News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Claiming the WALSH lane — BAKER stresses SPEED, SCALE for COVID shots — ‘DRUGS and TAXES’ — Heavy hitters ENDORSE in special election

Monday, February 22, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Claiming the WALSH lane — BAKER stresses SPEED, SCALE for COVID shots — ‘DRUGS and TAXES’ — Heavy hitters ENDORSE in special election

Feb 22, 2021

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. We've made it to the last Monday in February!

VAX ROLLOUT CONTINUES — It's the beginning of another tense week for Gov. Charlie Baker's administration.

The governor is expected to testify before state lawmakers at a rare oversight hearing on the Covid-19 vaccine rollout on Thursday. It comes on the heels of the vaccination website crash, which left a "pissed off" governor saying his "hair is on fire." Residents over the age of 65, or with certain health conditions, became eligible to book appointments last week, and had rushed to the website in large numbers.

This is perhaps the first time Baker is facing loud, sustained opposition from Democrats during the yearlong pandemic, and it has already triggered speculation it will tarnish his sparkling popularity rating, and even whether he will run for a third term.

Still, vaccinations are holding steady — and some figures have improved this month. Massachusetts ranks 10th in the country for the percentage of the population that's received a first dose, according to data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , and is slightly ahead of the U.S. average. The state has administered more than 1.4 million doses as of Sunday, according to the state Department of Public Health. Massachusetts has used up about 84 percent of its vaccine supply, which puts it in the bottom half of the country for supply usage.

ESSAIBI GEORGE EYES THE WALSH LANE — City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George is aligning herself with outgoing Mayor Marty Walsh as she begins her campaign for mayor. It's an early look into how the race might develop in the coming months.

Essaibi George praised Walsh's legacy during a television interview over the weekend, and said she would not have jumped into the race if he sought a third term. Walsh is nominated to serve as Secretary of Labor, and is awaiting a Senate confirmation vote.

"He's been a great partner in the work that I've been doing on the City Council," Essaibi George said during an interview on WCVB's " On the Record." "And I looked forward to working with him in a third term."

"He's going. I'm in this race," she added. Essaibi George pointed to their shared Dorchester roots and work they have done on issues including the Boston Public Schools, homelessness and the Covid-19 pandemic.

The embrace of Walsh is a contrast to City Councilors Michelle Wu and Andrea Campbell, who both launched mayoral campaigns when Walsh was expected to run again. And according to City Hall sources, a number of Walsh operatives are already lining up behind Essaibi George.

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

TODAY — Rep. Richard Neal holds a press conference on the American Rescue Plan at the U.S. District Court in Springfield. Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu is a guest on GBH's "Boston Public Radio." State Rep. Patricia Haddad is a guest on GBH's "Greater Boston."

Department of Public Health Commissioner Monica Bharel speaks on a panel at the CDC's National Forum on COVID-19 Vaccine. Attorney General Maura Healey visits the vaccination site run by East Boston Neighborhood Health Center at La Colaborativa in Chelsea.

NEW - "THE RECAST" NEWSLETTER: Power dynamics are changing. "Influence" is changing. More people are demanding a seat at the table, insisting that all politics is personal and not all policy is equitable. "The Recast" is our new twice-weekly newsletter that breaks down how race and identity are recasting politics, policy and power in America. And POLITICO is recasting how we report on this crucial intersection, bringing you fresh insights, scoops, dispatches from across the country and new voices that challenge "business as usual." Don't miss out on this important new newsletter, SUBSCRIBE NOW. Thank you to our sponsor, Intel.

THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports 1,316 new COVID cases, 46 deaths Sunday as Dr. Anthony Fauci notes 'terrible' 500K US death toll," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts public health officials on Sunday reported 1,316 new COVID-19 cases and 46 new coronavirus-linked deaths. Since the pandemic began about a year ago, 539,644 Massachusetts residents have been infected and 15,508 have died as of Sunday, the Department of Public Health said."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Charlie Baker to testify on Massachusetts coronavirus vaccine rollout at Legislature's oversight committee hearing," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker is expected to testify at the Legislature's oversight committee hearing next week on the state's rocky coronavirus vaccine rollout, the House chairman told the Herald."

– "Democratic AGs — Led By Healey — Call On Biden To Cancel Student Loan Debt," by Kirk Carapezza, GBH News: "Seventeen Democratic state attorneys general on Friday called on the federal government to cancel tens of thousands of dollars in student loan debt. Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey is leading the multistate effort."

