COVID-19

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Mass. Economy Sees Worst Quarter Ever

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Although there are many indications that the economy is beginning to see signs of a slow recovery, the numbers are in for Q2. And, frankly, they aren’t good. Facts and figures show that Massachusetts’ economy, along with the rest of the nation, has seen its worst quarter ever. 

Here are some of the dismal statistics:

  • Mass. real gross domestic product (GDP) declined at an annualized rate of 43.8 percent in April, May, and June — the largest drop in history according to MassBenchmarks.

  • Payroll employment fell by 16.5 percent in Q2 — an annualized rate of decline of 51.4 percent.

  • Wage and salary income in Massachusetts fell 11.2 percent — an annualized rate of decline of 37.7 percent.

  • Mass. had the highest unemployment in the nation at 17.4 percent in June.

  • Mass. residents filed nearly 20,000 new unemployment claims for the week ending July 18.

Read more at MassLive.com.

Mass. Issues Strict Travel Restrictions 

Gov. Charlie Baker has signed off on a new executive order requiring travelers to fill out a travel form prior to arrival when entering the state from another state considered to be at high-risk for COVID-19. 

Moreover, a quarantine period of 14 days will be required unless travelers can show a negative COVID-19 test result issued within the previous 72 hours. 

The fine for violating the order is $500 a day. The order goes into effect Aug. 1.

You can read the full order and find more details here.

Cannabis Social Equity Proposal Calls for Loans Rather than Grants

Mass. lawmakers are contemplating a measure that aims to create a loan program designed to promote social equity within the state’s cannabis industry, whereas several other states with similar programs have offered social equity grants.

Detractors of the plan claim that it only offers minorities more debt instead of the promised equity. This comes at a time when there has been much criticism over the increasing lack of social equity in the state’s cannabis programs.

The current plan calls for 10 percent of cannabis tax revenue to be applied toward loans for social equity and economic empowerment. 

Comparing the plan to social equity programs in other states, California awarded $10 million in equity grant funding in October 2019 and an additional $30 million in April 2020. And Illinois devotes 25 percent of cannabis taxes to social equity grants. 

Mass. Cannabis Commissioner, Shaleen Title, in an interview with Boston Public Radio stated that she is ‘embarrassed’ by industry inequities as only three of 70 approved economic empowerment applicants have opened for business.

Meanwhile, Mass. cannabis regulators are seeking input on potential changes to regulations pertaining to both the recreational and medical cannabis programs in the state. The Mass. CCC will hold a virtual public hearing on August 3, 2020 at 10:00 AM. It will also be accepting written comments on the regulations through August 14.

Mass. Offers Commercial, Industrial, and Residential Buildings Financing for Energy Improvements

MassDevelopment and the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources have announced the availability of financing for energy improvements on commercial and industrial buildings, as well as multifamily properties with five or more units and buildings owned by nonprofits. The program is being run through Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) Massachusetts. 

Under the program, property owners will be able to finance energy efficiency upgrades, as well as renewables, and gas line extensions. The financing would be repaid via higher tax assessments on the properties.

MassDevelopment President and CEO Lauren Liss had this to say:

“Together with the Massachusetts Department of Energy Resources, MassDevelopment is pleased to administer PACE Massachusetts, a new low-cost, long-term financing tool for property owners looking to reduce energy consumption through capital improvements. We continue to encourage cities and towns to ‘opt in’ and enable property owners across the state to take advantage of this program.”

You can learn more about the program at FraminghamSource.com.

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End of Session In Sight

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Life continues to be looking up for residents of Massachusetts this week with the three-day average of coronavirus daily deaths dropping from 161 at the start of May to just 13 this past week. And although Mass. still has the highest unemployment roll in the U.S. standing at just over 17 percent, nearly 30,000 more jobs were added in June than in May. 

Check out last week’s news for more details.

Lawmakers Face Pressure to Pass 100% Renewable Bill this Session

With the end of the current legislative session near, “activists, municipal officials, businesses, and civic organizations are urging lawmakers to take action on a bill that would require a 100% renewable electricity transition by 2045,” according to Energy News.

Gov. Charlie Baker has set a goal of achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. However, a growing list of stakeholders are saying that at the currently planned pace, the transition to clean energy would take until the turn of the century. 

