the project. Subscribe to OLX
  
  
• Massachusetts has added paper cups to its list of recyclable materials. Thanks to updated industry technology that now allows recycling facilities to separate the cup's inner coating. See the Smart Recycling Guide.
  
  
• Newton for Everyone will host a community movie night on Thurs. Jan. 29 at 7 p.m. at the Scandinavian Living Center, featuring a film by journalist Justine Underhill that explores whether luxury housing helps or worsens the housing crisis. The event aims to foster discussion on affordable housing through data-driven insights. Register
  
  
• Steve Adams of Banker & Tradesman recently published a profile of R.W. Holmes Commercial Real Estate. The firm’s director, Elizabeth Holmes, serves on our board.
  
  
• “Bricks & Minifigs”, a LEGO resale store, is coming to 261-275 Centre St in Newton Corner.
  
  
• In January, Green Needham and the Needham High School Environmental Action Club are collecting used holiday lights, extension cords, and small electronics at the Needham Public Library to support Zoo New England’s wildlife conservation programs.
  
  
• Building a Better Wellesley will host a virtual meeting this Sunday (Jan. 25) at 3 p.m. to explore how it is possible to BOTH preserve the forested land adjacent to MassBay Community College and build housing on an adjacent parking lot – and also support the college’s facility needs. Register.
  
  
• The Amex Shop Small Grants Program is offering more than 500 $20,000 grants to small businesses. Eligible businesses must currently employ 20 or less full time employees. Applications are due today, Friday, January 23rd, 2026. Details.
  
  
• The FIFA World Cup™ Boston 2026 Committee has organized a Local Impact Supplier Program to identify, vet, and select local suppliers that will be able to participate in FIFA World Cup Boston 2026 events.  Suppliers needed will include: event management, catering, transportation, security, sanitation and event production

Could this be built just over Needham’s town line?

Despite long odds, a massive proposed life sciences and technology campus just over the Needham line in Dedham continues to press forward.

Last year, developer Supreme Companies unveiled plans to redevelop a 57-acre site off Route 128 into a six-building campus with lab, clean-tech, and office space, along with nearly 700 multi-family homes.

Given the sluggish office and lab market, a project of that scale may sound unrealistically optimistic

But Supreme Companies told residents late last year that they remain confident the market will rebound and will continue to move forward with permitting, which they view as a necessary step to court a tenant when conditions improve.

Meanwhile, neighborhood opposition is increasing. A new website, “Control the Campus,” has launched.

Dedham also plans to require the developer to meet with officials in Needham, which—while not a permitting authority—could be affected by a development of this size and proximity.

CRWA secures $500K for flood mitigation

The Charles River Watershed Association has received $500,000 in federal funding to partner with cities and towns in advancing flood-reduction projects across our watershed. 

The funding, secured by Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, will support efforts to better manage Stormwater runoff as heavier rain events become more frequent.

The CRWA notes that stormwater is already a growing challenge for our communities and that Newton has already installed an infiltration system beneath Albemarle Field, designed to manage runoff from a 25-year storm event.

This new funding could help advance similar projects that protect both homes and businesses from these increasingly common flooding events.

Setti Warren Memorial Internship launches

Harvard University and the City of Newton will launch a new economic development internship in honor of Newton’s late former Mayor Setti Warren.

The Setti Warren Memorial Internship is the result of a partnership between the city and Harvard Kennedy School’s Institute of Politics, where Warren served as director. Riley Del Sesto of The Heights reports that the program will place a Harvard undergraduate in City Hall focused on supporting the city’s creative sector and advancing economic development.

“He would be thrilled to see this opportunity created for the next generation in the city he loved so much,” said his wife, Tassy Warren.

The internship is a fitting continuation of Warren’s belief in giving young people the opportunity to get involved in public service and to make a difference in their community.

P.S. Please properly prepare for Sunday’s snow.

That’s what you need to know for today, unless you need to know that your kid can no longer bet on Drake Maye winning MVP.

Max Woolf (he, him)

Public Policy and Government Affairs Manager

Charles River Regional Chamber

617-431-6101

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