News: POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: JANEY JUMPS IN — BAKER to get VAX — SENATE studying LIFE AFTER COVID

Tuesday, April 6, 2021

POLITICO Massachusetts Playbook: JANEY JUMPS IN — BAKER to get VAX — SENATE studying LIFE AFTER COVID — Exit sign NOSTALGIA

Apr 06, 2021

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GOOD MORNING, MASSACHUSETTS.

ACTING MAYOR JANEY SEEKS FULL TERM — Boston Acting Mayor Kim Janey is making it official: She's running for a full term.

Janey is launching her mayoral campaign this morning with a video. The three-minute spot lays out Janey's history-making ascent to City Hall, and features clips of other Boston changemakers including Mel King, Melnea Cass, Rep. Ayanna Pressley and Suffolk County District Attorney Rachael Rollins. Janey is also leaning into the title of mayor, not acting mayor. Her new campaign logo reads "MAYOR JANEY."

"Boston having its first woman and first Black mayor, that's just the start. We've got work to do," Janey says in the video. "I'm ready to lead our city. To listen. To collaborate. To fight this pandemic and the racial and economic inequalities that Covid only worsened."

Janey is the sixth major candidate to jump into the race, and she starts out with the incumbency advantage. Instead of telling voters what she will do as mayor, she can use her powers as acting mayor to show them.

And with a half-dozen Democrats running, lanes are getting blurred. City Councilor Michelle Wu has been known for her proposal to make the MBTA free, but Janey last week launched a pilot program to give some residents free MBTA passes. City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George embraces former Mayor Marty Walsh's legacy, but his old union, now run by his cousin also named Marty Walsh, just endorsed state Rep. Jon Santiago. Janey just announced the city's new tourism initiative, but John Barros, Boston's former economic development chief, pointed out he " led the creation" of the program.

As far as fundraising goes, Janey has some catching up to do. She's behind four candidates when it comes to money in the bank, according to campaign finance reports that were due yesterday. But it's already clear incumbency has its perks. Janey raised $187,000 the month she became acting mayor, more than four times what she raised the month prior. City Councilor Andrea Campbell has the most cash on hand of any candidate with $974,800 in her war chest, while Essaibi George was the top fundraiser this month, pulling in $244,500.

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

TODAY — Gov. Charlie Baker and Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont hold a press conference on a joint effort to reduce the cost of prescription drugs. Baker receieves the Covid-19 vaccine at the Hynes Convention Center and provides a pandemic update. Sen. Ed Markey and Mayor Jon Mitchell visit a New Bedford vaccination clinic. Markey visits the Mashpee Wampanoag Tribe's vaccine site and the Woodwell Climate Research Center in Falmouth. Rep. Richard Neal and Rep. Jim McGovern visit the future site of Creative Hub Worcester Community Arts Center.

Rep. Ayanna Pressley speaks at a forum hosted by Boston University's School of Public Health and Center for Antiracist Research. Rep. Lori Trahan visits UMass Memorial Marlborough Hospital and The Rail Trail Flatbread Co. in Hudson. Rep. Jake Auchincloss promotes the American Rescue plan at several events in Taunton, including a stop at City Hall with Mayor Shaunna O'Connell. Boston City Councilor Annissa Essaibi George, a candidate for mayor, hosts an education and child care virtual town hall.

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THE LATEST NUMBERS

– "Nearly 1.5 million Massachusetts residents are fully vaccinated, as known active COVID cases increases to 35,167 after no reporting on Easter," by Tanner Stening, MassLive.com: "Active COVID infections in Massachusetts rose to 35,167 on Monday, up from 34,157 reported on Saturday, according to the latest data from the Department of Public Health. Because of the Easter holiday, no new COVID data was reported on Sunday. State health officials confirmed another 2,912 new COVID-19 cases on Monday."

DATELINE BEACON HILL

– "Massachusetts collects $3 billion in tax revenue in March, exceeding state projections again," by Steph Solis, MassLive.com: "Massachusetts tax collections have once again exceeded the state's expectations, despite concerns of economic uncertainty during the COVID-19 pandemic. The state Department of Revenue reported more than $3 billion in tax revenue for March. That's $402 million or 15.1% higher than the revenue collected in March 2020 and $648 or 26.8% above the state's benchmark."

– "Senate committee to probe post-COVID society," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "When Sen. Adam Hinds looks at the disproportionate toll COVID-19 has taken on poor people and communities of color in Massachusetts, he said, 'It's hard not to experience it as a massive policy failure.' Hinds, a Pittsfield Democrat who now chairs a special Senate Committee on Reimagining Massachusetts Post-Pandemic Resiliency, said inequity will be a major focus of the committee as it has broad discussions on how to rebuild a stronger state in the wake of the COVID-19 emergency."

– "A year into the pandemic, DCF workers visiting only about half of children in-person," by Matt Stout, Boston Globe: "Workers in Massachusetts' child welfare agency are seeing only about half of the children under their watch in-person each month, state data show, illustrating the state's heavy reliance on remote check-ins during the pandemic even as schools, day cares, and others have returned mostly to face-to-face interactions."

