News : POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Boston Police SCANDAL — MAYORS exhausted by VIRUS CRISIS — Health chief serves as pandemic ‘CENTER of GRAVITY’

Monday, April 12, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: Boston Police SCANDAL — MAYORS exhausted by VIRUS CRISIS — Health chief serves as pandemic ‘CENTER of GRAVITY’

Apr 12, 2021

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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS. Happy Monday and GO UMASS!

AS BUDGET LOOMS, BOSTON POLICE ROCKED BY SCANDAL — Acting Mayor Kim Janey took the helm at City Hall weeks ago, and has been a mayoral candidate for even less time. But Janey already has two major police scandals on her hands.

The situation at the Boston Police Department came long before Janey's term, but how she responds will be one of her first tests as acting mayor. And on top of that, Janey will unveil her city budget proposal this week, a process shaping up to be a continuation of last year's debate over police funding.

The big headline over the weekend was Patrick Rose. The former president of the Boston police union served as a police officer for years and rose through the ranks at the Boston Police Patrolmen's Association, even after he was accused of sexually abusing a child in 1995, according to a new Boston Globe report.

Rose was charged last year for allegedly sexually abusing children, but new reporting revealed he was accused much earlier. That 1995 criminal complaint against Rose was dropped, but the police department concluded from its internal investigation that he likely committed a crime, according to the Globe.

And separately, the police department is still without a commissioner. After former commissioner William Gross abruptly left at the end of Labor Secretary Marty Walsh's tenure, Walsh appointed Dennis White to replace him. But within days, White was put on leave when allegations of domestic violence surfaced. Walsh admitted at the time that White should've been vetted more thoroughly.

Janey is calling for more transparency from the police department in both cases. And several candidates running for mayor urged the city to release records or even revisit police contract negotiations in response to the Rose case. The Boston City Council issued a statement demanding an investigation into how the Rose complaint was handled.

If internal documents do come to light, it would mark a departure from the previous mayor. Walsh's administration refused to release records regarding Rose or White, according to the Globe, saying it would be impossible to comply with state law and shield the identities of the sexual assault or domestic violence survivors. Janey did not commit to releasing internal affairs records regarding White during a recent radio interview, but did say an investigation would wrap up this month.

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

TODAY — Assistant Speaker Katherine Clark is a guest on WBUR. Rep. Lori Trahan celebrates a partnership between Groundwork Lawrence and New Balance in Lawrence.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Active COVID cases climb past 36,000 as Massachusetts reports 1,831 new cases, 8 more deaths Sunday; nearly 39,000 more people fully vaccinated," by Benjamin Kail, MassLive.com: "The number of Massachusetts residents fully vaccinated against COVID-19 increased by nearly 39,000 on Sunday as state health officials reported 1,831 new cases and eight more pandemic-linked deaths."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "A 'center of gravity' throughout the pandemic: Meet the woman behind the state's COVID-19 response," by Kay Lazar, Boston Globe: "Sudders, tapped by Baker in the early days of the pandemic to direct his COVID-19 Response Command Center, is one of the most powerful leaders in Massachusetts, yet hardly a household name. She is in charge of one of the most ambitious initiatives in state history — rolling out COVID vaccines to millions of people. She shapes strategy and addresses emergencies that seem to crop up daily. It is, for example, her signature on the contracts that established a call center to better manage the mad scramble for appointments."

– "State budget writers seek stability as Massachusetts House prepares to release fiscal '22 budget," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "House lawmakers are poised to release their budget proposal for the upcoming fiscal year on Wednesday and, coming off the heels of one of the most tumultuous budget cycles on record, budget writers say they are trying to inject an air of predictability into this year's process."

– "'We're losing people left and right': As 'disconcerting' number of Massachusetts police chiefs retire, some pin blame on reform bill," by Jackson Cote, MassLive.com: "Three words may appear on a virtual billboard in the coming months: 'Be the change.' Officials are hoping this phrase will appear alongside a photograph of the Norwood Police Department, sponsored by the state's largest police chief's union. The billboard is part of an ongoing effort to get more people of varying backgrounds, both personally and professionally, to apply for officer positions."

– "Bill returns to Beacon Hill to fix little-known Massachusetts problem: There's no mechanism to replace a lieutenant governor," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "When a beleaguered Tim Murray resigned as lieutenant governor in May 2013, the state's No. 2 post sat vacant until voters elected Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito and she took office in January 2015. Nearly eight years later, there's still no constitutional mechanism for replacing a lieutenant governor. But a bill brought back for another round on Beacon Hill could change that."