– "Lawmakers push to ban internet data caps," by Christian M. Wade, Newburyport Daily News: "A pair of Democratic lawmakers want to prohibit internet service providers from capping customers' data use as part of a proposal giving the state authority to regulate the industry."

– "Why are Latinos so overrepresented in the state child welfare system?" by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "This disparity has long been recognized by those within the child welfare system. But amid a national reckoning on race, advocates for children say there needs to be a broader conversation on why racial disparities exist in the system and how to address them."

– "Unpaid utility bills mount during pandemic," by Christian M. Wade, Eagle-Tribune: "Unpaid utility bills are piling up during the pandemic, with hundreds of thousands of homeowners and businesses in Massachusetts racking up record levels of debt, according to a new report."

– "Massachusetts lawmakers want to decriminalize all drugs, raise soda tax," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "A bill to legalize drugs across the board and another to tax sugary drinks by up to 24 cents on a can of soda stand out among the thousands filed by lawmakers as they kick off a new session under the pandemic."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Beset by critics, Baker now stressing speed and scale in COVID-19 shots," by Robert Weisman and Adam Vaccaro, Boston Globe: "Stung by criticism it was moving too slowly, the Baker administration has overhauled its approach to delivering COVID-19 vaccines in just three weeks, increasingly relying on a network of massive facilities equipped to give more shots quickly as it expands the pool of eligible residents."

– "Massachusetts leaders push Charlie Baker to restore coronavirus vaccine distribution to local health boards," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "The Baker administration announced this week that it's largely cutting off already limited vaccine supplies to most local boards of health as part of its pivot to prioritizing mass vaccination sites. The decision — announced barely a week after the state made a similar cut to hospital allotments — prompted backlash."

– "'Vaccine Redlining': Massachusetts' Congressional Delegation Talk About Vaccine Access," by Quincy Walters, WBUR: "After about a full year of the coronavirus crisis, data have gradually revealed what many predicted would happen: people of color, as well as people who are medically or financially vulnerable, are experiencing more loss and fewer gains than white people enduring the pandemic."

– "Arlington woman who built centralized coronavirus vaccine appointment site says Massachusetts system 'hindering' people," by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: "An Arlington software developer who spent her maternity leave building an online vaccination platform that rivals the state's said the status quo is 'hindering' people from getting access to the coronavirus vaccine ."

– "Maryland company behind Massachusetts vaccine registration issues 'didn't know' slots were opening to new groups," by Lisa Kashisnsky and Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "A Maryland-based company under fire for some of the website failures that plagued coronavirus vaccine signups here on Thursday said it 'didn't know' eligibility was opening to another 1 million people that day."

FROM THE HUB

– "How one city is stemming evictions, one person at a time," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "There are a number of reasons why the widely anticipated wave of evictions has yet to arise. A broad federal moratorium, enacted by President Trump in September and extended last month by President Biden, has kept many tenants at risk of eviction from being put on the street. Also, the Baker administration has ramped up rental aid and ordered state housing courts to encourage mediation over eviction. But perhaps most important, cities and towns have launched an array of programs to help tenants and landlords alike."

– "Boston ramps up coronavirus restaurant enforcement, including 4 suspensions," by Sean Philip Cotter, Boston Herald: "Boston is starting to crack down on restaurants violating COVID-19 protocols, hauling them into 'emergency' hearings to suspend four and warn 13 more for violations including capacity issues, staying open too late and holding a karaoke night."

– "Thousands of hospital workers sickened with COVID since start of pandemic," by Priyanka Dayal McCluskey, Boston Globe: "More than 14,000 health care workers at the state's largest medical centers and hospital systems have been infected with COVID-19 since the start of the pandemic, according to data compiled by the Globe — a reflection of the toll of the pandemic on the essential health care workforce."

– "What happens now with Police Commissioner Dennis White?" by Adrian Walker, Boston Globe: "Before Mayor Marty Walsh leaves his beloved Boston for the Beltway, there is one particularly awkward piece of business left to be resolved. Namely, that Police Commissioner Dennis White remains in limbo, having been placed on leave just days after being appointed a month ago."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "WAKANDA II seeks to back sole Black candidate for mayor," by Meghan E. Irons, Boston Globe: "For members of Boston's Black political establishment, the time is ripe to elect the city's first Black mayor. Black leaders have been holding virtual planning sessions, fine-tuning a candidate questionnaire on key issues, and spearheading a determined effort to coalesce behind a single Black candidate since President Biden tapped Mayor Martin J. Walsh to be his labor secretary."

