Coronavirus in Massachusetts (Boston, Chatham: bartender, home, high income)

[charolastra00]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

I also see a lot of people who think the election is going to influence anything we’re doing. I’m not sure why people think this. Trump or Biden is not going to have any influence over my day to day life. They aren’t going to make the virus disappear.

Those people are almost exclusively Trump supporters who think that this is a worldwide conspiracy to take down Trump.



Cuckoo bananas, if you ask me.

[redplum33]

Originally Posted by Bridge781

I also see a lot of people who think the election is going to influence anything we’re doing. I’m not sure why people think this. Trump or Biden is not going to have any influence over my day to day life. They aren’t going to make the virus disappear.

Biden is apparently planning to make masks mandatory. Everywhere.

[OutdoorLover]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Biden is apparently planning to make masks mandatory. Everywhere.

There will likely be big pushback. But you know, masks don't mean "shutdowns", in fact, using masks allows you to safely continue. Had we embraced mitigation more fully in the early weeks, we wouldn't have such problems today, and not so many people would have died. Once you get deep, widespread penetration of such an easily transmitted virus into the society, it's very difficult to reel it back in - too many unaccounted for sources, and each of them very dangerous.

[in_newengland]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Biden is apparently planning to make masks mandatory. Everywhere.

I highly doubt it but they're practically mandatory anyway. And if more states were in compliance, it would be a lot easier for us to hold on until a vaccine becomes available.

[rach5]

Masks are such a low cost approach to reducing caseloads. Much better than an additional trillion in bailouts from my perspective. If you are fiscally conservative, you should love masks.

[mdovell]

PPEs aren't new. If you work in the medical field, the trades, manufacturing, landscaping etc. It isn't a big deal to wear a mask.

[lrfox]

I'm actually not a proponent of mandatory masks everywhere. In areas where spacing 6 ft. isn't always possible? Yup. Inside all stores, on public transit, and at restaurants while not sitting at the table? Definitely. But there are plenty of every day outdoor scenarios where masks aren't necessary. I think a mandatory mask requirement everywhere would backfire in that many would view it as an overreach and not comply out of protest. In theory it'd be great if you could make such an order and everyone would comply, but this is not a country that appears as if it's going to put aside its differences and fall in line for such an order. We'll likely have more success with targeted local "mandatory" requirements and empowering the rest of the population to use common sense based on the information available.

[id77]

Originally Posted by mdovell

It isn't really moving though. Everything these days is technology. Nearly every business should have a website or app.

I just saw this on a major tech app. I'm assuming he or she works for Amazon in Seattle.

"Significant chunk of my team members are permanently leaving Seattle and still collecting Seattle pay checks. My boss working from Hawaii and org VP embraced WFH saying 'at best' we will be a hybrid org. Other team members permanently moved to cheaper states. Over 90% of amazon employees want WFH in some form according to surveys. WFH is the future and it is here to stay. I ain't ever going back to the office and they can't make me. I bet in the future there will be a salary normalization cross USA and Canada and this will be a very good thing for all devs!"


Another

" I'm a manager at Amazon for a non-tech team. I'm heavily in favor of virtual roles. I personally hope I can manage remotely in the near future. My team, and I, have been remarkably productive in our remote state.

One of the most difficult barriers my hiring team faces is hiring to Seattle vs. the business. It's stupidly expense.

I'm a firm advocate of remote work where it makes sense. To much talent goes unrealized by focusing specifically to a geographic region."

And another
" I work for MS, I used to work in Redmond. I *hated* the PNW, I wouldn’t ever move back there. I said “either let me move or you’ll lose me”, and they did. That was several years ago.

This will become the new normal and will help Microsoft dramatically. Counter to most Seattleites’ opinions, most people in the US don’t want to actually live in the PNW. It’s so bad for HR recruiters that there’s actually a playbook they created to try to talk people in to moving up there.

If MS allows for remote work it’ll absolutely help them get employees that they’d never otherwise have a shot at."

Keep on mind many have offices around the world and having a hq doesn't mean the bulk of the people are there.
Putting everything in one place doesn't make any sense. Even mass has regional stare offices. The feds don't have everything in DC etc

I don't disagree. If anything, this is part of why my stance on Boston is what it is -- even though it isn't for everyone, many live here because they *want* to be here and aren't going to move simply because WFH became an option.

I've already had multiple opportunities with my employer to take my MA paycheck and move to a much lower CoL area, and I've refused because there's nothing really quite like Boston. I've lived on the west coast, the mountains, and the midwest as well, and I've yet to find any other place in the US with the same architectural charm and walkability as inner Boston. Most of the country is gridded streets, shopping malls, and box restaurants with drive-thrus and parking lots, and I don't want any of that.

That is what gets lost in the conversation. Everyone's on and on and on about cost this and commute that as if the only thing keeping Boston viable as a place to live is captive employees. It's not. It's a desirable place to live, and people who want what only Boston can provide seek it out.

[brightdoglover]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Biden is apparently planning to make masks mandatory. Everywhere.

Can't be done. Masks are "mandatory" indoor public places where I live (Colorado) and there is no possibility of enforcement, never was. It's about a social norm and gives business people a fair reason to insist (before, it was a personal opinion and led to more confrontation).

I think Biden was foolish to say that. it isn't enforceable and never has been.

Without masks as a social norm, however, the virus will continue to spread, people will not want to go out and be involved and spend money, etc., and the economy will not be okay.

People in Massachusetts are fortunate (I lived there for 45 years in Middlesex County) to have a pro-active governor. It's the Wild West outside of proactive areas and to no good avail.

[robr2]

Originally Posted by redplum33

Biden is apparently planning to make masks mandatory. Everywhere.

Kinda sorta. He and Harris have called for a mandate but it is up to each state to do so.

Originally Posted by Joe Biden

Every single American should be wearing a mask when they're outside for the next three months, at a minimum. Every governor should mandate mandatory mask-wearing," Biden said, suggesting that widespread mask use could save 40,000 lives over the next three months. "Let's institute a mask mandate nationwide starting immediately, and we will save lives.