– "Gas industry says new rules not needed," by Christian M. Wade, The Salem News: "A gas industry official told regulators this week that proposed rules requiring a professional engineer's approval of certain projects may be unnecessary because gas companies already follow heightened standards."

– "Seekonk family advocating for 'Shawnie's Bill' in fight for education equity for students with autism," by Kayla Canne, Sun Chronicle: "'Shawnie's Bill,' or HD. 358, would guarantee residential placement for children with intellectual disabilities within 30 days of approval. The bill, sponsored by state Rep. Steven Howitt, R-Seekonk, creates an emergency fund for timely placement and gives final authority to parents as to which facility their child will attend."

FROM THE HUB

– "'We Are Not Alone': Demonstrators March Against Anti-Asian Hate And Violence In Boston," by Quincy Walters and Derek J. Anderson, WBUR: "Over the Massachusetts Turnpike, an organizer asked a crowd of about 200 people, 'Who's felt unsafe walking alone?' A lot of hands went up. The march put together by the Asian Coalition of Massachusetts was part rally, part march, part pact to keep the community safe."

– "Shooting death of Boston grandmother outrages city officials," The Associated Press: "A 73-year-old Boston grandmother sitting on her front porch was struck and killed by a stray bullet, outraged city officials said. Delois Brown was struck in the city's Dorchester neighborhood at about 6 p.m. Saturday, according to police."

– "TelAbortion, with medication through the mail, comes to Massachusetts," by Stephanie Ebbert, Boston Globe: "Is Massachusetts ready for abortion through the mail? Reproductive rights advocates certainly are. They note that medication abortions — safe and FDA-approved in the first 10 weeks of gestation — already make up 40 percent of abortions in Massachusetts. People have been ending pregnancies at home, on their own, for years."

– "Why are more Massachusetts children coming down with COVID? Here's what experts are saying," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "New COVID cases in Massachusetts and across the country are being propelled by an increasing number of younger patients, including children younger than five years old."

– "DraftKings, thriving in the pandemic, now sees better odds of success," by Andy Rosen, Boston Globe: "When the opening bell rang for DraftKings' debut as a publicly traded company last April, the stock market had recently taken a historic nosedive. Boston, the online sports betting company's hometown, was in the midst of its first COVID-19 surge. And sports venues nationwide had gone dark. No matter."

THE RACE FOR CITY HALL

– "'We cannot go back to normal': Boston's Mayor Kim Janey sees a mandate for racial equity in post-Covid era," by Abby Phillip and Jeff Simon, CNN: "For 200 years, Boston has been led by an unbroken string of White men -- until now. Kim Janey, a Black woman who traces her roots in the city back generations, and even further to ancestors who fled slavery in the South, is now the city's mayor."

– "Developers are hedging their bets in a six-way mayoral race," by Tim Logan, Boston Globe: "The top executives at National Development have been writing a lot of checks lately. In late February, five partners at the Newton company each donated $250 or $500 to City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George, who had recently launched a run for mayor of Boston. A few weeks later, the same executives each wrote checks to John Barros, the city's economic development chief, now also a mayoral candidate. The next day, City Councilor Michelle Wu, who also is vying for mayor, benefitted from a similar round of National Development's largesse."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Biden's Infrastructure Sales Force Knows Its Potholes and Bridges," by Annie Karni and Zolan Kanno-Youngs, The New York Times: "Five cabinet members, all former mayors or governors and therefore experts in infrastructure fights, are fanning out across America and Capitol Hill to try to sell the president's rebuilding plan."

– "The MBTA is planning to open part of the Green Line Extension this October," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "MBTA officials have long said that they hoped the Green Line Extension into Somerville and Medford would be fully operational by December of 2021. For some riders, service is slated to begin a couple months earlier."

– "Pack Your Patience If You're Headed To The Cape," by Bob Seay, GBH News: "Vehicle travel over the Sagamore Bridge will go from two lanes in each direction down to a single 12-foot lane in each direction beginning April 12."

