News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: SANTIAGO running for BOSTON MAYOR — POLL: BAKER remains POPULAR

Tuesday, February 23, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: SANTIAGO running for BOSTON MAYOR — POLL: BAKER remains POPULAR — Group wants TOP COP reinstated

Feb 23, 2021

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

SANTIAGO LAUNCHES CAMPAIGN FOR MAYOR — State Rep. Jon Santiago is jumping into the race for mayor of Boston this morning.

Santiago is pitching himself as someone who can lead the city out of the Covid-19 crisis, highlighting his background as an emergency room doctor on the front line of the pandemic at Boston Medical Center.

"I'm running for mayor to lead Boston through this crisis," Santiago says in his campaign launch video. "To a recovery rooted in equity and opportunity."

The South End Democrat just began his second term in the House. Santiago was first elected in 2018, when he ousted incumbent Rep. Byron Rushing in a Democratic primary. Santiago is also a member of the U.S. Army Reserve, and served in the Peace Corps.

The field of candidates running for mayor is growing. Already in the race are City Councilors Michelle Wu, Andrea Campbell and Annissa Essaibi George, along with longshot candidate and Dorchester resident Dana Depelteau. Outgoing Boston Mayor Marty Walsh, nominated to be the Secretary of Labor, is awaiting a Senate vote.

Notably, all four of the major candidates are people of color, and they are running to be mayor of a city that's only been led by white men for its entire history.

As far as cash goes, Santiago has $159,000 in his campaign bank account, according to the Office of Campaign and Political Finance. That puts him well behind Campbell and Wu, who have the advantage of beginning their campaigns early, and each have more than $740,000 on hand. But Santiago begins the race slightly ahead of Essaibi George, who reported having $153,000 in cash on hand at the end of January.

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TODAY — Attorney General Maura Healey speaks at the opening of a vaccination site in Dorchester. State Sens. Brendan Crighton and Adam Gomez, Reps. Christine Barber and Tricia Farley-Bouvier, and Framingham Mayor Yvonne Spicer speak at a virtual press conference for the "Work & Family Mobility Act." State Rep. William Driscoll is a guest on GBH's "Boston Public Radio." Boston Mayor Marty Walsh and City Council President Kim Janey attend a Boston Arts Academy Foundation event.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Massachusetts reports 1,150 new COVID cases, 26 deaths Monday as average of positive tests drops to below 2%" by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "State health officials confirmed another 1,150 new COVID-19 cases on Monday, which is based on 49,929 new molecular tests, according to the Department of Public Health. Officials also announced another 26 COVID-related fatalities, bringing the death toll from the pandemic to 15,534."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Legislature drops deference to Baker as it more stridently questions vaccine rollout," by Emma Platoff and Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "The Massachusetts Legislature, which has seemed content to allow the executive branch to lead the state's fight against the coronavirus, is poised to assert itself this week, summoning Governor Charlie Baker and his top aides before a new oversight committee to demand answers about the state's coronavirus vaccine rollout."

– "Poll indicates Baker remains wildly popular," by Steve Koczela, CommonWealth Magazine: "A new poll from The MassINC Polling Group out this week finds Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker still riding high with 74 percent approval and just 20 percent disapproval among the state's residents. Those numbers are basically unchanged from the 73 percent figure found in the last MPG statewide poll taken in December 2020."

– "White Drivers Punished Less Under MA Distracted Driving Law," by Neal McNamara, Patch: "State officials began collecting details on traffic stops one year ago under Massachusetts' new distracted driving law, and data from the first 10 months of enforcement shows Black and Hispanic drivers are more likely to end up with either a fine or criminal charge."

– "State may make new learning times permanent," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "State education leaders are set to decide whether to cement rules covering how much time students must spend in class or learning remotely. On Tuesday, the state Board of Education will vote on rules that require schools to provide a minimum of 35 hours of live instruction over a 10-day period under hybrid learning models."

– "State smooths license transfer process for military families," Associated Press: "Gov. Charlie Baker has signed an executive order making it easier for military personnel and their spouses to continue their civilian careers when they are transferred to Massachusetts military installations."

– "'Bring sports betting into the daylight': Sen. Eric Lesser says new bill omits college and youth games, focuses on problem gambling," by Peter Goonan, Springfield Republican: "State Sen. Eric Lesser says his sports betting bill will generate millions of dollars in new tax revenue while omitting betting on college and youth sports and protecting consumers and the integrity of the games."