In response, state Rep. Marjorie Decker and state Rep. Sean Garballey have cosponsored bill H.2836 calling for 100 percent renewable energy sources to meet the state’s electricity demands by 2035 and transportation and heating by 2045. 

Originally, lawmakers were given a deadline of early June 2020 to make a decision on the legislation. However, that date was moved to July 22 due to all the attention required for the state’s coronavirus response. 

A letter signed by 150 municipal officials from across the state, plus Environment Massachusetts and the Sierra Club has implored lawmakers to advance the bill forward before this legislative session ends. Furthermore, another letter signed by more than 80 medical professionals from some of the state’s most prestigious hospitals decries the damages to public health from burning fossil fuels and urges more substantive action. 

A recent report by Environment Massachusetts outlining the steps to achieve 100% renewable energy includes:

  • Expanding energy efficiency efforts and standards

  • Improving public transportation 

  • Making communities more walkable

  • Expanding offshore wind projects

  • Increasing solar power generation 

According to advocates of the 100 percent renewables goal, Mass. needs to catch up with other states, municipalities, and even businesses that have already committed to clean energy. They point to five U.S. states plus Washington, D.C., that have set 100 percent renewable targets plus another 10 states that are aiming for a complete transition to clean energy.

Several large Massachusetts businesses, including Biogen, Iron Mountain, and New Balance have signed onto a global corporate sustainability initiative known as RE100 pledging to transition to 100% renewables by 2050. Many municipalities in the state have also committed to 100% renewables by that date including Cambridge, Lowell, and Northampton. 

Energy News has more on this story.

Eastern Mass Residents See 21% Lower Energy Costs

As of July 1, Eversource Energy customers in Eastern Mass. are enjoying lower energy bills after the Department of Public Utilities approved a 21% lower electricity rate. The new pricing saves customers around 8 percent on average or more than $150 per year. 

Eversource Senior Vice President and Chief Customer Officer Penni Conner had this to say:

“We're pleased to be passing along a summertime price cut to our customers who get their electricity supply through our Basic Service option. This reduction will come just in time to help customers who use air conditioning to cool their homes and businesses during the hottest days of the year. It will also help those customers experiencing financial hardship due to COVID-19.”

Eversource attributes the rate reduction to an overall reduction in wholesale energy prices. The current wholesale rate is 9.877 cents per kilowatt-hour. That figure is down from the previous six-month rate of 12.517 cents. 

All of Eversource’s customers have the option of purchasing electricity from its competitors whose prices have recently ranged from 6 cents per kilowatt-hour to 12 cents per kilowatt-hour. 

Read more at MarketScreener.com.

Transportation Bond Bill Passes

Massachusetts legislators passed a $17 billion transportation bond bill aimed at funding improvement to the state's roads, bridges, and railways. 

A large portion of the funds will go to improvements to public transportation and roads. The bill also attempts to benefit communities that have been disproportionately impacted by the pandemic. 

Included in the measure is $50-million to develop the East-West Rail that will run between Springfield and Boston. 

WWLP has more on this story.

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Moving Forward with Caution

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Amidst an unpredictable recovery, record setting COVID19 infections throughout the country, and residual worry about reopening the Commonwealth’s economy, there was room for some of the biggest transportation news in a generation. Let’s get right to it.

Bourne & Sagamore Bridges To Be Replaced

Plans are underway to replace both the Bourne and Sagamore bridges which connect Cape Cod to the Massachusetts mainland. The project will be funded by the federal government with costs estimated to reach about $1.5 billion.

A memorandum of understanding between the Mass. Dept. of Transportation and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers after the Corps approved a final report on the project earlier this year.

The new bridges will be built next to the existing bridges. Drivers will enjoy four wider lanes under the new plans plus lanes for pedestrians and bicyclists.

As part of the agreement, the Army Corps “will maintain control of the existing bridges until the new bridges are completed at which point control of the new structures will be transferred to the state,” according to the report in the Boston Globe.

Gov. Baker said Tuesday that the current bridges “will be maintained as we look toward their successors.”

According to state Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack, the next step in the process is to finalize the design and construction plans. 

“The sooner the better,” says Sen. Elizabeth Warren, in order to avoid sinking hundreds of millions of dollars in repairs into the existing bridges.

