News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CITY HALL and BEACON HILL get shake-ups — Vaccine seekers turn to CRAIGSLIST

Friday, February 12, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: CITY HALL and BEACON HILL get shake-ups — Vaccine seekers turn to CRAIGSLIST — Climate official RESIGNS

Feb 12, 2021

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. TGIF!

PROGRAMMING NOTE: Massachusetts Playbook will not publish on Monday, Feb. 15. I'll be back in your inbox on Tuesday. In the meantime, send tips to smurray@politico.com.

CITY HALL SHAKEUP — Boston Mayor Marty Walsh cleared a vote before the Senate HELP committee yesterday. Now, all that stands between the mayor and his new job as Secretary of Labor is a vote before the full Senate.

As the Walsh administration winds down, some top aides to the mayor are moving on. City Council President Kim Janey is expected to take over as acting mayor after Walsh resigns — sometime in the next several weeks — and has been sitting in on key meetings to prepare for the transition.

"We're working really closely , hand-in-glove, with Janey's team on the transition efforts. It's really important from our side and, I know, from President Janey's side, for there to be continuity," said Nick Martin, Walsh's chief of communications. Martin is staying in his role at City Hall, which he began several months ago.

Departing City Hall is Walsh's Chief of Staff Kathryn Burton, who says she will not join the mayor in Washington.

"As a mom of two young boys, a family move doesn't make sense for us right now. I always made it clear to the mayor I would depart when he did," Burton said in a statement to POLITICO. Burton called her job "the honor of a lifetime" and said she's excited to see what Walsh does in Washington.

Also moving on is Walsh's Chief of Policy Joyce Linehan. The new chief of policy will be Mary Churchill. Walsh's outgoing deputy press secretary Ana Vivas starts in House Speaker Ron Mariano's office next week. Scheduler Rebecca Young and City Council liaison Fernando Ortiz are also said to be leaving City Hall, according to a source. Megan Costello, a Walsh aide who had been studying at the Harvard Kennedy School, recently joined the Boston Public Schools team as a senior adviser to the superintendent.

It's not unusual to see some staffing changes at the end of an administration. A Janey spokesman declined to say whether she'll bring new staff to City Hall. In the meantime, Janey recently tapped Gustavo Quiroga as her transition director and announced her transition committee last week.

One thing to watch: How many aides can Walsh bring with him to Washington? And who will they be? Walsh's spokesman declined to say whether any departing staff will join the mayor at the Department of Labor.

LEADERSHIP ALERT — House Speaker Ron Mariano rolled out his new leadership team on Thursday. House lawmakers expect Mariano will release a full slate of committee assignments this afternoon. Here's a list from Mariano's office:

– Majority Leader: Rep. Claire Cronin
– Speaker Pro-Tempore: Rep. Kate Hogan
– Assistant Majority Leader: Rep. Michael Moran
– 2nd Assistant Majority Leaders: Rep. Joseph Wagner and Rep. Sarah Peake
– First Division Chair: Rep. James O'Day
– Second Division Chair: Rep. Ruth Balser
– Third Division Chair: Rep. Frank Moran
– Fourth Division Chair: Rep. Thomas Golden

MORE: Boston Globe: "A pair of firsts for the Mass House leadership team." Link.

Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com.

TODAY — U.S. Rep. Stephen Lynch is a guest on the "Bloomberg Baystate Business" radio show.

FOR YOUR RADAR: CLARK SITS DOWN WITH POLITICO TUESDAY — Join Playbook co-author Rachael Bade on Tuesday Feb. 16 at 9 a.m. ET for a live conversation with Assistant House Speaker Katherine Clark on the most pressing legislative priorities and the congresswoman's approach to getting things done as the fourth highest ranking member of the House. Register here.

THE INDISPENSABLE GUIDE TO CONGRESS: Looking for the latest on the Schumer/McConnell dynamic or the increasing tensions in the House? What are the latest whispers coming out of the Speaker's Lobby? Just leave it to Beavers... New author Olivia Beavers delivers the scoop in Huddle, the morning Capitol Hill must-read with assists from POLITICO's deeply sourced Congress team. Subscribe to Huddle today.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "COVID decline in Massachusetts as state reports 2,213 new cases, 61 deaths on Thursday," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "State health officials confirmed another 2,213 COVID-19 cases on Thursday, which is based on 110,792 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Health officials also announced another 61 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 14,964."

– "These 110 Massachusetts communities are at high risk for COVID-19," by Amanda Kaufman and Peter Bailey-Wells, Boston Globe: "The state releases a map on a weekly basis that uses coronavirus case counts to show which Massachusetts communities are at high, moderate, and low risk for COVID-19 infection. The state's latest report lists a total of 110 Massachusetts communities now considered high risk for the spread of COVID-19."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Baker moves on quickly from Ismay," by Bruce Mohl, CommonWealth Magazine: "Gov. Charlie Baker quickly moved on Wednesday after the resignation of his top climate change advisor, declining to even thank him for his service. At a press conference at the East Boston Community Health Center, Baker said his secretary for energy and environmental affairs will need to find a replacement for David Ismay, the undersecretary for climate change."

