News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: WALSH out, JANEY in — MAYORAL CANDIDATES have some breakfast fun

Monday, March 22, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: WALSH out, JANEY in — MAYORAL CANDIDATES have some breakfast fun — BOSTON’S path to reopening

Mar 22, 2021

Presented by Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM)

GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

PROGRAMMING NOTE: I'm Sam Mintz, a transportation reporter at POLITICO, filling in for Stephanie. She'll be back tomorrow, but I'd love to hear your feedback for better or worse at smintz@politico.com.

IT'S MOVING DAY — Marty Walsh's career hits a new high point, and Kim Janey makes history as Boston's acting mayor. Here's how it will all go down Monday.

Walsh has his final confirmation vote in the Senate today to become Secretary of Labor, and the Boston mayor is set to sail through, after a procedural vote last week passed with bipartisan support despite some GOP opposition. For the C-SPAN inclined, the vote is currently scheduled to take place at 5:30 p.m. and you can follow along by watching the Senate floor.

Shortly after he's confirmed, Walsh is planning to hold a press conference, according to his office. He'll then resign as mayor and City Council President Kim Janey is set to take over as acting mayor, becoming the first woman and first person of color to hold the office.

The history-making nature of her rise to the mayor's office has been well-documented, but it's worth taking a quick step back again to note: all of Boston's 50 mayors, for its 200 years of existence as a chartered city, have been white men.

Will history repeat itself? The last person to serve as acting mayor was none other than Tom Menino, who was city council president when he stepped in on an interim basis after Mayor Raymond Flynn was appointed Ambassador to the Holy See in 1993. Menino, of course, went on to win the ensuing election and become Boston's longest-serving mayor. The parallels could be a fortuitous omen for Janey, who has yet to announce whether she'll be running to keep the job this fall.

IT'S GOOD TO BE BACK LAUGHING AT EACH OTHER — The South Boston St. Patrick's Day breakfast returned Sunday after taking last year off for the pandemic. State Sen. Nick Collins hosted, and President Joe Biden made a brief appearance, but most importantly, we got a first look at all of the announced Boston mayoral candidates (so far!) in the same virtual room, a "full clown car" as City Councilor Michael Flaherty put it.

Michelle Wu led off with a slickly-produced video highlighting the frustrations of working from home and lampooning her preempted campaign announcement.

Andrea Campbell poked fun at her fellow candidates and the city ("By having one person of color speaking at this breakfast, [Collins] has absolutely shattered the city of Boston's diversity in contracting goals.").

Jon Santiago sought to boost his Southie credentials by explaining that immigration officials accidentally put the "O" at the end of his name, not the beginning (and offered a little Irish dancing).

John Barros Zoomed in with a backdrop of breakfasts past (and brought his own laugh track to fill the awkward silences).

And Annissa Essaibi George made a play on the press' fixation with her friendship with Walsh by photoshopping him into many of her old photo albums.

THE TRANSPORTATION CORNER — Shameless plug: don't miss the Weekly Transportation newsletter which comes out at 10 a.m. today for my interview with Salem's own Rep. Seth Moulton about his high-speed rail plans, and a bonus glimpse into his parenting tactics.

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

TODAY — Governor Charlie Baker meets with Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito, Senate President Karen Spilka, House Speaker Ron Mariano and others. The Joint Ways and Means Committee holds a hearing on Baker's fiscal year 2022 state budget. Attorney General Maura Healey is a guest on GBH News' Boston Public Radio. City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George holds a town hall with the Massachusetts Nurses Association. Rep. Jim McGovern visits the Boys and Girls Club of Worcester to announce a new partnership with hydroponic farming nonprofit 2gether We Eat.

A message from Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM):

Representative Aaron Michlewitz, Chairman of the House Ways and Means Committee will discuss the FY22 Budget, the House's legislative priorities for the new session; and his take on the state's overall fiscal health and stability. The presentation will focus on efforts to restore and regrow the Massachusetts economy in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. Register here for AIM's Commonwealth Conversation event on key political issues with key policy makers.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

— "Massachusetts reports 1,678 new COVID cases, 33 more deaths as 1,069,768 residents are fully vaccinated," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive: "Massachusetts public health officials reported another 1,678 cases of COVID-19 and 33 new deaths linked to the virus on Sunday, a day before the state loosens travel and public gathering restrictions. Since the pandemic hit the U.S. last year, at least 579,580 Bay State residents have tested positive and 16,531 have died, the state Department of Public health reported Sunday."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

— "29 organizations ask Baker to delay next phase of reopening," The Associated Press: "Twenty-nine organizations are asking Gov. Charlie Baker to delay the reopening steps taking effect Monday, by at least a month … Carlene Pavlos, executive director of the Massachusetts Public Health Association, drafted the letter to Baker from the groups. 'We're concerned that there's the possibility of a fourth wave of the pandemic just as we're about to see that light that we all need at the end of the tunnel,' said Pavlos."