Congressman Bill Keating had this to say:

”These are more than bridges. These are lifelines. We need modern bridges that will deal with modern vehicles, modern commercial transport and open up passageways for bicycles and pedestrian traffic. This is indeed a milestone of significance. It’s a new chapter in Cape Cod’s history.”

Once construction is complete and the new bridges enter service, MassDOT will take over their ownership and operation. State and federal officials described the switch as a more natural fit that allows the department to align its work on surrounding roadways with the highly traveled canal crossings themselves.

The bridges are more than 80 years old.

Boston.com has more on this story. 

Mass. Unemployment Claims Drop For Second Straight Week

For the second week in a row, unemployment claims have fallen in Mass. 

Here are some quick unemployment statistics for the state according to the Boston Herald:

  • From June 14 to June 20, 9,541 people filed an initial claim for regular unemployment insurance.

  • Over the same period, 558,269 people in Massachusetts filed continued unemployment insurance claims.

  • From March 15 to June 20, a total of 1,028,424 Massachusetts people filed initial claims, or about one-quarter of the state’s workforce.

  • In March, the number of people filing an initial unemployment claim was around 180,000.

  • The number has dropped to less than 30,000. 

  • More than 1.3 million Americans applied for unemployment benefits last week.

Read more at the Boston Herald.

Coronavirus Data Shows Positive Trend

Although the U.S. is experiencing a surge in coronavirus cases with ICUs at capacity in many cities, positive test rates remained low this week in Mass. According to health, 15 more people died pushing the total up over 8,200 and 140 new cases were reported on the second day of Phase 3 reopening. 

So far more than 110,000 cases have been reported in Mass., however, more than 93,000 people have fully recovered.

Here are some current Mass. COVID-19 statistics from the Boston Herald:

  • The state’s current total COVID-19 hospitalizations is above 600. 

  • 104 patients are in ICU, 50 are currently intubated.

  • Hospitalizations declined by 2,941 since May 5.

  • The peak of hospitalizations was 3,965 on April 21.

  • The three-day average of hospitalizations has dropped from 3,707 on May 1 to 620 now.

  • The seven-day weighted average of positive tests declined from 16.6% on May 1 to 1.9% now.

  • So far the state has tested more than 1,144,000 residents.

  • Middlesex County has the most confirmed cases at 24,243 cases

  • Suffolk County is second with 20,048 reported cases.

  • 23,595 residents and health care workers at long-term care facilities have contracted

  • Of 8,213 total deaths, more than 5,000 are connected to long-term care facilities.

During Phase 3 of the state’s reopening, many gyms, fitness studios, movie theaters, museums, and outdoor venues reopened Monday with limited capacity and added restrictions. The maximum number of people allowed to gather increased to 25 people indoors, and 100 people outside. 

More details are available at the Boston Herald’s website. 

Hospitals Saw More Than $2 Billion In Losses Due To Pandemic

Massachusetts hospital lost more than $2 billion for the period ending March 31, 2020 as a result of the initial spread of coronavirus. That is according to data compiled by the state Center for Health Information and Analysis.

According to the data, the median margin for acute hospitals was at -2.7% during that period, a 6.9% decrease from the same period in 2019. 

Seventeen of the 21 hospital health systems that reported data to CHIA had negative total margins while all 21 reported negative operating margins.

Here are some statistics on Mass. hospital losses for Q1:

  • Baystate Health lost $87.9 million.

  • Boston Children’s Hospital and its subsidiaries lost $383.5 million. 

  • Mass General Brigham, the state’s largest private employer lost more than $1 billion. 

  • UMass Memorial Health Care reported $81 million in net losses. 

  • UMass Memorial Medical Group reported a $36.4 million loss. 

  • The HealthAlliance-Clinton Hospital lost $6.4 million.

  • Marlborough Hospital lost $3.1 million

  • UMass Memorial Medical Center reported a $1.5 million loss.

Read more on this story at Mass Live. 

Mass. Expands Electric Vehicle Initiatives

Under an expansion of electric vehicle incentives, nonprofits and businesses with fleets will have new incentives to purchase electric vehicles. The move “is intended to maximize the environmental impact of the program at a time when a slumping economy has slowed vehicle sales across the state — and progress toward the state’s carbon emissions goals,” according to a report in Energy News. 

