• House Minority Leader abruptly ends session; puts COVID-19 spending bill on ice
  • Amid COVID-19 Massachusetts’ GDP declined 6 percent in first quarter of 2020
  • Boston extends curfew to align with Governor’s proposed reopening date
  • Holyoke City Council approves changes in poll locations for May 19th special election
  • Daycare centers fearful of a permanent shutdown, request state aid for rent
  • Boston City Councilor proposes buying back liquor licenses and third-party delivery fees
  • Today’s Silver Lining: Our new quarantine vocabulary

 

  1. Minority Leader Brad Jones doubted the presence of a quorum, abruptly ending informal session yesterday. The procedural move derailed today’s scheduled formal virtual session delaying action on a critical spending bill and drew sharp criticism from House leadership.

 

  1. Massachusetts’ real gross domestic product saw a steep drop-off in the first quarter of 2020 falling 6.1 percent where the country as a whole saw a 4.8 percent decline. Economists claim the Massachusetts figure fails to reflect the “full severity of the pandemic-induced downturn,” as they await this month’s unemployment numbers.

 

  1. Boston Mayor Marty Walsh extended the City’s 9pm-6am curfew to May 18, aligning with Governor Baker’s new target date to reopen nonessential businesses. The public health emergency remains in effect until further notice.

 

  1. The Holyoke City Council approved changes in two poll locations over COVID-19 social distancing and transmission concern Voters in precinct 3A will now vote at the Metcalf School instead of the Elmwood Fire Station, and voters in Precinct 1B will now vote at Holyoke City Hall rather than Prospect Heights. State Rep. John Velis and challenger John Cain of Southwick are vying for the state senate vacated in January by Westfield Mayor Don Humason.

 

  1. A coalition of daycare providers sent a letter to Governor Baker outlining three specific methods to help daycare centers with rent and other costs. The letter, signed by 30 members of Daycares United, calls for a tax credit for commercial landlords for 90 days, rent subsidies, or a mandated rent moratorium for all childcare centers.

 

  1. Creative ways to help Boston’s restaurant industry include Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards’ proposals on once-coveted liquor licenses. Edwards proposal includes buying back liquor licenses and leasing them to restaurant operators, changing the licenses so that they are non-transferable, and attaching them to a brick and mortor addresses. Also up for discussion are capping third-party delivery fees for restaurants.

 

  1. NEW VOCAB: In the era of the coronavirus pandemic, we’ve developed a new vernacular. Coronavirus, Quarantinis, Covidiots. What’s your favorite word?