Good morning friends,

Each passing day seems to bring a new executive order, action or questionable idea from the federal government that impacts our businesses, our workforce, our economy and our future.

Can Massachusetts respond?  Join us next Monday (March 31) at 8:45 a.m. when Gov. Maura Healey addresses our business community at the Newton Marriott. RSVP.

Our initiative to help small shops is off to a tremendous start

We’ve had an tremendous response (did you see this in today’s Globe?) to last week’s launch of Small Shops, our new pilot program designed to support independently owned, single-location brick-and-mortar retailers in Newton, Needham, Watertown and Wellesley.

Many small shops quickly signed up (they’ll be added here, along with our dues paying retail members) for free basic chamber membership, granting them access to essential networking, advocacy, business resources and marketing opportunities.  

Discover if your small shop is eligible and become a free member today.

We’re gratified (or, as our Development VP Lise Elcock likes to say, we’re verklempt) by the many businesses and individuals who’ve stepped up since last week’s launch to underwrite our expected dues revenue loss and fund our Support Local marketing efforts.

Thanks Graffito SP and Green Urb Gardens, along with Lizbeth Heyer of 2 Life Communities, Alexander Johnson of Newton at Home, John Foley of E3 Financial Planning, Anchor Artists, Elizabeth Home Decor & Design and Howard Shulkin of Newton Community Pride for joining over the weekend as Small Shop underwriters.

Businesses and individuals interested in underwriting Small Shops can contribute online or contact Lise at 617-244-1864.

‘Hell’ has arrived in Massachusetts

The “hell” federal border czar Tom Homan vowed to bring to Boston has arrived.

Between March 18-23 federal immigration agents reportedly arrested at least 370 people across Massachusetts.  Agents appear to be carrying out arrests that are not only aimed at apprehending convicted criminals, the according to the Globe.

Homeland Security’s recent decision to revoke legal protections for more than half a million Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans “has thrown Massachusetts advocates and immigrants into a panic,” Samantha J. Gross also reports.

This includes thousands of human beings who arrived with financial sponsors, paid their own airfare and were granted permits to live and work in the U.S.

Make no mistake:  Some of those individuals are most certainly working in our chamber communities.

Immigration resources for employers

Watch our recent Immigration rights webinar.

• MIRA's Know Your Rights webpage includes slides, recordings and posters in multiple languages.
  
  
• Pathways for Immigrant Workers, offering pro-bono legal services to employers who are providing jobs but cannot afford green card sponsorship. Contact: Leslie Ditrani.
  
  
• What to Do if Immigration Comes to Your Workplace from the National Immigration Law Center.
  
  
• The ICE Detainee Locator Systemto locate a detainee who is currently in ICE custody or who has been in U.S. Customs and Border Protection’s custody for more than 48 hours.
  
  

Watertown BERDO going back for revisions

Steve Adams at Banker & Tradesman does a good job this week outlining many of the concerns commercial and multi-family residential landlords and housing advocates, have over the current proposed BERDO ordinance in Watertown. 

Watertown City Council President Mark Sideris plans to ask the council tonight (Tues.) to send the draft back to the City Manager George Proakis to make adjustments.

Tuesday grab bag

• Discover seven things we learned about Mayor Fuller at Friday’s fireside chat, along with things we learned about Kate Fitzpatrick.
  
  
• The Needham Select Board is expected to vote tonight on whether or not to advance a black plastic container ban and skip-the-stuff bylaw to Town Meeting this spring.
  
  
• Here’s why Needham restaurants are irked by another proposed plastic ban. (Needham Observer)
  
  
• UMass Amherst has launched a matching fund program designed to sustain research on campus as the federal government reduces grant funding. The new Research Continuity Emergency Matching Fund can only be requested in cases where current, active federal grants or contracts have been terminated or interrupted by the federal government or its respective agencies.
  