CAPITOL FALLOUT

– "Super Happy Fun America always claimed to be kidding. But the group's history suggests otherwise." by Zoe Greenberg and Laura Crimaldi, Boston Globe: "Super Happy Fun America, a Massachusetts organization that has staged protests at the State House, hosted the so-called Straight Pride Parade in Boston, and then, as Congress prepared to certify the election of Joe Biden, chartered five buses to ferry anyone with $75 to Washington, had long painted itself as an advocacy organization with a whimsical side — and a yellow smiley face as its logo. But researchers who study the far right and have tracked Super Happy Fun America's rise say the group's jocular exterior hides a disturbing truth."

ON THE STUMP

– "Sanders, Kennedy, Healey wade into 19th Suffolk race to replace DeLeo," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "Big names are wading into the special election to fill Robert DeLeo's 19th Suffolk seat as the primary nears."

DAY IN COURT

– "Interior Department withdraws appeal in Mashpee tribe's land-in-trust case," by Jessica Hill, Cape Cod Times: "In a big victory for the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe, the U.S. Department of the Interior on Friday withdrew its appeal in U.S. District Court in the tribe's land-in-trust case."

– "State asks judge to force gun manufacturer Smith & Wesson to hand over documents on how it markets firearms," by Blake Nelson, NJ Advance Media: "New Jersey is asking a judge to force Smith & Wesson Brands Inc. to hand over internal documents, the latest twist in an ongoing legal fight over how the gun manufacturer advertises to residents. The state first demanded marketing information in October. The Springfield-based company sued soon after, arguing that it wasn't obligated to provide anything."

AS SEEN ON TV

Massachusetts Secretary of Education James Peyser on in-person education and pushback from teachers unions advocating for vaccines, during an interview on "Keller @ Large" which aired Sunday: "I'm definitely concerned about the labor management challenges that have made it difficult to bring students back into school. I don't want to sort of point fingers and blame anyone here. I think the evidence is clear that schools are safe places to be for both students and for adults."

WARREN REPORT

– "Sen. Warren to donate proceeds of book to Berkshires nonprofit," The Berkshire Eagle: "Senator Elizabeth Warren will donate a portion of the proceeds from her new children's book debuting this fall to Girls Inc. of the Berkshires. The Massachusetts Democrat will debut her picture book, 'Pinkie Promises,' in honor of a favorite campaign ritual."

MARKEYCHUSETTS

– "Lawmakers seek $25.2 billion for vaccine equity as part of budget plan, Markey says," by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "Senator Edward Markey said Saturday that lawmakers are seeking $25.2 billion to address COVID-19 health disparities nationally and protect vulnerable populations hardest hit by the pandemic as part of President Biden's stimulus package."

THE PRESSLEY PARTY

– "'I also defaulted': Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley reveals her experience with student loan debt," by Aarthi Swaminathan, Yahoo News: "In a heartfelt moment speaking about racial disparities related to student debt, Representative Ayanna Pressley (D-MA) recently revealed that she defaulted on her student loans at one point."

– "COVID-19 vaccines can protect the Black community and prevent further devastation," by Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Leon McDougle, Boston Globe: "As we celebrate Black History Month amid the coronavirus pandemic that has wreaked disproportionate havoc on the Black community, we must have an honest dialogue about vaccines, the health system, and how our community has been harmed throughout medical history."

IT'S NOT EASY BEING GREEN

– "Feds to take second look at Weymouth gas compressor approval," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Federal regulators are taking another look at their earlier approval of the controversial Weymouth compressor station, giving opponents 'hope' they may still be able block the natural gas project following two emergency shutdowns at the site last fall."

– "As climate change increases flooding, Mass. likely to see damaged-property costs surge, report says," by David Abel, Boston Globe: "By mid-century, nearly 50,000 homes a year in Massachusetts will face a substantial risk of structural damage from flooding, an 11 percent increase from today, according to a report."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "DRUGS & TAXES," — Globe: "From COVID healers to COVID patients," "Black leaders work to unite in mayor's race."

FROM THE 413

– "Post-Coronavirus Surge, UMass Amherst To Lower Risk Level," by Derek J. Anderson, WBUR: "The University of Massachusetts Amherst announced it will lower it COVID-19 risk level from 'high' to 'elevated' after a surge of coronavirus cases on campus triggered the school to implement severe restrictions."