– "MassHealth employee fired after Facebook posts about masks, Nazi Germany," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "A MassHealth employee who said she was fired after she compared calling the police on neighbors for not wearing masks to Nazi Germany tells the Herald that her First Amendment rights have been 'trampled on' and she's considering legal action."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Healey calls for more attention to equity in state's coronavirus vaccination campaign," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey waded into the public debate over coronavirus vaccine distribution Monday, touring a site in this hard-hit city and pressing Governor Charlie Baker to further incorporate equity into how shots are allocated statewide."

– "MassHealth to cover members' rides to COVID vaccine appointments," by Steph Solis, Masslive.com: "Massachusetts plans to offer all MassHealth recipients rides to and from their COVID-19 vaccine appointments, according to a bulletin that took effect last week. The Executive Office of Health and Human Services plans to cover transportation services for all MassHealth recipients who can't easily get to a vaccine appointment, using vehicles from the state's Human Transportation Office."

– "Mass vaccination site opens at the Natick Mall and distribution gets off to a smooth start," by Emily Sweeney, Boston Globe: "A new mass vaccine site opened Monday morning in the former Sears store at the Natick Mall. Claire Kirylo, 71, of Somerville, came out of the mall and said she was pleased by how seamless the process was for getting the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine ."

– "Frustrated residents arrive at Natick Mall vax site with no appointment looking for help," by Alexi Cohan, Boston Herald: "Frustrated seniors and others with underlying medical conditions came to the new Natick Mall mass vaccination site looking for help, but most were turned away."

– "[update: We Got It!] Where Is The Contract For Massachusetts' Vaccine Appointment Software?" by Polina Whitehouse, DigBoston: "Last week, the state's COVID-19 vaccine signup website crashed. A lot of people were upset, Gov. Charlie Baker expressed his disappointment, and the vendor of the PrepMod software Massachusetts uses to schedule appointments took responsibility for its role."

– "Massachusetts paid $438,000 to Maryland company behind faulty vaccine appointment website," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "Gov. Charlie Baker's administration has paid nearly a half-million dollars so far to a Maryland-based company in the hot seat over website failures plaguing coronavirus vaccine signups in Massachusetts, according to records obtained by the Boston Herald."

FROM THE HUB

– "Massachusetts law enforcement group calls for reinstating Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "A Massachusetts law enforcement group of Black leaders is calling for the reinstatement of Boston Police Commissioner Dennis White, who was 'hastily placed on leave' after decades-old domestic abuse allegations became public ."

– "Eight years after Walsh's promises, Boston prekindergarten is still not universal," by Naomi Martin, Boston Globe: "The pre-K program in Boston Public Schools is well-regarded, but without universal capacity, the spots tend to go to savvier families who know about the early application deadline, leaving many low-income parents with limited options in the nation's second-most expensive child-care market."

– "Controversial East Boston substation project receives green light from state board," by Danny McDonald, Boston Globe: "A controversial East Boston electric substation project proposed by Eversource received a crucial approval from a state board on Monday, a decision that advocates say they are planning to appeal to the highest court in Massachusetts."

– "Candidate's Rainbow Peace Flag Causes Controversy At Newton City Council Debate," by Tori Bedford, GBH News: "The flag, a standard LGBTQ+ pride flag with a 'PEACE' emblem across it, had hung in Barash's office for over a year. When asked by organizers to remove all campaign materials, social and political statements, Barash hadn't thought that rule would apply to the flag."

– "Lonely, isolated COVID-19 patients get lifeline: Doctor creates pilot program for vaccinated hospital workers to sit with them," by Steve Annear, Boston Globe: "These days, Moor — an anesthesiologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Hospital-Plymouth — is breaking through these barriers. After receiving his second dose of the COVID-19 vaccine last month, he saw an opening, a way to bring comfort to people in quarantine and be a liaison to their anxious families, waiting desperately to be by their side."

– "Harvard grad students say Cornel West's departure would be 'devastating blow' to scholars of color," by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: "More than 60 doctoral students at Harvard University are rallying around professor Cornel West, who threatened to quit last week after he said the administration denied his request to be considered for tenure."

– "Back in US, Scott Brown Describes Experience as Ambassador to New Zealand,: NBC10: "After four years serving as Ambassador to New Zealand, Scott Brown is back in the US, as the new Dean of New England Law."

– "What will 'Mahty' Walsh be like as labor secretary? Comedian Julia Claire demonstrates," by Mark Shanahan, Boston Globe: "Boston takes a beating in popular culture. More often than not, it's portrayed as an insular, sports-obsessed city whose all-white residents say dumb things like 'wicked pissah.' There's an element of truth in most cliches, of course, but come on. Sometimes, though, the stereotype can be endearing."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "Mass. House passes home-rule petition to skip Boston's special mayoral election," by Emma Platoff, Boston Globe: "Boston took a major step toward nixing a special election to replace Mayor Martin J. Walsh, with the approval of a home-rule petition by the Massachusetts House on Monday that would override the requirement should Walsh leave his post before March 5 ."

