BUILDING BANNED IN BOSTON
Unions back Walsh move; aid plans outlined
Mayor Martin Walsh banned all construction in Boston beginning today, when he also shut down other city services and created a fund to benefit struggling Bostonians.
Walsh said all construction projects need to stop for 14 days as the city reports 33 people have been infected to date with COVID-19 as the global pandemic worsens.
“This is a difficult decision to make. Construction is the core of our economy,” Walsh said at a press conference Monday. “Out of an abundance of caution though, we’re looking at 14 days” of a freeze.
That means all big and small projects must be stopped and the work zones secured, the mayor said. The only exceptions will be emergency projects, mainly roadwork and gas hookups. The city will reassess after the two-week span, Walsh said.
Walsh, an old union worker who once ran the Building Trades Unions organization, acknowledged the city’s current housing “boom.” Right now, there are more than 100 large projects going on in the city, according to the Boston Planning & Development website.
The Building Trades, an umbrella organization of unions in Boston, threw its support behind Walsh.
“This is a worldwide pandemic and our public health community has made clear that social distancing is the only way to combat this virus,” said Brian Doherty, the head of the powerful labor organization. “We will be working with our unions and with our contractor partners to make sure every worker is safe and secure, and we are confident that by working together as a community, we will get through this difficult time.”
Walsh, in what’s become a near daily ritual of a press conference outside City Hall announcing yet more stringent measures aimed at controlling the coronavirus, also announced that all Boston Public Libraries would close on Monday. So too on Wednesday would all Boston Centers for Youth & Families facilities shut their doors, except for food-distribution services.
Walsh also said the city will give Chromebooks to all schools students as the district on Tuesday closes for six weeks.
The City Council planned to hold hearings on Monday night and today about the city’s coronavirus response, but postponed that until next Monday, saying officials were currently too busy. Walsh will give a televised address at 7:30 tonight about his administration’s plans to fight the spread of the virus.
Walsh also announced that the city is creating the “Boston Resiliency Fund” — a philanthropic effort to get money “directly to local organizations and nonprofits that support Boston’s families.”
He said child care, food access and family services for people impacted by the coronavirus response will be among the fund’s priorities. Walsh said several million dollars has already been donated by big Boston organizations and philanthropists toward the initial goal of $20 million.
Walsh said 33 people have tested positive for the rapidly spreading coronavirus in Boston. Statewide, the number is 197, up from 164 on Sunday.