Gov. Charlie Baker has said that the state plans to be completely carbon-neutral by 2050. The Massachusetts Offers Rebates for Electric Vehicles program (MOR-EV), launched back in 2014, is part of the strategy to achieve that goal. 

The program currently provides rebates to consumers who purchase electric vehicles of up to $2,500. More than 1,500 rebates were handed out in December of 2018. That number was more than four times the count the previous year. However, rebates were lowered to $1,500 in 2019 due to budget constraints and by mid-year had been suspended entirely. 

This past December, the state revived MOR-EV for the next two years with $27 million in funding annually, or enough to provide more than 20,000 rebates. 

However, so far in 2020 only 727 rebates have been requested totaling $1.5 million. The drop is being pinned on the massive reduction in traffic as a result of coronavirus restrictions. 

Energy News has more on this story. 

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Positive COVID Recovery Signs Mixed with Dire Housing News

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Some qualified good news this week for Massachusetts as hospitalizations for COVID-19 continue to decline. While the U.S. surpassed the rest of the world with more than 2.5 million cases and more than 125,000 deaths, the three-day average of coronavirus daily deaths in Mass. dropped from 161 at the start of May to only 23 last week.

According to research data from COVID Act Now, Massachusetts is one of four states on track to contain the COVID-19 outbreak. Other Northeastern states, Connecticut, New York, and New Jersey are also among the top four. New Hampshire, Maine, Vermont, and Rhode Island have been classified as “controlled disease growth.” 

The fact that 1,295 of the state’s roughly 2,000 ICU beds are currently available is a very positive development.

According to the report, the state’s 2,500 contact tracers have been a major contributor in the fight against the virus. “When this level of tracing is coupled with widely available testing, COVID can be contained without restoring lockdowns,” researchers wrote.

Researchers looked at factors including infection rate, positive test rate, available ICU capacity, and contact tracing. 

Governor Charlie Baker had this to say on Tuesday: 

“We’re obviously encouraged by the continued progress we’ve made on many of those public health metrics and we’re going to continue to monitor them. We do believe part of the reason we’ve been successful so far with our reopening strategy is due to the work and the efforts of everybody here in the Commonwealth… Please continue to wear face coverings, practice social distancing, and good hygiene.”

Here are some quick statistics on coronavirus in Mass. according to a report by the Boston Herald:

  • There have so far been 108,667 confirmed cases.

  • More than 90,000 patients have recovered.

  • Coronavirus hospitalizations went down by 21 patients, bringing the state’s COVID-19 hospitalization total to 748. 

  • Statewide hospitalization total has declined by 2,814 since May 5.

  • As of Sunday, there were 134 patients in the ICU.

  • The peak of Massachusetts hospitalizations was 3,965 on April 21. 

  • The three-day average of hospitalizations fell from 3,707 on May 1 to 769.

  • So far the state has tested more than one million residents. 

  • The seven-day weighted average of positive tests has declined from 16.6 percent on May 1 to 2 percent last week.

  • Middlesex County has the most confirmed cases in Massachusetts with 23,915 cases.

  • Suffolk County has the second-highest number of cases with 19,795 cases.

  • 23,399 residents and health care workers at long-term care facilities have contracted the virus.

  • 5,086 of the state’s 8,060 total coronavirus deaths are connected to long-term care facilities.

  • More than 62 percent of COVID-19 victims have been people over 80 years of age, with about 32 percent being in their 60's and 70's, and just over five percent under 60 years of age.

Thousands of Residents Face Potential Evictions

While the coronavirus data in Mass continue to build enthusiasm, not all of the state’s residents are feeling so optimistic. Many communities are facing a surge of evictions. 

Enhanced unemployment benefits and a ban on evictions during the pandemic have helped many renters keep up with payments, however, unless they are renewed those protections will be ending soon putting more than 120,000 households in the state at risk of eviction.

Lisa Owens, executive director of tenants’ rights group City Life/Vida Urbana, says the “situation is looking really dire” and that the state is facing what could be “dramatic levels of homelessness, and neighborhood and citywide instability.”

A disproportionate number of those facing eviction are in black or Latino communities according to a study by the Metropolitan Area Planning Council which claims that the rate of eviction filings in non-subsidized apartments in Roxbury is seven times greater than in Allston/Brighton. “Nearly 90 percent of Roxbury residents are people of color, while Allston/Brighton is 62 percent white,” according to a report in the Boston Globe. 

