Sweetening the deal

Also: Making waves at the MFA; Trump has arrived in New York for his arraignment. What's next? [Donate ❤️]( [View in Browser](  April 4, 2023 ⛅ Clouds clear this afternoon, with a high near 61. Good Morning Boston, Do you want to work at the MBTA? No? They could really use the help. What if they toss a few extra thousand bucks your way? - Faced with a "stunning" labor shortage in a competitive job market, the T is stepping up its efforts to attract new workers. The plan includes increasing its sign-on bonus by $3,000 and expanding the number of positions eligible for the upfront money. - Currently, the T is offering a $4,500 signing bonus for new bus drivers. But beginning April 15, they're upping the offer to $7,500 and [expanding it to six other positions]( subway and streetcar drivers, rail repairers, track laborers, service technicians and fuelers. (The T is also offering to cover the cost of a commercial driver’s license for new bus drivers, an over $10,000 value.) - Now you're listening? Check out [the T's job website]( for more information. They're also holding four recruitment fairs around Greater Boston later this month. - The big picture: The shortage of subway operators has [emerged as a key issue holding back service]( after the MBTA was forced to slash train trip frequency across most of the system last summer. (At the time, [a shortage of dispatchers]( was the main problem.) - Will the new bonuses be enough to help? Unclear. The hiring push comes a day after [a report by the Massachusetts Taxpayers Foundation]( estimated that the T needs to hire another 2,800 workers (or roughly 50% of its current headcount). To meet that goal, the group said the T will need more help from the state's Legislature. - Speaking of aging infrastructure: Boston city councilors expect to get an update today on the safety of the city's public infrastructure during a hearing this afternoon. This was sparked after a woman was [hit by a falling street light in the Seaport last fall](. Since then, crews have been inspecting the rest of the city's light poles, bridges and other public works. - City Council President Ed Flynn says Boston's winters and proximity to the ocean creates added wear for infrastructure. - A go-to Cape Cod beach party spot is going dry this summer. In an effort to crack down on disorderly "drunken behavior," officials are banning alcohol consumption and open containers on Cahoon Hollow Beach this year from May 20 to Sept. 10, according to Cape Cod National Seashore chief ranger Michael Valora. - The move comes after traffic to the beach — located by the popular Beachcomber restaurant in Wellfleet — increases 20% each year since 2017, with many people chartering buses or taking Ubers and Lyft to get there, [according to the Provincetown Independent](. Local police told town leaders that the partying has "resulted in an increase of excessive alcohol consumption, disorderly conduct, public intoxication and improper disposal of human waste." - FYI: While alcohol is generally prohibited on public beaches in Massachusetts, you can still drink on [other Cape Cod National Seashore beaches](. "This regulation change is only for Cahoon Hollow," Valora said. - Back in Boston: Meanwhile, don't expect a ban on mini-alcohol bottles in the city to take effect anytime soon. [The proposal]( got [mixed reviews]( from health officials and liquor store owners during a City Council hearing yesterday. Flynn says he wants to get an economic assessment before moving forward on the issue. - The MBTA isn't the only one with [slow zones](. Federal officials are extending [two "slow zones" for boats]( south of Martha's Vineyard and Nantucket until April 15 due to the presence of rare, migrating right whales in the area. Boaters are asked to keep it below 10 knots (or 11.5 mph) to reduce the chances of deadly whale strikes. - Scientists estimate there are now more than 80 right whales swimming through Cape Cod Bay (almost 25% of the critically endangered species' global population). "It's a very special time in a tiny bay with very high concentrations," said Stormy Mayo, a co-founder of the Center for Coastal Studies. P.S.— In the nearly 10 years that have passed since the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, WBUR photographers Jesse Costa and Robin Lubbock have returned to the finish line — and to the victims and their families — to capture the community's resilience. Some of their images are now on display in a new exhibit in the CitySpace windows at 890 Commonwealth Ave. Take a peek [here as Costa and Lubbock discuss the stories behind the photos.]( Nik DeCosta-Klipa Editor, Newsletters [Follow](  Support the news  The Rundown [Trump has arrived in New York for his arraignment. What's next?]( The former president spent Monday night at Trump Tower before his expected surrender and arraignment on Tuesday, when the historic charges against him will be unsealed. [Read more.]