– "Regional equity, tight timeline re-emerge as prime concerns over $400 million bond bill for new Holyoke Soldiers' Home," by Stephanie Barry, Springfield Republican: "A joint legislative committee on capital expenditures is considering the $400 million bond bill to pay for the construction of a new Holyoke Soldiers' Home, slated for completion in 2026. Monday's hearing before the Joint Committee on Bonding, Capital Expenditures and State Assets is the second hurdle to push the bill through ahead of a critical deadline to secure up to $260 million in federal dollars for the project."

– "State's vehicle inspection sticker system remains down," The Associated Press: "Massachusetts residents seeking inspection stickers for their vehicles will have to wait at least one more day, officials said Monday. The computer network used by the state Registry of Motor Vehicles to provide safety and emissions inspections was taken offline last week because of a malware threat and the vendor that runs the program says it won't be back online until Tuesday at the earliest."

– "Massachusetts is testing a digital COVID-19 exposure app," by Nik DeCosta-Klipa, Boston.com: "A year into the COVID-19 pandemic, Massachusetts is trying out a technological upgrade to its labor-intensive contact tracing efforts. State public health officials began a pilot Monday with the cities of Somerville and Methuen on the so-called MassNotify mobile phone app, which sends users an alert if they were in close contact to someone who says they tested positive for COVID-19."

– "$5.55B Massachusetts pension could grow if fed-up teachers retire early," by Joe Dwinell, Boston Herald: "The state's $5.55 billion annual pension bill could climb if fed-up teachers opt for early retirement under a bill backed by the union that would guard against mid-year defections. It comes as states across the country report veteran educators are retiring while schools open amid coronavirus concerns. State officials reported 300,000 Bay State students reported to school Monday at 930 elementary schools."

VAX-ACHUSETTS

– "Mass. dramatically expands vaccine eligibility, adding those who are overweight to the list," by Shannon Larson, Laura Crimaldi and Amanda Kaufman, Boston Globe: "The universe of Massachusetts residents eligible for the COVID-19 vaccine dramatically expanded on Monday as appointments opened to people 55 and older and those with one qualifying health condition, which now includes anyone who qualifies as overweight."

– "As Massachusetts Expands Eligibility, Residents Compete For Appointments," by Simón Rios, WBUR: "More than 920,000 additional people became eligible for a COVID-19 vaccine injection in Massachusetts on Monday, including people as young as 55 or anyone with a single risk factor for developing a severe case of the illness. Now the race is on to snag an appointment."

– "Lucky people 18-plus in Boston score coronavirus vaccine before Massachusetts expands eligibility," by Rick Sobey, Boston Herald: "The vaccine clinic at Russell Auditorium in Dorchester was the hottest place in town Monday for young people. That's where precious coronavirus vaccines for a lucky few people 18 years old and up were being administered weeks before Massachusetts expands the age eligibility to the general public."

FROM THE HUB

– "'We all have a lot of work to do' to overcome Boston's reputation as a racist city, Janey says," by Travis Andersen, Boston Globe: "Acting Mayor Kim Janey conceded Monday that Boston has a reputation as a racist city, while expressing hope that a new ad campaign promoting neighborhoods of color to tourists will help alter that perception and telling reporters that 'we all have a lot of work to do' to improve the situation."

– "Janey Unveils 'All Inclusive Boston' Tourism Campaign Worth $2.5 Million," by Saraya Wintersmith, GBH News: "With a campaign announcement seemingly imminent, Boston's acting mayor Kim Janey announced a $2.5 million, largely digital ad campaign designed to plant the seeds of economic recovery in the city's tourism and hospitality industries by boosting local neighborhoods away from downtown."

– "In Malden and statewide, mixed emotions as elementary schools resume full-time in-person learning," by Jenna Russell, Boston Globe: "The goal was a return to normalcy, as most elementary schools in Massachusetts resumed full-time, in-person learning Monday. But for many parents and teachers statewide — and in one midsized, diverse city north of Boston — the day felt anything but normal."

– "To Diversify Staffs, Some Employers Drop Degree Requirements," by Kirk Carapezza, GBH News: "The tech industry is filled with the same type of people who often have the same type of education and advantages. As the sector expands, economists say this trend is reinforcing inequality. So, Ovia Health and other companies outside of the field are identifying entry-level jobs like the one Knowles got and dropping the degree requirement to diversify their staffs and to gain a market advantage."

– "Selective colleges see surge in applications from first-generation students," by Laura Krantz, Boston Globe: "Large, selective private colleges are seeing a dramatic rise in the number of first-generation and low-income applicants, as well as applicants of color this year, following the decision by most schools to make standardized tests optional. The shift away from testing was a necessity because of the pandemic, but also part of an ongoing reconsideration of their use in admissions."