The Globe’s extensive report includes this ominous statistic:

“Boston infamously has a racial wealth gap that can almost seem like a typo: a median net worth of $247,500 for white households and $8 for Black ones.” 

Rep. Pressley & Sen. Markey Seek to Eliminate Public Transit Fares

The two Massachusetts Democrats, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Sen. Ed Markey introduced a bill Friday that could eliminate public transportation fees in the Bay State and across the country.

If passed, the bill would create a $5 billion grant program that would not only eliminate fares, but also invest in increased transit access in historically underserved communities. 

Rep. Pressley had this to say in a statement last week:

“Our public transit systems are meant to provide communities with the mobility and freedom to access critical services, but far too many in the Massachusetts 7th and across the country lack reliable, safe, and affordable transit service. By supporting state and local efforts to implement fare-free public transit systems, we can provide low-income workers and families, seniors, and individuals with disabilities with improved access to jobs, education, and medical care, all while simultaneously reducing traffic congestion and greenhouse gas emissions.” 

Pressley and two-dozen other Democrats also recently sent a letter to House Speaker Rep. Nancy Pelosi calling for a $250 billion fund to support hard-hit public transportation agencies.

The proposed legislation calls for five-year grants to be awarded to municipal, county, and state governments based on their plans to implement fare-free transit. 

Gov. Baker Unveils $275 Million COVID-19 Economic Relief Package 

Mass. Governor Charlie Baker’s administration has announced a $275 million COVID-19 economic recovery package designed to stimulate economic growth in Massachusetts, particularly among underserved communities. The move updates legislation originally filed on March 4, 2020, titled the Act Enabling Partnerships for Growth developed prior to the pandemic.

The package covers three core areas: housing, community development, and business competitiveness, according to the report in Boston Real Estate Times. 

Gov. Baker had this to say in a statement:

“By funding more affordable housing, implementing critical zoning reform, stabilizing neighborhoods, and supporting minority-owned businesses with record levels of funding, these proposed changes will bring critical relief and promote equity across Massachusetts amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. We look forward to working with our partners in the Legislature to advance this legislation and give communities, especially those most in need, the tools and support they require to move forward.”

The package proposes to:

  • Amend the scope of several proposed programs, to target funding towards specific communities including those hardest hit by COVID-19

  • Reallocate funding among proposed authorizations, to better address the significant economic impacts of COVID-19 and to help provide a path for recovery, particularly for those most devastated by the pandemic

  • Establish new tools to promote equity and drive economic growth in communities and among businesses facing barriers to entry in areas like state contracting

Cannabis Sales “Lukewarm” in First Week of Reopening

MJBizDaily reports that sales during the first week of reopening of cannabis shops in the Bay State have been “lukewarm” with dispensaries in the state generating $13.6 million for the week of May 25. 

However, the report also states that the figure is up about 60 percent from the same week in 2019. And through the first 12 weeks of 2020, adult-use sales were up by an average of 200% from the previous year.

According to the cannabis industry news source, Massachusetts is “the only state on the East Coast with an operational adult-use industry, which means it generates a significant portion of revenue from out-of-state visitors and tourists,” and “the coronavirus pandemic and resulting economic fallout have put a stop to most recreational travel, likely a key driver of why sales are softer than what would typically be expected.”

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Mass Leads in Unemployment but Potential for Recovery Strong

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Over the past few months, Boston, Massachusetts, and the rest of the nation have endured bad news of historical proportions. However, some good news is starting to emerge. Let’s get right into it. 

Mass. Unemployment Rate Tied for 4th-Highest in US 

Bad news first. We realize that we’ve discussed the unemployment issue quite a bit in recent weeks, however, it continues to plague - if you’ll excuse the expression - the state of Massachusetts, in particular. 

According to federal data, Massachusetts has the 4th highest unemployment rate in the country. Employers added 58,000 jobs in May, doubling any previous month-over-month record dating back to 1990, and setting new records the second month in a row at 16.3 percent unemployment. However, the state is still just one-tenth of the way from gaining back the staggering 646,700 positions lost in April.

According to a report by NBC Boston, April's original estimate of 15.1 percent was the highest in the state since 1976. However, that number was revised up to 16.2 percent. 

