| | | | | |  | | By Stephanie Murray | Presented by Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) | GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Hope you enjoyed the long weekend! It's good to be back in your inbox. SLOW VACCINE ROLLOUT PICKS UP — Here's a bright spot in the state's much-criticized Covid-19 vaccine rollout: The pace of vaccinations seems to be increasing. Massachusetts hit the milestone of administering 1 million vaccine doses, the Executive Office of Health and Human Services announced on Friday. And in the last week, Massachusetts gave a total 285,000 shots, according to Gov. Charlie Baker's office. Massachusetts now ranks tenth in the United States for percentage of the population that has received a single dose of the vaccine, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. For weeks, the state had been behind more than half the country on that metric. Baker has cautioned against comparing Massachusetts to other states using the CDC figures, citing inconsistencies in the data. Now that the state is moving up, the governor's office is pointing out the new rankings. Among the 24 states with more than 5 million residents, Massachusetts ranked first for shots administered per capita over the last week, Baker's office points out. When it comes to using up vaccine supply, Massachusetts is still behind half the country, according to the CDC. To speed things up, the state's vaccine call center is now open on weekends, and the administration has updated the appointment website. The so-called buddy system, where those who escort an eligible person can get the shot themselves, could increase the vaccination rate. But it has also raised questions about who gets early access to shots, and who is left behind. Officials say there's more to do. House Speaker Ron Mariano called the rollout "problematic" during an interview on WCVB that aired Sunday. And U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark is leading nearly the entire congressional delegation in calling for improvements to the "disjointed and cumbersome" vaccine sign-up process, according to Boston.com. Criticizing the popular Republican administration is something of a rare move for the all-Democratic delegation. Remember when neither Sen. Ed Markey nor former Rep. Joe Kennedy III would say they'd vote against Baker in 2022? Here's something to watch: Baker is among a bipartisan group of governors challenging how the CDC reports vaccinations. The governor signed onto a bipartisan letter from the National Governors Association calling for changes, namely separating information about state and federal programs. The letter was addressed to President Joe Biden, and says "the CDC reporting mechanism has created unnecessary confusion." Have a tip, story, suggestion, birthday, anniversary, new job, or any other nugget for the Playbook? Get in touch: smurray@politico.com. TODAY — Rep. Katherine Clark sits down with POLITICO's Rachael Bade for a virtual interview. Clark hosts a virtual roundtable with climate advocates and state Rep. Maria Robinson to discuss President Joe Biden's environmental justice initiatives. State Rep. Russell Holmes is among speakers at GBH's "The Color of Public Money" virtual event. | | | | A message from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM): We're a community of 3,300+ employers from small neighborhood shops and startups, to Fortune 500 companies. Our member companies employ almost three quarters of a million Massachusetts residents, who depend on the success of those businesses to earn a living, and build fulfilling lives for themselves and their loved ones. Our goal is to create economic opportunity for all of Massachusetts. Join us as we strive to create a better state of business. https://aimnet.org/introductory-membership/ | | | | | | | GET TRANSITION PLAYBOOK TO 100K: In three months, our scoop-filled Transition Playbook newsletter has grown from zero to more than 90,000 subscribers. Find out what's really happening inside the West Wing, who really has the ear of the president, and what's about to happen, before it occurs. Transition Playbook chronicles the people, policies, and emerging power centers of the Biden administration. Don't miss out, subscribe today. And once you do, we'd be grateful if you could spread the word to your friends and colleagues, or, even better, post about Transition Playbook on Facebook or Twitter using this link: politico.com/newsletters/transition-playbook | | | | | |  | THE LATEST NUMBERS | | – "Massachusetts reports 1,480 new COVID cases, 32 deaths on Monday," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "State health officials confirmed another 1,480 COVID-19 cases on Monday, which is based on 62,852 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 32 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 15,208." | | DATELINE BEACON HILL | | – "More than $1 billion in federal stimulus cash still unspent," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "Even as Massachusetts pushes Congress for more federal stimulus