Charlie Baker urges residents to go to restaurants, says he doesn’t plan on ending $300 benefits early

Gov. Charlie Baker urged Bay Staters to start going back on out to restaurants, launching a campaign as he maintained that he’s not going to end the federal unemployment boost early.

“Go visit your favorite restaurant — go out, give back, enjoy and smile,” the gov said, modeling a big Cheshire-cat grin to the accumulated press.

Baker, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito, Acting Mayor Kim Janey spoke at the Mida restaurant in the South End on Friday, where they were joined by a smorgasbord of other officials including state Sen. Sonia Chang-Diaz, Economic Development Secretary Mike Kenneally and state Rep. John Santiago, who’s also running for mayor.

“We want to continue to help them get back to where they were once upon a time, and that’s why we announced the launch of the ‘Let’s go out’ marketing campaign — to remind people of what it was like to go out to eat, make memories with friends and family, and really enjoy all that our restaurants in Massachusetts have to offer this summer and beyond,” Baker said.

He said this “will continue to look a bit different,” with more outdoor dining and other changes like virtual menus likely to keep going. Restaurants are not required by state law to have vaccinated people wear masks anymore, but Baker asked that people be respectful of different establishments’ rules.

The officials praised award-winning restaurateur Douglas Williams of MIDA, who told the assembled press to get on out there and eat.

“Now that we have that ability, we need to do that — and everything is right around the corner,” he said.

Under the most recent stimulus, people on unemployment get an extra $300 a week through the end of the summer. Some have said this is keeping people from going out and looking for jobs, leading to labor shortages. Most Republican governors have done away with the bonus money in their states for that reason.

Asked about it on Friday, Baker said he didn’t plan on it, saying he was counting on state efforts that combine unemployment benefits with back-to-work programs.

“I would like to see if we can make this work-share program, work because I think that’s a better way to create comfort for a lot of folks,” Baker said.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/2RnsAQC