  
• The Bagel Table at The Street Chestnut Hill has closed. (Boston Restaurant Talk)
  
  
• Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist Isabel Wilkerson will be the commencement speaker at Wellesley College’s ceremony on May 16. It will be live streamed. (Swellesley Report)
  
  
• SharkNinja was named Technology Company of the Year by the Mass Technology Leadership Council.
  
  
• If Congress were to pass broad Medicaid cuts totaling $880 billion over 10 years, Massachusetts' state GDP would take a $2-billion hit, new research from the Commonwealth Fund suggests. (Axios)
  
  
• Babson's Generator AI Lab is offering “AI Innovators Bootcamp for Small Business Leaders,” a one-day deep dive into AI taught by Babson’s award-winning faculty, delivered with Babson’s top students/AI-minds on April 18. Learn more and register by March 30.
  
  
• The Massachusetts Attorney General’s office hosts a webinar on the state’s new wage transparency laws. Tues. April 8 at 11a.m.  
  
  

Yes, Virginia city councilors, there is an office glut

A new independent study backs up the decision by Northland Investment Corp. to scale back its planned mixed-use project on Needham Street in Newton.

The Newton company’s new plan calls for eliminating nearly 200,000 SF of office space in the historic Saco–Pettee mill building (in photo) — not because Northland wants to — but because there is absolutely no financially prudent or feasible way to move forward.

So, at the request of some skeptical city councilors who apparently don’t read business news articles very often, the city hired Camoin Associates to independently assure the councilors that, yes, shrinking office demand is a thing.

Here’s a few takeaways from Camoin’s report

• The market isn’t just soft, it’s oversaturated, with no clear end in sight.
  
  
• Office availability in the Boston region jumped from 11% in 2019 to 18% today.
  
  
• Newton’s strong local office market—once an advantage—has now fallen in line with the region and no longer stands out.
  
  
• Across six nearby sites in Needham and Wellesley there are 23 vacant spaces available representing approximately 610,000 SF.
  
  
• There are also at least six additional office sites (four in Newton) in the distinct brick-mill style of the Sacco Pettee representing approximately 263,000 SF of available space.
  
  
• Within five miles, there’s 1.7 million SF sitting on the market.

That’s why Northland is seeking permission to eliminate five buildings, convert office space to residential use and increase the number of residential units by 22 units. 

Ironically, some of the same folks who once fought the project (page two here) for being too big, are among the unhappiest about the reduction.

Tonight, the Land Use Committee will hear Camoin’s analysis. While a vote isn’t expected this evening, we hope the committee will no longer question the validity of Northland’s market claims. Tune in here.

You can try them all (and go back for seconds)

Finally this morning, I just took a look at the menu item for Spring Seasonings: A Taste of our Towns, April 7 at the Newton Marriott.

And it appears there will be some friendly rivalries on the menu.

For example, Legal Sea Foods is bringing its classic New England clam chowder. But Dryft is ladling out its own version.

Meat eaters can sample Kona-crusted dry aged NY strip with shallot butter from Capital Grille; seared filet mignon on crostini from Smith & Wollensky; and seared NY strip on brioche toast with horseradish aioli from the chefs at the Needham Sheraton.

There’s many vegetarian-friendly options too. Bar Cino is plating zucchini bruschetta with ricotta, mint, and calabrian chili honey. Better Life Food offers toasted orzo and spinach with lemon, parmesan and herbs.

Among our many desserts, Cabot’s Ice Cream is once again serving up classic ice cream sundaes while MIDA Newton offers mini cones filled with house-made creamsicle gelato.

Best part: You can sample as many as you want. And that’s just nine of our 40 participating restaurants!

Bulk ticket discounts are available, but deals end this Fri. March 28.

And that’s what you need to know for today, except you need to know that tomorrow (Weds) is our deadline to take our once-a-year survey exploring the most important economic challenges facing your business or nonprofit.

Thanks for completing the survey and for reading! See you Friday.

Greg Reibman (he, him)

President & CEO

Charles River Regional Chamber

617.244.1688

I value your feedback