( [Trump has arrived in New York for his arraignment. What's next?]( The former president spent Monday night at Trump Tower before his expected surrender and arraignment on Tuesday, when the historic charges against him will be unsealed. [Read more.]( [Mass. agrees to $40M settlement in decade-old sergeant exam suit]( Massachusetts has agreed to a $40 million settlement in a long-running case brought by police who had argued that the state’s promotional exam to attain the rank of sergeant discriminated against Black and Hispanic candidates. [Read more.]( [Mass. agrees to $40M settlement in decade-old sergeant exam suit]( Massachusetts has agreed to a $40 million settlement in a long-running case brought by police who had argued that the state’s promotional exam to attain the rank of sergeant discriminated against Black and Hispanic candidates. [Read more.]( [Bill looks to stamp out toxic culture in middle, high school sports — starting with coaches]( The bill filed by two Newton lawmakers would require the state's education department to publish guidelines on how public middle and high schools can implement a social-emotional learning curriculum. [Read more.]( [Bill looks to stamp out toxic culture in middle, high school sports — starting with coaches]( The bill filed by two Newton lawmakers would require the state's education department to publish guidelines on how public middle and high schools can implement a social-emotional learning curriculum. [Read more.]( [5 things to know about Saudi Arabia's stunning decision to cut oil production]( Oil prices surged after Saudi Arabia and some other oil producers announced they're reducing their oil output. That will send gas prices higher – and benefit energy companies in America. [Read more.]( [5 things to know about Saudi Arabia's stunning decision to cut oil production]( Oil prices surged after Saudi Arabia and some other oil producers announced they're reducing their oil output. That will send gas prices higher – and benefit energy companies in America. [Read more.]( [The UConn Huskies beat San Diego State to claim its 5th men's basketball championship]( The University of Connecticut Huskies defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 Monday night to claim the school's fifth men's college basketball title. [Read more.]( [The UConn Huskies beat San Diego State to claim its 5th men's basketball championship]( The University of Connecticut Huskies defeated the San Diego State Aztecs 76-59 Monday night to claim the school's fifth men's college basketball title. [Read more.]( Anything Else? - Pull out your cellphone and type the word “wave.” There's a good chance you're familiar with that tiny, curling blue emoji. That's because it's everywhere — including at the Museum of Fine Arts this spring. WBUR's Andrea Shea has [more on massive new MFA exhibition]( showcasing "The Wave" and the many other waves made by prolific Katsushika Hokusai over the past few centuries. - "Air," the first film from Ben Affleck and Matt Damon's new production company, opens in theaters this Wednesday. Film critic Sean Burns [calls it a crowdpleaser filled with lots of quick-witted one-liners and Reagan-era ephemera]( if not much suspense. - Cognoscenti contributor Rich Barlow [writes an essay in ode to a meatless Easter and Passover — and any other day, too](.  What We're Reading 📚 - Why is there a grasshopper atop Faneuil Hall? ([Boston.com]( - Easthampton school superintendent job offer abruptly rescinded ([Daily Hampshire Gazette]( - Baby’s First Social Media Handle ([The New York Times](  Tell Me Something Good [Biggest patch of unprotected private land in Green Mountain National Forest to be preserved forever]( The U.S. Forest Service recently took ownership of over 2,700 acres of unconserved private property in the Green Mountain National Forest, permanently protecting it from development. [Read more.]( [Biggest patch of unprotected private land in Green Mountain National Forest to be preserved forever]( The U.S. Forest Service recently took ownership of over 2,700 acres of unconserved private property in the Green Mountain National Forest, permanently protecting it from development. [Read more.]( Listen: The Common sits down with local writer and historian Dart Adams to [reflect on Mel King and his ongoing legacy](. Play: [WBUR's daily mini crossword.]( Can you keep your streak going? Before you go: [So nice of Matt Damon to drop by](. 😎 Forward to a friend. They can sign up [here](. 📣 Give us your feedback: newsletters@wbur.org 📧 Get more WBUR stories sent to your inbox. [Check out all of our newsletter offerings.]( Support the news   Want to change how you receive these emails? Stop getting this newsletter by [updating your preferences.](  I don't want to hear from WBUR anymore. Unsubscribe from all WBUR editorial newsletters [here](.  Interested in learning more about corporate sponsorship? [Click here.]( Copyright © 2022 WBUR-FM, All rights reserved.