– "Public schools to complete transition back to hybrid learning," by Amanda Burke, The Berkshire Eagle: "By the end of this week, Pittsfield Public Schools will have completed its transition back to hybrid learning. Getting to this point has not been without its challenges. The School Committee has pressed ahead with reopening plans over the objections of the United Educators of Pittsfield's executive board, which went on to file an unfair labor practices charge against the committee."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Worcester City Manager Edward Augustus Jr. targets racial equity, police reform," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: "To 'disrupt systems of racism and inequity,' Worcester's City Manager signed an executive order Friday afternoon and submitted a series of recommendations for City Council approval that include removing police officers from schools, banning facial recognition within the city and creating a police dashboard online that would provide the public access to use of force complaints."

– "Cape Cod Healthcare receives bitcoin donations totaling $800,000," by Anissa Gardizy, Boston Globe: "Cape Cod Healthcare accepted its first bitcoin gift last month — valued at about $400,000 — opening up the possibility that the organization could accept more in the future as digital currency surges in popularity."

– "River cleanup group faces financial review," by Mike LaBella, Eagle-Tribune: "A private group that has been praised for its Merrimack River cleanups is under scrutiny by the state, after complaints about how the group spends government money. State Sen. Diana DiZoglio, D-Methuen, has asked the state auditor's office to review the finances of the Methuen-based Clean River Project."

– "More women, more people of color and more LGBTQ: Worcester's race for city council just got a lot more diverse." by Melissa Hanson, MassLive.com: "What's happening in Worcester mirrors a national trend of more women, more candidates of color and more LGBTQ individuals running for public office. Since 2018, more women and racially diverse candidates have run and been elected than ever before."

– "Newton mayor calls for greater state oversight of Boston College's COVID-19 response," by John Hilliard, Boston Globe: "Newton Mayor Ruthanne Fuller is urging state officials to strengthen oversight of Boston College's handling of campus COVID-19 cases after the university reported dozens of new coronavirus infections this month."

– "A Somerville mother is stunned: How can school officials accuse her 6-year-old son of sexual misconduct and report him to the police? Charges of racism ensue," by James Vaznis, Boston GLobe: "When Flavia Peréa's 6-year-old son left the Albert F. Argenziano School in Somerville on Nov. 12, 2019, his behavior chart was marked green, indicating he'd had a great day. That made the disturbing calls she'd received earlier that day all the more perplexing."

– "COVID taking toll on providers' ability to help the homeless," by Eileen Qiu, SouthCoast Today: "Wintertime usually signals the holiday season filled with gifts, laughter and joy against a snowy background, but for over the 18,000 homeless people in Massachusetts, winter is a time of struggling to survive with new challenges brought by the pandemic."

TRANSITIONS – Soon-to-be acting mayor Kim Janey makes her leadership team official: Chris Osgood will serve as chief of staff, Mary Churchill will serve as chief of policy and planning, Lindsey Butler will serve as deputy chief of policy, Stephanie Garrett-Stearns and Samuel Hurtado will serve as senior advisers to the mayor and Omar Boukili will serve as senior adviser to the mayor on Covid-19 response and strategic initiatives.

– Lucas Benjamin will serve as district representative to Rep. Jake Auchincloss. Benjamin was previously the community outreach specialist to former Oklahoma Rep. Kendra Horn, and an organizer for the Mass. Nurses Association.

– Sydney Rachael Levin-Epstein joins the Jewish Democratic Council of America as finance director. Levin-Epstein previously served as Sen. Ed Markey's deputy finance director and Sen. Jon Ossoff's national events director.

– Italo Fini is deputy political director at SEIU 509, after handling politics and communications for the Massachusetts AFL-CIO.

– Calvin Feliciano is a government relations specialist at the Massachusetts Teachers Association, after serving as deputy political director at SEIU 509.

NEW EPISODE: POWER OF ATTORNEY – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Stephanie Murray talk about outgoing U.S. Attorney Andrew Lelling with the Boston Herald's Sean Cotter. 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.

JOIN US TUESDAY TO MEET THE FRESHMEN: The freshman class of the 117th Congress took office just three days before an armed mob stormed Capitol Hill and in the middle of a once per century pandemic, making its first month in office just a bit different from any previous class. Join POLITICO for "Red, Fresh and Blue," featuring live interviews with newly elected members of Congress from both sides of the aisle. Huddle newsletter author Olivia Beavers will moderate back-to-back live interviews with Rep. Michelle Steel (R-Calif.) and Rep. Carolyn Bourdeaux (D-Ga.). REGISTER HERE.