— "About 50 Massachusetts schools already using less than 6 feet distance as CDC updates COVID guidelines," by Melissa Hanson, MassLive: "Roughly 50 schools in Massachusetts are already using less than 6 feet of distancing in classrooms with success, officials said, as the CDC has updated its COVID-19 guidance. Since last year, the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has used 3 feet as a minimum distance for students and staff inside schools during the pandemic."

— 'He called the wrong attorney general': Massachusetts AG Maura Healey warns of scam calls after person posing as Eversource threatens to cut off her service," by Jackson Cote, MassLive: "It's a call from an unknown number that many people are tired of getting and dismissing: a caller claiming they work for Eversource, telling the person who picked up the phone they're behind on their payments and threatening to shut off their electricity or heat if they don't pay up. However, this time, the call went to the wrong person: Massachusetts' top prosecutor."

— "Mass. political trailblazer Betty Taymor celebrated at age 100," by Lucas Phillips, the Boston Globe: "Once an outsider in a world of politics hostile to women, longtime Democratic operative Betty Taymor will be honored Sunday by Massachusetts politicians at every level during a virtual event celebrating her 100th birthday."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

—"Inside the state's $3.3 million scramble to build a better vaccine website," by Kay Lazar and Anissa Gardizy, The Boston Globe: "On Feb. 18, thousands of people were waiting hours on the state's vaccine website for a chance at an appointment, some getting the soul-crushing image of an orange octopus instead. Governor Charlie Baker was so upset, he said, his "hair's on fire." Behind the scenes, state officials were calling in experts near and far to fix the troubled sign-up system, which drew criticism from day one."

—"'You are my sunshine': For nursing homes, COVID-19 vaccinations bring hope amid an uncertain future," by Robert Weisman, The Boston Globe: "No corner of Massachusetts life was more devastated by the coronavirus a year ago than long-term care. And none has seen infection rates drop faster since COVID-19 vaccines rolled out at the end of last year. Over the past 12 weeks, nearly all of the 33,000 residents and most of the staff at the state's nursing and rest homes have gotten at least one shot, and most have been fully inoculated. The seven-day average of virus cases in the homes has tumbled by 93 percent."

FROM THE HUB

— "Mayor Walsh Sets Boston's Re-Opening On A Slow, Test-Contingent Path," by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH: "In one of his final acts as the 54th Mayor of Boston, Marty Walsh announced the city will move into a modified version of Massachusetts' multi-step re-opening plan next week."

– "Two Boston city councilors want health commission's medical director back from Hawaii," by Marie Szaniszlo, the Boston Herald: "Two city councilors are calling on the Boston Public Health Commission's medical director to return from Hawaii, where she has been working remotely since November. Councilor-at-Large Annissa Essaibi-George, vice chairwoman of the council's Public Health Committee, said she was 'obviously very curious' about how Dr. Jennifer Lo, who makes $185,000 per year, ended up working from her tropical post."

– "Survey finds uneven distribution of resources in BPS schools," by Yawu Miller, Bay State Banner: "More than 40% of students in Boston's public schools don't have a library in their building, including one-third of the high school students who do not attend the city's three exam schools, according to a survey made public by a coalition of education activists. Half of all students in K-8 schools and middle schools don't have a science lab. One-tenth of students in K-8, elementary and middle schools don't have a music teacher, the survey found."

The Race for City Hall

— "Boston labor unions navigate political role in post-Marty Walsh world," by Sean Philip Cotter, the Boston Herald: "Boston's next mayor won't be a former union boss, but organized labor groups say they plan to keep the pressure on and remain politically relevant as candidates continue to court them."