According to the report, thirty-eight states saw lower unemployment rates in May than in April. Only three states reported higher unemployment rates than Massachusetts in May. Rhode Island and California are tied with Mass. with 16.3 percent unemployment. 

As we reported last week, the national unemployment rate dropped from 14.7 percent in April to 13.3 percent in May. According to federal data, Job gains last month were led by the construction industry as well as, hospitality and leisure, and health and education.

Boston & Worcester Near Top of List of U.S. Cities with Fastest Rebounds 

And now for some good news. According to analysis from Bloomberg, Worcester and Boston are on course for strong economic rebounds along with Washington D.C., Seattle, and San Francisco. 

Massachusetts’ two largest cities made the top 10 list with San Jose and San Francisco in the number one and number two spots. Boston ranked third and Worcester eighth — higher than New York City, Miami, and Denver.

Bloomberg attributed the good news to the state’s “foundation of education and a strong health care center,” with about 40 colleges and universities and more than 20 hospitals, “along with many of the world’s leading biotech companies.”

Norfolk County Reports Real Estate Market Remains Viable

Norfolk County Register of Deeds William P. O’Donnell says the county’s real estate market remains viable during the crisis. Other counties in Eastern Mass. are likely in similar condition.

From March 10 through June 12, the Norfolk County Registry of Deeds recorded a 13 percent increase in land documents year-over-year. Residential and commercial sales increased 12 percent to $819,725. 

Although real estate sales dropped by 15 percent, mortgages increased 69 percent. 

“The decrease in the number of real estate sales is not surprising considering the ongoing pandemic and its economic impact. Also, real estate brokers and agents have been unable to hold open houses. The spike in mortgage activity is explained by consumers taking advantage of low interest rates to refinance existing mortgages. Based on the words of Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell, interest rates will not be rising anytime soon.”

Only 29 foreclosure deeds were recorded from March 10 through June 12. 

Read more at Wicked Local

STAG Announces Groundbreaking on Four New Solar Rooftop Systems

STAG Industrial, Inc. has broken ground on four new solar rooftop projects in Massachusetts. Black Bear Energy is facilitating the project and Nautilus Solar Energy, LLC is developing the systems as part of the Solar Massachusetts Renewable Program (SMART).

The four systems in Mass. and one in New Jersey are expected to produce over 10 million kWh of electricity annually — enough to power nearly 1,000 homes.

Nationwide solar projects by STAG now produce over 10 MW of solar. As of March 31, 2020, STAG’s portfolio consisted of 456 buildings in 38 states.

Read all about it in the Boston Real Estate Times.

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Unemployment Still on the Rise

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Although the job market is doing better than expected at the national level, unemployment in Massachusetts is rising with 44,732 residents filed for unemployment last week.

According to projections from the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation, the Commonwealth will lose more than half a million jobs from April through June. Including the March layoffs during the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis, that pushes the state unemployment rate close to 18%.

The foundation also estimates that the total number of unemployed will reach 677,000. Earlier this month, the Pioneer Institute projected that the unemployment rate could rise to 25.4% by June.

Energy jobs have been especially hard hit dropping more than 20,000 jobs by the end of May and things might get worse for the industry. 

The International Energy Agency has projected that energy demand could fall by 6 percent in 2020. That’s seven times the decline after the global financial crisis in 2008. 

According to a report in the Boston Globe: “The unprecedented decline is equivalent to all the energy demand of India, the world’s third-largest energy consumer.”

And to make matters worse, according to a report in Solar Industry Magazine, experts at the Coalition for Community Solar Access (CCSA) believe proposed new clean energy regulations in Mass. could have the unintended consequence and result in the cancellation of nearly 80 solar energy projects.

Although the size of the program is doubling under the new regulations as much as 90% of land in Massachusetts will become unavailable for solar panel arrays. The rules are expected to be finalized by July 15.

Some of those jobs are expected to return, but many Mass. businesses are closing their doors indefinitely. 

In an effort to expedite the reopening of the state’s economy, the City of Boston has established a Reopen Boston Fund. The fund is intended to assists businesses in purchasing personal protective equipment and so far, the City has received over 1,000 applications from small business owners.