– "Boston City Councilor Michelle Wu Calls For Census-Level Commitment To Vaccination, Laments 'Lacking' Leadership," by Aidan Connelly, GBH News: "Boston City Councilor-at-Large and mayoral candidate Michelle Wu continued to advocate for a COVID-19 vaccination site in every zip code throughout Boston, stressing during a Monday interview on Boston Public Radio that officials are 'racing up against the clock,' with respect to new virus variants and growing eligibility for vaccines."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "MBTA announces changes for commuter rail," by Stephen Peterson, Sun Chronicle: "The MBTA announced a spring schedule Monday that calls for fewer commuter trains during the morning and evening peak times and more trains during the middle of the day. Responding to feedback from riders and communities, weeknight service after 9 p.m. will largely remain."

ON THE STUMP

– "For Downing, politics are personal," by Michael Jonas, CommonWealth Magazine: "On paper, Ben Downing looks very much like someone who might launch a run for governor while still in his 30s, which is what the 39-year-old Democrat did earlier this month, becoming the first declared candidate in the 2022 race."

DAY IN COURT

– "Healey, feds sue over alleged immigration bond scam," by Sarah Betancourt, CommonWealth Magazine: "Attorney General Maura Healey and two other state AGs joined the federal Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in its first major watchdog action under the Biden administration, accusing an immigration bond provider of predatory behavior.

– "Springfield court eyes move to Eastfield Mall theaters as social-distancing solution," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "The state could move proceedings from the Roderick Ireland Courthouse in the city's downtown to the former Eastfield Mall movie theaters, which provide more space for social distancing to curb the spread of COVID-19."

– "Man accused of threatening Rep. Katherine Clark of Massachusetts said he's 'willing to abolish government by spilling blood', authorities say," by Jackson Cote, MassLive.com: "A 62-year-old Pennsylvania man was arrested last week over claims he called U.S. Rep. Katherine Clark's district office in Malden and threatened the lives of her and one of her staffers, according to federal authorities."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Rep. Richard Neal expects American Rescue Plan vote Friday; infrastructure plan to follow," by Jim Kinney, Springfield Republican: "House Ways and Means Committee Chairman Rep. Richard E. Neal said Monday he expects President Joe Biden's $1.9 trillion American Rescue Plan COVID relief package — which includes a $1,400-per-person payment — to go to an up/down House vote Friday."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

– "Parallel, parent cannabis company of NETA in Massachusetts, secures agreement to become publicly traded," by Michael Bonner, MassLive.com: "Parallel, the parent company of NETA, which has medical and adult-use cannabis stores in Brookline and Northampton, announced Monday it has taken steps to becoming a publicly traded company."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "SNOW PLOW GAMES," "TURNED AWAY," — Globe : "Half way to goal of universal pre-K," "A tragedy, 500k times."

FROM THE 413

– "Smith College employee resigns, accuses it of 'racially hostile environment,'" by Jim Russell, Springfield Republican: "A female Smith College employee that resigned last week -- and who claims the college offered her money to not detail reasons for her departure -- alleges she left because the school essentially objectified her Caucasian appearance, and thus created a hostile work environment."

– "'Why can't we do it?': Northampton football players call on health officials to let them play," by Kyle Grabowski, Daily Hampshire Gazette: "A dozen Blue Devils gathered Monday holding signs that said 'science said it's safe to play' and 'don't sack sports' to protest the city health department's lack of clearance for high school football in the Fall II bridge season between winter and spring."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Koh resigns Select Board for job with Biden administration," by Madeline Hughes, Eagle-Tribune: "Select Board member Dan Koh resigned Monday night because he is taking a job with the U.S. Department of Labor. 'I was recently offered a position to join the Biden-Harris Administration in a role that fights for working people and, after much consideration, have decided to accept that position,' Koh said at the meeting."

– "Renters struggle to keep housing in Cape Cod's hot real estate market," by Ethan Genter, Cape Cod Times: "Between when the state eviction moratorium ended in October and January more than 150 evictions — mainly for nonpayment of rent — have started working their way through local courtrooms. But landlords raising the rent or deciding not to renew leases is another form of eviction happening across the region."

TRANSITIONS – Mike Lynch is the new community engagement officer for the Federal Aviation Administration's New England office.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Bob McGovern and Neil Levesque.

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.

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