WARREN REPORT

– "Could You Start Getting Monthly Stimulus Payments? Elizabeth Warren and More Prominent Dems Push Biden to Offer Regular Relief," by Joe Cortez, Yahoo! Finance: "A group of 21 Senate Democrats is asking the White House to continue stimulus payments to Americans as part of a larger recovery strategy. CNBC reports the lawmakers are making their intentions known in a letter to president Joe Biden."

MARKEYCHUSETTS

– "Markey calls to expand Supreme Court as other Massachusetts pols wait on Biden commission," by Lisa Kashinsky, Boston Herald: "U.S. Sen. Edward Markey is again championing court-packing after President Biden announced a new commission to study U.S. Supreme Court reforms, while other members of the Bay State delegation are keeping their cards closer to their chests."

THE PRESSLEY PARTY

– "Ayanna Pressley calls hotel firings an 'unconscionable' 'betrayal,'" by Marie Szaniszlo, Boston Herald: "U.S. Rep. Ayanna Pressley threw her support on Saturday behind 52 workers who said they were terminated from Boston's Nine Zero Hotel, calling their firings an 'unconscionable' 'betrayal' just as the city is reopening."

AS SEEN ON TV

– "'We've been No. 1': Gov. Baker defends COVID-19 vaccine rollout in Massachusetts," WCVB: "Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker continues to defend the state's COVID-19 vaccine rollout, as many in the state say they are continuing to have trouble scheduling a vaccine appointment."

– "Keller @ Large: Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey Says COVID Vaccinations, Not 'Passport' Should Be Priority," by Jon Keller, WBZ: "Acting Boston Mayor Kim Janey said it's important to make sure everyone has access to the COVID vaccine before considering a potential 'passport.'"

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "TIME FOR JUSTICE," — Globe: "Mourning a matriarch of many," "In mayor's race, cash flows from developers."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "Drained by a Year of Covid, Many Mayors Head for the Exit," by Ellen Barry, The New York Times: "It has been an exhausting season for America's mayors. Mayors are hands-on officials in the best of times, barraged with criticism and individual pleas for help. Over the last year, they found themselves weighing matters of life or death — devastating local businesses by prolonging shutdowns, canceling gatherings treasured by voters, unable to provide comfort by being there in person."

– "Polar Park Builder Admits Providing Inaccurate Reports That Exaggerated Minority Business Participation," by Carrie Saldo, GBH News: "Gilbane /Hunt, the construction manager for Worcester's new minor league baseball park admitted Friday morning to filing inaccurate reports with the city that overstated the participation of minority-owned businesses in the construction project."

– "Politics and the City: Lots of candidates, but not a lot of signatures," by Steven H. Foskett Jr., Telegram & Gazette: "Potential candidates are still flocking to City Hall to take out nomination papers for the November election, but with the May 11 deadline to return those papers looming, it's still unclear who will make the cut to get on the November municipal election ballot."

– "Lawrence school unions vote no confidence in superintendent," by Allison Corneau & Breanna Edelstein, Eagle-Tribune: "The trio of unions representing more than 1,500 educators, nurses, specialists, paraprofessionals, administrators and other staff at Lawrence Public Schools issued a vote of no confidence in Superintendent Cynthia Paris on Thursday night. The unions say Paris 'bullied employees back into school buildings' before they were safe, leading to the death of a staff member last fall."

– "Spike in COVID cases forces Holy Cross in Worcester to suspend all in-person activities until April 14," by Scott J. Croteau, MassLive.com: "In-person activities at the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester have been suspended until April 14 after a spike in COVID cases. The college prohibited all in-person activities on April 9."

– "One Massachusetts town is putting its Native American logo to a vote. Residents say the debate is tearing the town apart." by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "In this 27,000-person suburb north of Boston, the question of whether to eliminate Wakefield Memorial High School's Native American Warrior logo has morphed from a school committee discussion into a full-fledged and vitriolic political campaign."

– "Former head of bus drivers' union at WRTA fired for giving news interview while driving," by Cyrus Moulton, Telegram & Gazette: "A judge has ruled that the former head of the bus drivers' union at the Worcester Regional Transit Authority was fired because he gave an interview to a news crew while driving, not because he spoke out against possible budget cuts ."

HAPPY BIRTHDAY – to Romneycare and Dan Manning.

NEW EPISODE: BORN TO BE DIALED – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith, Steve Koczela and Stephanie Murray speak with Democratic gubernatorial candidate Ben Downing about his campaign. The hosts discuss a recent Supreme Court decision that will change the way pollsters do business. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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