– "Gov. Charlie Baker to file $400 million bond bill for construction of new Holyoke Soldiers' Home," by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: "Gov. Charlie Baker is poised to file a $400 million bond bill to finance the construction of a new Holyoke Soldiers' Home, according to state sources familiar with the development. The massive construction bill is a key step in building a new home, and it comes nearly one year after the tragic COVID-19 outbreak at the state-run care facility for veterans."

– "Mass. AG finds no civil rights, criminal violations in alleged 'road rage' incident involving DA Rachael Rollins," by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "The Massachusetts attorney general's office did not find any civil rights or criminal law violations committed during an alleged road rage incident involving Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins on Christmas Eve in Dorchester. The findings were outlined Thursday in a letter written by First Assistant Attorney General Mary Strother to the State Ethics Commission, which will now take up the matter."

– "Charlie Baker clip used in Trump impeachment trial as House prosecutors wrap case," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker's excoriation of Donald Trump after the deadly U.S. Capitol riot is now evidence in the former president's second impeachment trial. House impeachment managers aired Baker's no-holds-barred comments from the day after the Capitol attack along with remarks from several other Republican governors as they emphasized that members of Trump's own party had taken a stand against his actions."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "'Willing to pay': People on Craigslist are offering to drive elderly residents to get a COVID-19 vaccine in exchange for a shot themselves," by Steve Annear, Boston Globe: "Vaccine wanted, will travel. Offers have started to crop up online from people willing to drive — and in some cases even pay cash to — residents who are 75 and older to get immunized against COVID-19. The fine print? The helpful volunteers are hoping to receive a dose for themselves."

– Gov. Charlie Baker warns against 'disturbing' attempts to use older residents to get COVID vaccine," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com. Link.

– "Vaccine hunters' dash for leftover doses highlights rise of gray market," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "Mounting public eagerness to score a COVID-19 shot has spawned a gray market for vaccinations in Massachusetts in which people who show up at the right place and the right time can get their dose even though they're not yet eligible."

– "Mass General Brigham says it can't schedule new vaccine appointments due to limited supply from state," by Lisa Kashinsky and Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: "The state's largest hospital system says it can no longer schedule new coronavirus vaccine appointments due to limited supply as the Baker administration pushes more doses toward mass vaccination sites, pharmacies and community health centers."

– "Andrea Campbell calls on state to rescind or revise new vaccine accompaniment policy," by Christopher Gavin, Boston.com: "Andrea Campbell on Thursday urged state officials to either rescind or revise a new policy unveiled only one day earlier that allows people who accompany eligible, senior vaccine recipients to also receive vaccine doses."

FROM THE HUB

– "As Boston Schools Reopen, Many Parents Still Opt For Remote Learning," by Carrie Jung, WBUR: "Even though more public school students will be able to return to classrooms in the coming weeks, some families in communities most deeply affected by the coronavirus are opting to stay remote."

– "Boston councilors demand action after report shows women, people of color land few City Hall contracts," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "Boston city councilors expressed outrage Wednesday at findings of a recent study that showed businesses owned by people of color and white women were massively underrepresented in contracts awarded by the city."

– "Julia Mejia apologizes after live-streaming crime scene," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "City Councilor Julia Mejia is apologizing after live-streaming the aftermath of a shooting last week."

– "Applications for pandemic aid are being rejected at a high rate, leaving small businesses in the lurch," by Shirley Leung and Janelle Nanos, Boston Globe: "Thousands of hard-hit small businesses are once again having trouble accessing millions of dollars in pandemic aid from the state and federal governments, as they fight for survival while a second wave of virus infections continues to undermine the economy."

– "Thousands Wait In Lines At Food Pantries. They Could Be Shopping At Grocery Stores," by Liz Neisloss, GBH News: "In Massachusetts, an estimated one in five households with children don't have enough food to eat — a number that's nearly doubled since before the pandemic. It's putting an unprecedented strain on food pantries. But advocates argue that fewer people would turn to the food pantry if SNAP were easier to access."

YOU'VE GOT MAIL

– "Constitutional challenge to vote-by-mail likely," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Secretary of the Commonwealth Bill Galvin and voting rights advocates want to allow Massachusetts residents to vote by mail for any reason. But is that constitutional? The Massachusetts Constitution explicitly says the Legislature can authorize absentee voting for just three reasons: if someone is out of town, physically disabled, or cannot vote on Election Day due to a religious belief."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Latest rail plan would put tunnel under Long Island Sound," by Pat Eaton-Robb, Associated Press: "President Joe Biden's promise to improve the nation's infrastructure has renewed interest in the decades-old idea of a high-speed railroad connecting New York and Boston, possibly through a 16-mile tunnel under Long Island Sound."

