Congress Rescues America But Work Isn't Done

March 16, 2021 Pace LaVia

The worldwide story this week is the $1.9 trillion-with-a-T federal COVID relief bill, “The American Rescue Act” — and it’s a stunning achievement for a Democratic Congress. Springfield Democrat Rep. Richard Neal who chairs the House Ways and Means Committee called the package “seismic” and “monumental.”

The bill, signed one year after Gov. Baker declared a state of emergency, marks the first time state governments have been promised any direct federal pandemic relief. Although the federal government already sent more than $61 billion in aid to Massachusetts since the pandemic began, much of that money went directly to businesses, families, non-profits, and regional transit authorities. Massachusetts’ share of the 2021 Rescue Act adds up to about 10 percent of the total state budget in new available spending.

Among other things, the new funds will help boost vaccination efforts, offer rental assistance, and restaurant relief. Massachusetts state government and municipalities can expect to receive more than $8.1 billion in aid:

$4.513 billion for the state
$3.415 for city, county, and other local government aid
$174 million in capital project funding
Americans earning less than $80,000 a year will receive payments of up to $1,400.
$300-per-week federal unemployment benefits are extended through early September

Child tax credits and deductions will also see a substantial increase.

In a desperate gamble, Republicans (who unanimously voted against the bill) are painting the mega-measure as a socialist’s dream that will neither help stem the tide of the pandemic nor spur economic growth. However, given the size of this package, it’s highly likely to have a major impact on the economy. And if that happens, the GOP knows they are going to have a much tougher time taking back the reins in Congress come November 2022.

Regardless of the total lack of Republican support, Washington Democrats aren’t stopping. Next on their plate is a gargantuan infrastructure bill. We’ll keep you posted on that.

NBC Boston and CBS Local both have reports explaining how the funds will be used in Mass.

Meanwhile, in other news...

Politics

Gov. Baker’s Approval Rating Takes a Nosedive

Last week we told you how, despite the economic turmoil and somewhat botched vaccine rollout in Mass. Gov. Charlie Baker’s approval rating stood head and shoulders above other U.S. Governors.

Well, according to the governor, among the 25 states that have more than 5 million residents, Mass. is number one per-capita for both the first dose and total doses administered. “We’ve first-dosed 74 percent of our individuals that are over the age of 75, and almost half of those over the age of 65 have received at least one dose as well,” he claimed.

So now that things are improving, wouldn’t you know it, Baker’s approval is falling. Approval of Baker’s handling of the crisis dropped noticeably from mid-January to March, according to a recent survey.

Boston.com reports:

According to a survey released Friday by researchers at Northeastern, Harvard, Rutgers, and Northwestern universities, Baker has seen a gradual decline in residents’ perceptions of his handling of the COVID-19 response — from a “remarkably high” 80 percent approval last April to 59 percent as of March 1.

Northeastern University professor David Lazer believes the vaccine rollout glitches — which got a ton of bad media coverage — are the main cause of the drop in approval. “I think he’s taken a hit as a result,” Lazer told The Boston Globe.

Meanwhile, the state unveiled a new COVID vaccine pre-registration website Friday which is expected to be operational in the very near future.

Oh. And the climate bill has passed the Senate. Again. As has the extension of mail-in voting through June.

More Politics

House Democrats draw the line: No bipartisan cooperation with Republicans who questioned the election

Business

Phase 4 Reopening

Assuming all goes well, Massachusetts is expected to move onto the fourth and final phase of reopening next week. Under Phase 4, indoor and outdoor stadiums, arenas, ballparks, and convention halls will be permitted to operate at 12% capacity. However, in order to do so, each venue must submit their plan to the DOH.

Not everyone is pleased with the plan. Some public health experts are afraid moving too quickly is a gamble. And the city of Boston has not committed to moving into Phase 4 on March 22.

Last month, before moving into Phase 3, Mayor Marty Walsh had this to say:

"Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, Boston has taken a cautious approach to reopening. We've prioritized the health and safety of our residents, and we've made decisions based on the latest public health data and metrics. We've only moved forward when it's safe."

Nonetheless, TD Garden and Fenway Park have all notified fans they will be opening their gates soon, as did Gillette Stadium.

For more details check out this piece by NBC Boston.

Also welcome news for Mass. businesses affected by emergency measures, the House passed a bill to waive taxes on PPP loans.

The Herald has more on that story.

More Business

Energy

Climate Bill Volleyed Back to the House

The Mass. Senate has passed a revised climate policy bill on to the House including the vast majority of Gov. Baker’s wish list. However, risking another veto, the bill does not address Baker's most meaningful proposals such as the requirement that emissions in 2030 be at least 50% lower than 1990 levels.

About the bill, Sen. Michael Barrett of Lexington said:

"Global warming is generating large-scale spectacles — fire in California, floods in the Midwest, freezing infrastructure in Texas — but this particular legislation is not about mega-events. It's about dealing with our business, our everyday climate business right here at home. If you compare Massachusetts and its admissions with emissions across the world or even across the United States, it's the differences that pop out in you… Transportation are 42% of the Massachusetts problem compared to 29% in the U.S. Buildings are 27% of our issue, compared to about 12% in the U.S. ... It's pretty clear why we put a special emphasis on lower emissions in this bill from transportation and buildings."