funding, new state data show it had spent only half the $2.7 billion it received last year through the federal CARES Act's Coronavirus Relief Fund." – "Getting a handle on Beacon Hill advocates, coalitions," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "House Speaker Ron Mariano recently announced that he was asking the House Rules Committee to take a look at the rules around 'unregistered, or vaguely-affiliated, advocates and coalitions.' Mariano's pronouncement created confusion – and some concern – among public policy advocates. But it has also highlighted the complex nature of lobbying on Beacon Hill." – "Legislature seeks COVID-19 oversight," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "Gov. Charlie Baker has been in the driving seat to the state's response to the coronavirus pandemic, but state lawmakers are looking for more oversight. A newly created House and Senate oversight committee will have authority to 'monitor and investigate' the state's response and recovery." – "Running state government's diversity numbers," by Colman M. Herman, CommonWealth Magazine: "The latest numbers on diversity in state government indicate a positive trend overall with some areas performing better than others. Government agencies are expected to reflect the population they serve." – "PACs spend big bucks in Massachusetts," by Christian M. Wade, Gloucester Daily Times: "Political committees spent millions of dollars on Massachusetts candidates and causes last year, according to campaign finance reports, which show that the pandemic didn't slow the level of spending on Beacon Hill." – "New Massachusetts Law Paves The Way For Police-free Schools," by Rachel M. Cohen, The Appeal: "In Massachusetts, those who want police out of public schools are one step closer to making it happen. Lawmakers recently struck down a requirement that all school districts in the state have at least one 'school resource officer'—a moniker for school cops." – "Mass. AG's Office Awards $1.5 Million In Grants To Address Racial Disparities In Opioid Treatment Services," The Associated Press: "The Massachusetts attorney general's office has awarded $1.5 million in grants to 16 organizations across the state to address racial disparities in opioid addiction treatment and recovery services." – "More cases of mutant COVID-19 strain reported," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "Over the weekend, the state Department of Public Health reported at least 19 new cases of the new COVID-19 variant known as B.1.1.7., which brings the number of cases to 29 since the mutation was first detected last month." – "Mass. advocates launch ambitious campaign for publicly funded early education," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts lawmakers and advocates plan to unveil a first-in-the-nation campaign to create a universal early education system that would receive public funding like K-12 schools and rein in the exorbitant costs of child care for all families." – "Deficit deepens for state's unemployment fund," by Christian M. Wade, CNHI News: "A deficit in the fund that pays out unemployment benefits has ballooned amid a crush of pandemic-related claims, and employers could be saddled with the cost of replenishing it." | | VAX-ACHUSETTS | | – "State rebuffed funeral workers' requests for vaccine doses, but offered them to Office of the Chief Medical Examiner staff," by John Hilliard and Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "The Baker administration came under fire Sunday for offering vaccination appointments to staff at the Office of the Chief Medical Examiner last month — after rebuffing calls from lawmakers and other officials asking the state to provide shots to funeral home workers." – "'There are a lot of people who can't get to Fenway or Gillette': Some residents feel overlooked in vaccine rollout," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "Older and disabled residents who can't easily travel to one of the state's mass vaccination sites, let alone to a local pharmacy, say state vaccination plans have forgotten about them." – "Though virus has torn through correctional facilities, most prison workers are declining vaccines," by Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: "More than half of the employees in the Massachusetts Department of Correction have declined the state's offer to get the COVID-19 vaccine at work, even as the virus has wreaked havoc across the prison system, infecting roughly 900 workers and killing 21 inmates." – "Lives on hold, the oldest baby boomers wait — impatiently — for COVID-19 vaccines," by Robert Weisman, boston Globe: "Now in or approaching retirement, eager to travel, meet friends for a drink, and reconnect with their grandchildren, the state's oldest baby boomers — a graying army ages 65 to 74 — have a new quest: getting the coronavirus vaccine." – "What You Need to Know about Boston's Vaccine Sites," by Spencer Buell, Boston Magazine. Link. | | FROM THE HUB | | – "Inside Walsh's botched appointment of his Boston police commissioner," by Milton