Massachusetts Attempts To Turn The Page

May 29, 2020 Pace LaVia

Boston Mayor Marty Walsh has formed an economic reopening advisory board similar to the state advisory panel formed by Governor Charlie Baker.

The 27-member bench includes some big-name executives as well labor, education, and religious leaders met for its first virtual brainstorming session last Friday.

Mayor Walsh has been more cautious than Gov. Baker on reopening plans and has been critical of some of the state’s strategies such as the 25 percent capacity for offices. Walsh says although that might be fine for the rest of the state it’s probably too soon for Boston’s crowded downtown area.

Restaurant, Hotel & Tourism Group Outlines Reopening Plans

Tourism and dining are a big part of Boston’s economy as well as the state of Massachusetts as a whole. The industry and its workforce have been especially hard hit over the past few months due to coronavirus-induced restrictions.

The state is working to strike the right balance between getting the wheels back in motion and not accelerating too quickly. A special panel has been formed to assess the situation and determine the best course of action. The group has been working to develop safety guidelines and rules for reopening.

Last week we covered some of the details of the state’s four-phase reopening plan.

Restaurants and hotels are scheduled to open in Phase 2. Most tourist attractions such as casinos, museums, stadiums, and performance venues are scheduled to open in Phase 3 or Phase 4. An opening schedule is still being determined for historical sites.

According to a report by Boston.com, members of the panel include:

Jonathan Butler, President and CEO at 1Berkshire
Steve DiFillippo, CEO at Davio’s
Ed Kane, Principal at Big Night Entertainment Group
Bob Luz, President and CEO of the Massachusetts Restaurant Association
Wendy Northcross, CEO at Cape Cod Chamber of Commerce
Martha Sheridan, President and CEO at Greater Boston Convention & Visitors Bureau

A Phase 2 date has yet to be determined, however, the board has suggested that there might be three weeks of separation between Phase 1 and Phase 2.

Safety guidelines set in place for restaurants will follow guidelines set by the Centers for Disease Control. Rules require six feet of separation between tables and a maximum of 10 diners per party.

Also, according to Bob Luz of the Mass. Restaurant Association: “There’s going to be good signage, there’s going to be a lot of hand washing, there’s going to be masks on employees to start — all those good things that I don’t think is going to shock anybody.”

And on a side note, as we mentioned last week, recreational cannabis dispensaries are now open in the state and are expected to draw tourists from neighboring states.

RMV Softens Deadlines for License and Registration Renewals

The Mass. Registry of Motor Vehicles has extended deadlines for license and registration renewals as well as vehicle safety inspections. The measures are part of the state’s efforts to temporarily reduce the potential for coronavirus transmission.

Here is the new schedule for drivers license renewals:

March, April, May — extended through September
June — extended through October
July — extended through November
August — extended through December

Furthermore, license plates scheduled to expire between March and June now have until the end of July. And inspection stickers expiring between March and May are now good through July.

Visit the Registry of Motor Vehicles website for more information.

Boston Cannabis Board to Meet in June

Boston’s new Cannabis Board has scheduled its first meeting for June. The Board experienced a three-month delay as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.

Among other tasks, the Board is being tasked with reviewing cannabis business license applications within the city of Boston as well as to create an equity program to offer technical assistance and training for entrepreneurs who belong to communities disproportionately targeted by law enforcement.

Previous to the formation of the panel, cannabis license applications were screened behind closed doors. This resulted in complaints from applicants that the process was opaque and subject to political favoritism.

Decisions made by the new Cannabis Board will be made public.

Marathoners Will Not Run for First Time in 124-years

One of Boston’s largest tourist attractions, the world renown Boston Marathon has been cancelled. This is the first time in its 124-year history that the event will not take place according to the report in the Boston Globe. Originally, Mayor Walsh had ordered that the event be postponed until mid-September.

The Boston Marathon is the world’s oldest annual marathon and draws more than 30,000 runners from around the world.

According to Mayor Walsh:

“There’s no way to hold this usual race format without bringing large numbers of people into close proximity. While our goal and hope was to make progress in containing the virus and recovering our economy, this kind of event would not be responsible or realistic on Sept. 14, or anytime this year.”

In an interesting twist, Thomas Grilk, chief executive of the Boston Athletic Association said the group will organize a virtual marathon. Under the proposed plan, runners will be required to complete a 26.2-mile run within a six-hour period and present proof of their time. Participating runners will receive an official race program, T-shirt, medal, and runner’s bib.

The event is tentatively scheduled to take place between Sept. 7 and Sept. 14.

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