A message from Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM):

DAY IN COURT

– "Mass. Court Blocks Access To Suit Involving State Sen. Ryan Fattman And Family," by Todd Wallack, WBUR: "In an unusual move, a Suffolk Superior Court judge closed a hearing Friday and impounded all the documents involving a legal fight between a powerful central Massachusetts Republican family and the state official charged with investigating campaign finance violations."

DATELINE D.C.

– "American Rescue Plan to offer hundreds of millions in grants for Massachusetts bars and restaurants, Sen. Ed Markey says," by Michelle Williams, MassLive: "Within the $1.9 trillion COVID-19 relief package - through which millions of Americans have already received stimulus checks - is $28 billion for restaurants and bars. 'Massachusetts is going to get the help it needs for our restaurants,' Sen. Ed Markey said Saturday on a call with reporters and restaurant owners from across the state."

– "Why A Federal Order In The Weymouth Compressor Case Has The Natural Gas World Worried," by Miriam Wasser, WBUR: "In the six years since Massachusetts residents began fighting a proposed natural gas compressor station in Weymouth, the controversial and now-operational project has mostly been an issue of local concern. Not anymore. As a challenge to the compressor station's permit to operate winds its way through the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) — the agency in charge of approving interstate energy projects — some on the five-person body have signaled that they're no longer interested in doing business as usual."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: EXIT STAGE D.C. — Globe: "The scramble to find a better Vaxfinder," "For state, more signs of Covid progress."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: Willie Burnley Jr., a former organizer for Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Ed Markey, is running for an at-large seat on the Somerville City Council. Artist, activist and teacher Jamila Gore is running for an at-large seat on the Northampton City Council.

— "Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito buys $1.8 million Dartmouth home. Here's what neighbors are saying," by Seth Chitwood, the Standard-Times: "A noteworthy new neighbor could be walking the streets of Dartmouth after purchasing a second home near Ricketson's Point. According to assessment records, Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and her husband, Stephen Rodolakis, paid $1.795 million for the 4,830-square-foot house at 7 Fremont St. that was built in 2003. A spokesperson for Polito confirmed with CommonWealth Magazine — which originally broke the story — this will be her second home and Polito will still remain at her primary residency in Shrewsbury."

— "Special election ballot set in Wenham," by Julie Manganis, the Salem News: "Three candidates will appear on the ballot in a special election next month to replace former selectman Jack Wilhelm, who abruptly resigned from the board in January amid a public outcry over his handling of sexual harassment allegations against another selectman, John Clemenzi."

— "Cape awaits details on mobile COVID-19 testing site," by Beth Treffeisen and Cynthia McCormick, the Cape Cod Times: "Details on a field testing that is expected to be deployed to Cape Cod were still being worked on as of Saturday, according to Sen. Julian Cyr, D-Truro. The testing unit will be stationed here to get a handle on what appears to be the third wave of COVID-19 cases in the county."

TRANSITIONS – Kelly Bates, candidate for Boston City Council At-Large, has hired Jon Ossoff Voter Contact Ops Director Shibani Chakrabarty as her Campaign Manager.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to former state Rep. Tom Sannicandro, Daniel Sullivan, Zachary Agush and Larry Farmer.

NEW EPISODE: ORANGE YOU GLAD WE DIDN'T SAY RED LINE? – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray speak with Danielle Allen, a Harvard professor who is considering a run for governor, and MassINC's Maeve Duggan breaks down a new education poll. The hosts also debate how to pronounce the #maleg hashtag. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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A message from Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM):

As a leading health insurer, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) has a long-standing commitment to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion. Join Associated Industries of Massachusetts (AIM) for a conversation with Andrew Dreyfus, President & CEO of BCBSMA, as he shares the triumphs and the challenges on the journey to achieving diversity at every level of the organization – board of directors, leadership and employee base. Hear about the company's approach to the business case and initiatives to ensure an inclusive environment, while leading through unprecedented change – COVID-19, Remote Working and other factors impacting the workforce.

STEP INSIDE THE WEST WING : The Biden administration is more than halfway through its first 100 days and is now facing a growing crisis at the border and escalating violence against Asian Americans, while navigating the pandemic and ongoing economic challenges. Add Transition Playbook to your daily reads to find out what actions are being considered, as well the internal state of play inside the West Wing and across the administration. Track the people, policies, and emerging power centers of the Biden administration. Don't miss out. Subscribe today.