J. Valencia, Andrew Ryan and Dugan Arnett, Boston Globe: "No one else was considered for the commissioner job. White, a 32-year veteran officer little known outside the department, wasn't even interviewed. And no one asked questions or offered insight. The sole scrutiny of the city's new commissioner, according to one official, came via a quick Google search and a read of past Police Department press releases." – "Boston Police Commissioner's Daughter Says Domestic Violence Allegation 'Was A Lie,'" by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: "The older daughter of Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White said Monday the decades-old domestic abuse allegations brought against him by his ex-wife, her mother, are not true. The Boston Globe recently discovered allegations that he shoved and threatened to shoot his ex-wife in the late 1990s." – "Trooper Wilson's War," by Chris Faraone, DigBoston: "The story of a former Massachusetts statie whose career was 'submarined'—told here 20 years later—reflects the struggles progressive and Black cops still face in a corrupt department that eschews reform." – "Will hard-hit Mass. cities' schools reopen after teachers are vaccinated? Not necessarily," by Naomi Martin, Boston Globe: "By just about any indicator, low-income students and children of color have been hit hardest educationally and economically by the pandemic. And now, tens of thousands of them are among the last to see their school districts reopen for in-person instruction in Massachusetts." – "Everett City Councilor Gerly Adrien Says She's 'Not Afraid' Of Intimidation From Mayor, Colleagues," by Aidan Connelly, GBH News: "Speaking Monday on Boston Public Radio, Everett City Councilor-at-Large Gerly Adrien said she's 'not afraid' of attacks and belittlement from Everett Mayor Carlo DeMaria and her colleagues on city council, and said that she remains undeterred by unfair 'aggressive Black woman' tropes thrust upon her." | | | | A message from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM):   | | | | | WARREN REPORT | | – "Elizabeth Warren hits back in tweet after being featured in Trump defense video," by Christina Prignano, Boston Globe: "Senator Elizabeth Warren on Friday appeared to hit back at Donald Trump's legal team after she was featured prominently in a video montage of Democrats saying the word 'fight' during Trump's Senate impeachment trial." | | FROM THE DELEGATION | | – "All New England Senators Voted To Convict Trump In His 2nd Impeachment Trial," by Lisa Creamer, WBUR: "All U.S. senators representing New England's six states voted Saturday to convict former President Donald Trump in his historic second impeachment trial." – "Nearly the entire Massachusetts delegation is calling on Charlie Baker for a vaccine preregistration system," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "Nearly every member of the Massachusetts congressional delegation is calling on Gov. Charlie Baker to set up a system to allow residents to pre-register and receive a notification for COVID-19 vaccine appointments." – "Jake Auchincloss swings left in Congress amid lingering progressive skepticism," by Liz Goodwin and Victoria McGrane, Boston Globe: "In Representative Jake Auchincloss's first few days in Congress, he survived an insurrection, voted to impeach the president, and attended Joe Biden's inauguration inside a militarized zone, alongside colleagues wearing tactical vests. But even in normal times, a freshman honeymoon period would not be in the cards for the 33-year-old former Marine." | | TRUMPACHUSETTS | | – "Steve Bannon to Boston Republicans: Trump will 'lead us in 2024,'" by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "Former White House strategist Steve Bannon told a group of Boston Republicans that former President Donald Trump will come roaring back in 2024, suggesting he may first be elected to Congress, displace Nancy Pelosi as speaker and launch impeachment proceedings against President Biden." | | ABOVE THE FOLD | | — Herald: "ON ICE," "BLAME ME!" — Globe: "Boomers anxious amid shift on vaccine," "HARD-HIT SCHOOLS WAIT LONGEST TO REOPEN." | | FROM THE 413 | | – "Most Amherst school teachers not volunteering to teach in-person; 1 in 5 plan to come March," by Jim Russell, Springfield Republican: "Four of five teachers and support staff responding to a union survey indicate they 'will not return to in-person instruction' on March 1, when public schools here are slated to begin in-person learning for this academic year that began all-remote on Sept. 15, 2020." – "Springfield councilors question restrictions on ex-politicians, former city supervisors from taking casino jobs," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "City councilors meeting last week to discuss MGM Springfield said it may make sense to revise an 'Ethics Ordinance' that prevents them and the mayor from taking a casino job for three years after leaving public office." "Strained contact tracing system left students, positive with or exposed to COVID-19, stuck in dorms for days," by Cassie