The overarching theme of the bill as we all know is to achieve net-zero carbon emissions in the state by 2050.

Sen. Ryan Fattman, a Sutton Republican, cast the lone vote of dissent.

More Energy News

Transportation

MBTA Cuts Services Despite $2 Billion in Federal Aid

Facing potential budget deficits of as much as $400 million, and despite an estimated $1.1 billion in federal aid and another $850 million coming down the pike — so to speak — MBTA service cuts took effect this weekend.

Under the new schedules, bus routes with high ridership serving “transit-critical communities” will not change. However, many other bus roots will be curtailed. Also service frequency is being reduced by 20% on the Red, Orange and Green Lines, and by up to 5% on the Blue Line.

Julia Wallerce, Boston program manager at the Institute for Transportation and Development Policy, called the cuts “deeply disappointing and concerning.” She said:

“The particularly disturbing part is that it will have received about $2 billion in federal aid. To be fair, the T does need every dollar it can get. As a state, we don’t fund mass transit sufficiently. But the T is using relief money intended to fund service today and putting it for service tomorrow because it doesn’t know if it’ll have enough money in the future.”

MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo claims that ridership on the Red, Green and Orange Lines is only seeing one quarter of the foot traffic seen before the coronavirus pandemic. Also, Blue Line ridership is less than one third what it used to be. And bus ridership is currently at about 40% that of pre-COVID levels.

In an email to WCVB, Pesaturo said:

“Through thoughtful service planning and proper management of the federal COVID relief assistance, the MBTA can keep itself on a sustainable path for the next two to three fiscal years. The MBTA will continue to carefully track ridership levels throughout the system, and if there is a need to restore service in certain areas, the T will have the ability to do that.”

More Transportation News

Real Estate

Competition Announced to Make Triple Deckers More Energy Efficient

In the face of a potential global crisis, technology competitions are all the rage. Elon Musk’s recent call for carbon sequestration tech proposals is just one example.

Now, a competition run by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center and funded by the Barr Foundation is being wrapped up here in Massachusetts. The idea of the contest was to spur innovative ideas to make the state’s approximately 1,700 triple-decker apartment buildings more energy efficient.

A report by Energy News describes the iconic building:

The multifamily houses known as triple-deckers, or sometimes “three-deckers,” have attracted attention as part of Massachusetts’ attempts to slash emissions from building sources, which are responsible for about 27% of the state’s greenhouse gases. Constructed in the late 1800s and into the 1930s, triple-deckers were designed to provide rental housing to the waves of immigrants coming into the region. Each building had three roughly identical units — one per floor — as well as a flat roof and windows on all four sides. Most also include porches or balconies on each level...

Now a classic building type in eastern Massachusetts, triple-deckers were considered a triumph of their time, packing many residents into a relatively small space, while still giving them plenty of airflow, sunlight, and privacy… Today, some 17,000 remain, though many still sport drafty windows, oil-burning heating systems, and little or no insulation.

The triple decker upgrade contest is the first phase of a multiyear effort. Planned for later this year, the next phase includes funding for demonstration projects using the concepts generated by the design competition, and the third phase would provide incentives for widespread retrofits.

The winners will receive $25,000. A people’s choice awardee and runners-up will get $15,000 each. The contest received 14 entries.

More Real Estate

Cannabis

Boston-based startup Zip Run is on track to become the first adult-use marijuana delivery service in Massachusetts.

According to a report by THC Net, the company, founded in 2020, “is taking a multi-pronged approach to cannabis delivery that it believes will also enable others to cash in on the so-called ‘green rush.’”

Zip Run will initially focus on delivering cannabis from its Dorchester warehouse to customers in the Greater Boston and Western Massachusetts areas. In order to operate, the company must acquire both Marijuana Courier and Marijuana Delivery Operator licenses. These licenses are exclusively available to social equity applicants for a minimum of three years. The warehouse won’t be licensed and operational until this summer.

In a conversation with THCnet, co-founder and CEO Gabriel said Zip Run is planning to license its e-commerce platform to other social-equity-qualified cannabis entrepreneurs across the country.

Vieira says:

“Our bread and butter will be the delivery operations here in Massachusetts. But I feel like if we didn’t use our tech for the greater good, and license it out to other social equity members, we would essentially be giving up on them… Other tech platforms within the cannabis industry feel more like a directory, and I wanted to change that. We're taking a more consumer-friendly approach. We allow customers to shop by moods and give users that don’t have much experience in cannabis the ability to understand the value and the meaning of what cannabis can bring… If we market ourselves the right way, get ourselves in with the right crowd, and build a strong presence in Massachusetts, that will propel us to the next level and allow us to secure partnerships in other states.”

In order to help launch the business, Viera and partners raised $365,000 from friends and family, and are currently seeking licenses in Boston.

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