PLANES, TRAINS AND AUTOMOBILES

– "Signs of success: New merchandise line pays tribute to old Route 6 exit signs," by Denise Coffey, Cape Cod Times: "The big green Exit 11 sign on U.S. Route 6 has always signaled home to Kathleen Giorgio. Wen she was growing up, it was the exit she and her family took every summer when they came to Chatham on vacation. Year after year, they stayed in the same cottage. The charm of the old sign grew when her parents retired and bought a home in Chatham. When she and her husband, Mike, began a life together on the Cape, the sign took on the feeling of home. It's also become the inspiration for a new business venture."

FEELING '22

– FIRST IN PLAYBOOK: DOWNING UNVEILS CLIMATE PLAN — Democratic candidate for governor Ben Downing, a former state senator, wants Massachusetts to run on clean electricity by 2030, according to a climate plan he'll announce today. Downing, the only major candidate officially running for governor right now, previously served as vice president of new market development at the solar energy company Nexamp.

Downing will pitch his climate proposal via a social media broadcast with Providence College climate expert Tony Affigne. Downing is also calling for 50 percent of climate spending to "directly benefit environmental justice communities," and he wants to modernize the energy grid and create a "climate impact mandate" across state government, among other proposals.

ON THE STUMP

– "Welcome to the socialist revolution in Somerville," by Zoe Greenberg, Boston Globe: "Somerville was the first city in the country to officially recognize polyamorous relationships, and nearly 60 percent of voters chose Bernie Sanders, a proud democratic socialist, in the 2016 Democratic primary. So perhaps the city's socialist takeover comes as no surprise ."

DAY IN COURT

– "Casinos hoping odds in SJC case tilt in their favor," by Shira Schoenberg, CommonWealth Magazine: "Could a dispute over the payout odds for blackjack actually rise to become a case before the Supreme Judicial Court? You bet. In an unusual case, the state's highest court will consider whether the state's two casinos – Encore Boston Harbor and MGM Springfield – were legally allowed to offer less favorable odds than is typical in their blackjack games."

– "Federal judge to hear Boston exam school admission case Tuesday," by James Vaznis, Boston Globe: "A Boston federal court judge on Tuesday is expected to hear oral arguments in a racial discrimination case brought by a group of white and Asian parents who contend that temporary changes to the admission policies for Boston's highly-regarded exam schools could disadvantage their children."

– "Why This Group Wants Every DA Office In Mass. To Have A 'Conviction Integrity Unit,'" by Deborah Becker, WBUR: "What happens when there's a complaint of a wrongful conviction? If there is a miscarriage of justice, how do prosecutors prevent it from happening again? Many district attorney's offices in Massachusetts have various ways of handling complaints and ensuring past convictions are correct. However, a new guide from a group that has been looking into these questions has put out a series of recommendations to improve and streamline the process."

FROM THE DELEGATION

– "Trahan, Markey take aim at kids-only Instagram, urge Zuckerburg to 'abandon' plans," by Erin Tiernan, Boston Herald: "A group of lawmakers — including two from the Massachusetts delegation — are questioning Facebook executive Mark Zuckerberg's plans for a kids-only Instagram and have given the social media three weeks to convince them or 'abandon' the venture."

MARIJUANA IN MASSACHUSETTS

– "How Jasiel Correia worked as a marijuana consultant while he was still Fall River mayor," by Jo C. Goode, The Herald News: "While in office, former Mayor Jasiel Correia II was engaged briefly as a private consultant with the marijuana company Northeast Alternatives, with his new gig sanctioned by the state Ethics Commission in 2018."

ABOVE THE FOLD

— Herald: "SHOT CIRCUITED," — Globe: "Half of DCF children's visits are still virtual," "Floodgates open for shot seekers."

THE LOCAL ANGLE

– "High schoolers unlikely to return this year," by Madeline Hughes, Eagle-Tribune: "It's unlikely Andover High School students will return to full in-person learning this year. Assistant Superintendent Sandra Trach told the School Committee on Thursday that district officials were preparing a waiver to ask the state if high school students will be mandated to go back before the end of the year."

– "South Shore Health manager uncovers 30,000 counterfeit masks," by Charlie McKenna, Boston Globe: "A South Shore Health manager spotted 30,000 counterfeit N95 masks after the company, which operates Weymouth's South Shore Hospital, placed an order to replenish the hospital's supply of personal protective equipment, officials said."

TRANSITIONS – Danielle Allen, a Democrat exploring running for governor, hires mail consultant Maren Hesla from Mission Control, media consultant Josh Wolf from AL Media, senior advisers Stacey Monahan and Scott Ferson from Liberty Square Group, and Allen Chen.

– Dana (Keoki) Jackson is SVP for the national security sector at MITRE.

– Bruce Castleberry is the new senior editor for the Lowell Sun and Fitchburg Sentinel & Enterprise. Link.

NEW EPISODE: CLEARING THE AIR – On this week's Horse Race podcast, hosts Jennifer Smith and Steve Koczela speak with WBUR's Ally Jarmanning about a new report that found not prosecuting low-level crimes can lead to less crime, and Tim Cronin of Climate XChange breaks down the new climate law signed by Gov. Charlie Baker. Subscribe and listen on iTunes and Sound Cloud.

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