Boston Real Estate COVID Consortium Launches

A group of Boston-based real estate professionals has formed the Boston Real Estate COVID Consortiumro to promote the sharing of current best practices for adapting to regulatory amendments established to slow the spread of COVID-19.

The Consortium was co-founded by STV|DPM Vice President and Project Executive Denise Pied and Director of Business Development Sandra Gucciardi. 

According to a report in Nerej.com, the multidisciplinary industry team includes “experts from the project management, construction, commercial real estate brokerage, commissioning, code review, design, environmental engineering, technology, and furniture sectors.”

The group has issued the following statement:

“We believe innovative project strategies and checklists around these disciplines will assist our active clients and other real estate leaders in assessing new in-office and remote work requirements as they bring their employees back to work and going forward. The ultimate goal is to develop a ‘toolkit’ of best practice resources that could be rolled out as part of ongoing and new project work. Boston’s Real Estate and A/E/C COVID Consortium is committed to providing relevant, reliable and user-friendly insights on a weekly basis.”

Cannabis Regulators Compiling Legal Cannabis Products Catalog

Mass. cannabis regulators have begun compiling a catalog of the marijuana products being sold at dispensaries in the state. 

Manufacturers and retailers will be asked to provide detailed information on all cannabis products such as THC or CBD levels, serving size, ingredients, and description, plus a photo. The CCC sent out an e-mail to inform all license holders of new fields in the state’s cannabis tracking system. 

The purpose of the project is to give regulators, consumers, parents, and law enforcement a resource they can use to discern between legal and illegal products.

According to Shawn Collins, Executive Director of the Mass. Cannabis Control Commission: “This information is optional, currently, for the licensee for them to assist us in developing this product catalog ... We do anticipate that some of these fields could at some point become a requirement.”

Read more here: Mass. marijuana regulators developing product catalog

Officials say Boston-Springfield Rail Service would Require Federal Assistance 

State officials said Wednesday that a proposed high-speed “east-west” rail service between Boston and Springfield could draw far more riders than previously estimated. 

Prior projections estimated ridership to be anywhere from 36 to 800-plus per day. On Wednesday, Mass. Transportation Secretary Stephanie Pollack said, based on new estimates, ridership could be four to five times higher than originally projected. 

However, Pollack added that “even those ridership levels may not be enough for the multi-billion dollar project to qualify for federal funding, said state,” and that the project might never see the light of day without federal assistance.

Advocates for the future rail service argue that it would “allow workers to live further out in more affordable regions and still commute into Boston, while also boosting the economies of Western Massachusetts,” according to the report.

MassDOT estimates that improving rail service along existing tracks will cost $2 billion, while an electric high-speed line will cost upwards of $25 billion.

The Baker administration is now studying the feasibility of the project.

More of the Latest Massachusetts News

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Getting Back to Business

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Boston Mayor Marty Walsh is watching coronavirus metrics closely as offices in Boston are being permitted to reopen this third week of Phase 1 reopening plan. 

Mayor Walsh said this week at a press conference, “The data tells us that we continue to move in the right direction, and we have met the initial benchmarks that we set moving forward in the gradual reopening.” 

At the peak of the outbreak, according to the press release, local intensive care units were operating at 120% capacity but that the number of live cases has dropped to 81 percent — four points lower than target.

Most offices in the state were permitted to open at 25 percent capacity last week. However, according to the Boston Globe, “the city’s central business district still looked more like a ghost town than a boomtown.”

Part of the reason for the slow return is that reopening offices safely “requires fairly extensive measures, from deep cleaning and reconfiguring office traffic patterns to ordering personal protective equipment for employees.”

Business Insider has more on this story as does WCVB News.

Phase 2 of reopening plans could begin next week. Meanwhile, Gov. Charlie Baker’s administration has said the decision will be made over the weekend, and that Phase 2 could conceivably begin on Monday, June 8. 

Massachusetts Post-COVID-19 Transportation Outlook

Data in a new survey published this week by MassINC Polling suggests that residents are planning to travel less than they did before the coronavirus crisis began. 

Nearly 1,500 Mass. residents participated in the poll between May 5 and May 13. Overall, the poll suggests that commuters are shifting away from group modes of transportation such as shuttles and carpooling, and toward driving, biking, or walking. 

According to the report, more than one-third of Mass. residents said they will ride the MBTA subway, commuter rail, and buses less than before the outbreak — even after the pandemic has subsided. 