DAY IN COURT

– "'No one should have to go through this': A fired employee sues Wayfair, accusing it of caregiving and age discrimination," by Katie Johnston, Boston Globe: "Not long after the pandemic shut down schools and offices around the country, Richard DiBona, a 53-year-old software manager at Wayfair, sent a message to his team letting them know he would probably be 'getting bugged more' by his kids due to his wife's new high-level job."

THE OPINION PAGES

– "Black women have shaped politics in Boston for centuries," by Kabria Baumgartner, The Washington Post: "Black women have long been a political force in Boston. They have debated politicians, influenced legislation and shaped public policy. And they have done so despite more than a century of exclusionary policies, preventing their election to public office and denying them full voting rights."

ON THE STUMP

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: "350 Mass Action endorses Barash and Ranalli," from the Barash and Ranalli campaigns: "350 Mass Action has endorsed Bryan Barash & Madeline Ranalli for Newton At-Large City Council from Ward 2 and Ward 1, respectively. Mark Dyen made the surprise endorsement announcement at Barash and Ranalli's Conversation on Environmental Sustainability event on Thursday evening."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "'You Are Either A Patriot Or A Traitor,' Rep. Pressley Says," by Zoe Mathews, GBH News: "Rep. Ayanna Pressley, D-Mass., told Boston Public Radio on Wednesday that Republicans who support former President Donald Trump during his impeachment trial are complicit in his acts. Trump faces a single charge of incitement of insurrection stemming from his actions before and during the Jan. 6 attack on the U.S. Capitol."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

– "Dot attorney takes public safety seat on cannabis board," by Daniel Sheehan, Dorchester Reporter: "Last month, Attorney General Maura Healey tapped Ava Callender Concepcion, a Dorchester attorney, to fill the vacant public safety seat on the state's Cannabis Control Commission. Concepcion, a self-described 'Mattapan girl' who grew up near the Mattapan/Dorchester border, now lives in Uphams Corner with her husband and 14 month-year-old child."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "CLIMATE...CHANGE," "BUDDY DUD," — Globe: "Overburdened caregivers see work bias," "Democrats rest case and sound a warning."

FROM THE 413

– "Tumult continues over Pittsfield's wider return to school," by Larry Parnass, The Berkshire Eagle: "With 200,000 masks stockpiled and 600 air purifiers on their way, Pittsfield school officials indicated Wednesday they are ready to bring more students and staff back into classrooms. That confidence is colliding with public doubt."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Worcester COVID-19 numbers up slightly, but overall outlook remains positive," by Steven H. Foskett Jr., Telegram & Gazette: "The city's positive COVID-19 case numbers this week bucked a trend of declines in recent weeks, but officials remain confident the overall outlook is getting better."

– "Lincoln-Sudbury students to stay in remote learning due to spike in COVID-19 cases," by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe: "Lincoln-Sudbury Regional High School will stay in remote learning on Friday due to a spike in cases of COVID-19, according to the principal and superintendent."

– "City councilors clash over resolution supporting return to school," by Mary Whitfill, The Patriot Ledger: "City councilors this week clashed over a resolution proposed by Ward 3's Ian Cain that expressed support for a full return to classrooms and asked the school department to 'provide a pathway' back to in-person learning."

– "Haverhill mayor refuses to hire counselor for tense police calls," by Mike LaBella, Eagle-Tribune: "Mayor James Fiorentini refuses to immediately hire a mental health counselor to accompany police officers as they deal with people in emotional distress who may harm themselves or others."

MEDIA MATTERS

– "State commission will explore ways to support local journalism," by Kami Rieck, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "The growth of 'news deserts' in Massachusetts and the possible solutions to improving local journalism in underserved communities will be the focus of a new commission approved in the final hours of the last legislative session."

BONUS READ: "Gotta Have My Dunkies: Meet Fast Food's Friendliest Fandom," by Angela Lashbrook, Refinery29: "The Dunkin' fandom is big, enthusiastic, and totally unique. The only maybe comparable brand-specific food fandom is that surrounding Diet Coke — but it still doesn't feel quite the same."

TRANSITIONS – George Flynn is leaving his role as Rep. Ayanna Pressley's press secretary to join New York Rep. Mondaire Jones' office as communications director.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Falmouth state Rep. David Vieira, Reggie Zimmerman and Lawrence McGrath.

HAPPY BIRTHWEEKEND – to Katie Trojano of the Dorchester Reporter, Joshua Solomon and Jamie Cushman, who all celebrate Saturday. To Sunday birthday-ers Rep. Richard Neal, Hayley Johnson and Diana Felber. And to Chris Villani, who celebrates Monday.

NEW EPISODE: UNCHARTERED TERRITORY – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray take a deep dive into Boston's city charter and the upcoming mayoral race with Boston City Councilor Lydia Edwards, Jon Hillman of Rivera Consulting and the Dorchester Reporter's Bill Forry. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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