McGrath, Will Katcher, and Sofi Shlepakov, Daily Collegian: "As students ignored room capacity and mask rules, the virus spread through campus housing. The record-breaking wave of positive cases, including nearly 300 between Feb. 2 and Feb. 4, overwhelmed UMass' contact tracing system, leading school administrators to seek the state's help in managing the situation." | | THE LOCAL ANGLE | | – "'They have to follow the rules'; Worcester issues 20 COVID fines after 1,800 visits to businesses in the city," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: "Months into the pandemic, officials in Worcester knew temperatures would drop in the fall and winter making outdoor dining nearly impossible. City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. assembled a team to help businesses remain open as COVID protocols adjusted but to also enforce those guidelines." – "Superintendent: State bus rules changes won't change Worcester's reopening plans," by Scott O'Connell, Telegram & Gazette: "Under the new rules issued Thursday, there are no longer any capacity limits or physical distancing requirements for students riding buses, except in towns and cities with high virus rates, in which case middle and high school students would be limited to two passengers per bench." – "Police reform: Is the city listening? 'Frustrated' Worcester groups demand reform," by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette: "Eight months after city leaders called 'upon the community to rise up and examine our role in systemic racism ... to declare that Black Lives Matter' and roughly five years after the city identified a health priority of systematically eliminating institutional racism, some question whether city leadership is listening." – "Salisbury Beach homeowners try to hold back the sea," by Jim Sullivan, Eagle-Tribune: "Salisbury Beach homeowners repairing damage from the recent nor'easter say they're in a fight against the tides and desperately need help." – "State rejects Peabody's request for more vaccine doses," by Erin Nolan, The Salem News: "The city will not be administering the first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine to anyone this week, according to Mayor Ted Bettencourt. The city will only receive enough doses from the state to provide second shots to some of the locals who received the first dose in January, he said." – "Lowell teachers union: 'Urgent actions' needed," by Alana Melanson, The Lowell Sun: "As the return to school for 3% of Lowell Public Schools students nears, the teachers union is once again planning to lobby against further increases to in-person classes before teachers can receive the coronavirus vaccine." – "Buried treasure: Pirates' bones found in Whydah debris," by Doug Fraser, Cape Cod Times. Link. – "'City of Presidents' has lived up to its name: Quincy is pilgrimage site for leaders," by Fred Hanson, The Patriot Ledger. Link. TRANSITIONS – Annika Jensen joins Dave Halbert's campaign for Boston City Council as campaign manager. Jensen previously managed state Sen. Becca Rausch's campaign, and is an EMILY's List and Rep. Ayanna Pressley alum. CONGRATS! – Rep. Seth Moulton and his wife Liz Moulton welcomed a baby girl over the weekend. Tweet. REMEMBERING DORIS BUNTE … via Boston Globe: "Doris Bunte arrived in Boston in 1953 with 98 cents to her name — and then a dime less after she bought a candy bar — before rising to become, for a time, arguably the most powerful woman in Boston politics. … Mrs. Bunte, who later channeled her activism through lower-profile administrative roles, helping people outside the glare of public attention, died of cancer Monday in her Brookline home." Link. HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Massachusetts First Lady Lauren Baker, Tisch College Dean Alan Solomont, a former ambassador and DNC finance chair; and Matt Crescenzo. 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. Want to make an impact? POLITICO Massachusetts has a variety of solutions available for partners looking to reach and activate the most influential people in the Bay State. Have a petition you want signed? A cause you're promoting? Seeking to increase brand awareness among this key audience? Share your message with our influential readers to foster engagement and drive action. Contact Jesse Shapiro to find out how: jshapiro@politico.com. | | | | A message from the Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM): We're a community of 3,300+ employers from small neighborhood shops and startups, to technology innovators and Fortune 500 companies. Our member companies employ almost three quarters of a million Massachusetts residents, who depend on the success of those businesses to earn a living and build fulfilling lives for themselves and their loved ones.
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Our goal is to create economic opportunity for all of Massachusetts. Join us as we strive to create a better state of business. https://aimnet.org/introductory-membership/ | | |
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