Here are some quick stats from the poll’s findings:

  • 38% of participants said they will walk more.

  • 28% said they will drive alone in their car.

  • 19% said they will ride a bike more.

  • 8% said they will use Uber or Lyft.

  • 36% said they would ride buses less.

  • 35% said they would ride the MBTA subway less often.

  • 33% said they would ride the MBTA Commuter Rail less often.

  • 44% said they would take fewer trips than before.

  • 41% said they would take roughly the same number of trips.

  • 43% of 18-to-29-year-olds said they planned to drive alone more often and take the MBTA subway less often.

  • 60% said they have been able to work from home during the outbreak.

  • 41% percent said they would prefer to keep working from home.

  • 77% said they were either “not too comfortable” or “not comfortable at all” taking public transportation during rush hour.

Nearly 60% of participants said that the state needs to make “big changes to the transportation system coming out of the crisis,” such as more social distancing and less overcrowding. And half of subway and bus riders said they will walk more often. The poll also suggests that people will be making fewer trips in general. 

The MBTA has already reduced the number of passengers allowed on buses and trains. Buses that previously allowed up to 58 people are now considered “crowded” with only 20 passengers. However, at these levels, as more people get back to business, in the state more services would be required. 

The project was sponsored by The Barr Foundation.

The Boston Globe has more on this story.

Tech CU Expands $2 Billion Solar Power Deal with Fintech

San Jose, Calif.-based Tech Credit Union, and New York City-based Sunlight Financial have announced they will loan more than $2 billion to install solar power systems in more than 80,000 homes.

The two companies have so far financed more than 50,000 home solar projects since the partnership began in September 2015 and had funded more than $1 billion in residential solar loans. Furthermore, nationwide, one in five residential solar loans written in 2019 is with Sunlight Financial.

President and CEO of Tech CU, Todd Harris, had this to say in a prepared statement Tuesday:

“We’re excited to expand our partnership with Sunlight Financial, our first and longest-standing strategic relationship. Over the years, Tech CU and Sunlight Financial have built a strong partnership and we look forward to continuing that tradition while accelerating America’s transition to renewable energy.”

Tech CU also recently announced plans to invest $1 billion in financing for residential solar loans in a completely separate partnership with solar solutions company SunPower.

Attorney General Calls for Plan to Transition Away from Natural Gas

Attorney General Maura Healey has petitioned the Department of Public Utilities to investigate ways that the state’s power utilities might transition away from natural gas to net-zero carbon technologies in order to meet the state’s goal of zero carbon emissions by 2050.

According to the petition:

“As electrification and decarbonization of heating increases, the Commonwealth’s natural gas demand and usage from thermal heating requirements will decline substantially and could be near zero by 2050. As the Commonwealth reduces its fossil fuel consumption, the Department should establish a consistent regulatory framework that protects customers and maintains reliability and safety during the transition.”

According to a post by Commonwealth Magazine, president and CEO of the Northeast Gas Association, Tom Kiley downplayed concerns saying he was aware of the petition but hadn’t seen it while claiming that the industry is “on the upswing.”

According to Kiley, whose association represents the industry in nine states in the region, the Northeast added 1,200 megawatts of natural gas-fired power plants last year. Furthermore, 52 percent of homes in the region heat their homes with natural gas and that which currently costs $1.61 per million BTUs, compared to $13.65 in mid-June 2008.

According to the petition, California and New York have already launched similar investigations.

Read more at Reuters.

Boston’s Marijuana Shop Loses $100,000 Worth of Inventory During Protests

About $100,000 worth of marijuana was stolen from Pure Oasis, a recreational cannabis shop in Dorchester, on Sunday night, according to WBZ and MassLive.com. Although the crime has been deemed to be the result of “looting,” protests in response to the death of George Floyd, were largely peaceful (although there were 53 arrests) suggesting the thieves were using demonstrations as cover.

Security footage obtained by the Globe shows a steady stream of the thieves running through the dispensary with armfuls of product. The video can be viewed here.

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Massachusetts Attempts To Turn The Page

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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. 

Read more at the Boston Globe: Mayor Marty Walsh appoints group of advisers to help Boston reopen its economy 

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. 

Read more: Boston Cannabis Board to meet for first time in June

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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